Evolution of clinical and molecular responses to bexarotene treatment in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms of action of bexarotene are not well understood. METHODS: A retrospective study on patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) treated with bexarotene was performed to see if bexarotene could act on the dominant T-cell clones. Thirty-five patients were included. Twenty-three were treated with bexarotene for more than 3 months (300 mg/m(2)). In 7 patients, phototherapy was given with bexarotene. RESULTS: Dominant T-cell clones were observed in 11 patients in peripheral blood and in 19 patients in skin. Our results demonstrate no significant evolution of T-cell clones either in skin or peripheral blood. Furthermore, the detection of T-cell clones in peripheral blood before starting bexarotene was significantly associated with the progression of the disease. UV therapy given with bexarotene significantly improved therapeutic response without any correlation with T-cell clones. CONCLUSION: This is the first study on the evolution of the T-cell clone in blood and skin in CTCL patients during bexarotene therapy.