Immunomodulatory effects of rexinoids.

Rexinoids have shown clinical activity in hematologic malignancies by mediating genes associated with both growth and differentiation. Consequently, these compounds are increasingly being investigated for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Combining rexinoids with interleukin-2 receptor-targeted therapies, such as denileukin diftitox, would appear to be a rational therapy option in the treatment of lymphoid malignancies. This article discusses the use of rexinoids in combination with these pharmacotherapeutic agents, together with their use in combination with extracorporeal photophoresis and explores practical clinical approaches that may help to evoke immunomodulatory effects in targeted tumor cells, and ultimately lead to improved clinical outcome.