BACKGROUND: Bexarotene is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved retinoid for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and is associated with a relatively high frequency of adverse effects. Acitretin has anecdotally been reported to be effective for CTCL. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of acitretin as primary or adjuvant therapy for CTCL. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with CTCL treated with acitretin at a single tertiary care center. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients with CTCL were included: 29 had mycosis fungoides, 2 had Sézary syndrome, and 1 had CTCL not otherwise specified. Median patient age was 55 years; 56% were male; 47% were white, 47% black, and 6% other. In all, 3% of patients were stage IA, 69% stage IB/IIA, 16% stage IIB, 6% stage III, and 6% stage IV. Six patients received acitretin alone; 26 received acitretin in addition to another CTCL therapy. The overall response rate was 59%. In all, 25% of patients had stable disease and 16% had progressive disease. Median duration of response was 28 months. Adverse effects were generally mild with 5 patients discontinuing therapy because of these. LIMITATIONS: In this small retrospective chart review, many patients were on other CTCL therapies while on acitretin; therefore precise assessment of response to acitretin alone was difficult. CONCLUSIONS: Acitretin is well tolerated and potentially effective for early-stage CTCL. Response to acitretin, either as adjuvant therapy monotherapy, is comparable with the response to oral agents currently approved for this disease.
BACKGROUND:Bexarotene is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved retinoid for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and is associated with a relatively high frequency of adverse effects. Acitretin has anecdotally been reported to be effective for CTCL. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the effectiveness and tolerability of acitretin as primary or adjuvant therapy for CTCL. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with CTCL treated with acitretin at a single tertiary care center. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients with CTCL were included: 29 had mycosis fungoides, 2 had Sézary syndrome, and 1 had CTCL not otherwise specified. Median patient age was 55 years; 56% were male; 47% were white, 47% black, and 6% other. In all, 3% of patients were stage IA, 69% stage IB/IIA, 16% stage IIB, 6% stage III, and 6% stage IV. Six patients received acitretin alone; 26 received acitretin in addition to another CTCL therapy. The overall response rate was 59%. In all, 25% of patients had stable disease and 16% had progressive disease. Median duration of response was 28 months. Adverse effects were generally mild with 5 patients discontinuing therapy because of these. LIMITATIONS: In this small retrospective chart review, many patients were on other CTCL therapies while on acitretin; therefore precise assessment of response to acitretin alone was difficult. CONCLUSIONS:Acitretin is well tolerated and potentially effective for early-stage CTCL. Response to acitretin, either as adjuvant therapy monotherapy, is comparable with the response to oral agents currently approved for this disease.
Authors: Caitlin M Brumfiel; Meera H Patel; Pranav Puri; Jake Besch-Stokes; Scott Lester; William G Rule; Nandita Khera; Jason C Sluzevich; David J DiCaudo; Nneka Comfere; N Nora Bennani; Allison C Rosenthal; Mark R Pittelkow; Aaron R Mangold Journal: Curr Treat Options Oncol Date: 2021-09-27
Authors: Maria Isabel Beatriz Lim Puno; Ma Teresa Ela Dimagiba; Ma Jasmin Jacinto Jamora; Filomena Legarda Montinola; Patricia Ty Tinio Journal: JAAD Case Rep Date: 2017-07-16
Authors: J L W Lambert; S Segaert; P D Ghislain; T Hillary; A Nikkels; F Willaert; J Lambert; R Speeckaert Journal: J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol Date: 2020-08-13 Impact factor: 6.166
Authors: Gabrielle Gour-Provençal; Nicholas M Newman; Mathieu Boudier-Revéret; Min Cheol Chang Journal: J Int Med Res Date: 2020-10 Impact factor: 1.671