Alemtuzumab in Sezary syndrome: efficient but not innocent


Ure U. B., Ar M. C., Salihoglu A., Guner S. I., Baran A., Oguz O., ...More

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, vol.17, no.6, pp.525-529, 2007 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 17 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Doi Number: 10.1684/ejd.2007.0269
  • Journal Name: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.525-529
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Mycosis fungoides is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. The related Sezary syndrome is a more aggressive form in which the skin is diffusely affected and the peripheral blood is involved. Although easily managed during its early phases, late-stage mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome is usually difficult to treat and becomes refractory to chemotherapy. Recently, promising case-based results have been obtained with alemtuzumab, a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that binds to CD52 cell surface antigens, in the treatment of advanced stage mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome. We report a case of Sezary syndrome treated successfully with alemtuzumab but who died of treatment-related infection.