BOTH UCSF AND STANFORD, TOP CUTANEOUS LYMPHOMA CLINICS, ADVISE THEIR PATIENTS TO VISIT THE CTCL FOUNDATION WEBSITE. IT IS THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION YOU WILL FIND ON THIS TYPE OF CANCER. IT IS AN AMAZING SUPPORT NETWORK FOR BOTH PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS. DR. KIM IS ON THEIR BOARD.
QUICK FACTS ABOUT CUTANEOUS LYMPHOMA
What is Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma?
What treatment is available for individuals with CTCL?
- Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare cancer caused by T lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) that primarily affects the skin, but which can also involve the blood, lymph nodes, and internal organs.
- 1 per 100,000 individuals develop CTCL in the United States.
- The two most prevalent types of CTCL are Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sézary Syndrome (SS).
- Mycosis Fungoides (MF) derives its name from the mushroom-like skin tumors it leaves on the skin. This form of CTCL is confined to the skin in 70-80% of cases.
- Sézary Syndrome (SS) is a more aggressive form of CTCL, with widespread effects. It can lead to enlarged lymph nodes, malignant lymphocytes (Sézary cells) in the blood, and the sloughing of skin, leading to skin infections.
- CTCL is more often diagnosed in men and women, and typically first diagnosed in people between the ages of 50 to 60.
- Research is still underway to discover what causes CTCL.
What treatment is available for individuals with CTCL?
- Treatment depends on several factors, including, a patient’s age, health, and the stage of the disease. While early-stage MF and SS may respond well to skin therapies alone, patients with more advanced stage disease may require a combination of therapies.
- Treatment options include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Phototherapy (light therapy) – UVB rays are used to treat skin patches; UVA rays may also be used to kill cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy – Typically radiation therapy is applied to specific affected areas of the body in order to reduce the side effects. This therapy can be valuable for patients with tumors.
- Biologic or immune therapy – This includes taking drugs that enhance the patient’s immune system to better fight off cancer cells.
- Allogenic stem cell transplantation – Involves transplanting blood stem cells from a healthy matched donor to a patient after high-intensity chemotherapy or radiation. This therapy is especially used in patients who have advanced disease and have failed standard therapies.
- Other treatments are still being developed and tested.