Bexarotene and interferon-alpha combination therapy in a patient affected by relapsing anaplastic large cell lymphoma with cutaneous involvement

J Drugs Dermatol. 2007 Feb;6(2):216-9.

Abstract

A 74-year-old man presented with relapsing systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) with cutaneous involvement who had a third recurrence of cutaneous lesions associated with inguinal lymphonodes enlargement. Due to severe worsening of general conditions, treatment with low dose bexarotene associated with interferon-aalphawas initiated. Four months later, skin nodules disappeared with reduction of lymphonodes size. Two months after stopping therapy, lymphonodal relapse of the lymphoma was seen; however, cutaneous lesions were still in complete remission. Association of low dose bexarotene with interferon-xalphaseems to represent a possible alternative therapy for relapsing systemic ALCL presenting as prevalent cutaneous involvement in patients with severe worsening of general conditions. In our case, this protocol was unable to maintain a longer disease free survival in comparison with the 2 previous polychemotherapy cycles. Further extended studies are required in order to define the possible rule of this combination therapy in relapsing systemic ALCL.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bexarotene
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / therapeutic use*
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Recurrence
  • Remission Induction / methods
  • Salvage Therapy / methods
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Interferon-alpha
  • Tetrahydronaphthalenes
  • Bexarotene