[Standard and experimental therapy of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma]

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma represent a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by skin invasion of monoclonal T-lymphocytes. These cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are divided into 3 groups based on clinical, histological and immunohistological characteristics: Indolent with a survival time of over 10 years, aggressive with a survival time less than 10 years and provisional (EORTC classification). Standard treatments such as PUVA, total skin electron beam, methotrexate, polychemotherapy regimens, retinoids and photopheresis have been used for years. Bexarotene is a newly registered drug. To achieve better response rates, several new drugs are being evaluated in clinical trails, including imiquimod, denileukon-diftitox, liposomal doxorubicin, adeno-interferon-gamma and various combination approaches.