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Pilot study of etanercept in patients with relapsed cutaneous T-cell lymphomas
Apostolia-Maria Tsimberidou1, Francis J Giles, Madeleine Duvic
1Department of Leukemia, University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Background:
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).
Objective:
To assess the toxicity, safety, and efficacy of etanercept (soluble TNF receptor) in patients with relapsed CTCL.
Methods:
Etanercept was administered twice weekly at a dose of 25 mg subcutaneously. Patients with improvement after two months could be continued on treatment.
Results:
Twelve out of the 13 patients enrolled on study were evaluable (Stage I-IIA, 3 patients; Stage IIB-IV disease, 9 patients). The median number of previous therapies was 7 (range, 3-12). Etanercept induced partial remission in one patient (8%) and minor response in one patient (8%), both of whom had Stage IB disease. Most patients experienced no side effects.
Conclusion:
This pilot study suggests that etanercept is safe and generally well tolerated in patients with CTCL. The effect of etanercept in a larger cohort of patients with early disease merits investigation.