2-Chlorodeoxyadenosine treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

The primary cutaneous lymphomas are often indolent but difficult to treat. In the early stages psoralen and ultraviolet-A therapy is the standard treatment whereas at the tumor stage chemotherapy (e.g. pegylated doxorubicin) is often used for debulking. The purine analog 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2CdA) acts in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and has been used in our center for the treatment of advanced primary cutaneous T-cell lyphomas (CTCL). Here, we report on the efficacy and side effects of 2CdA in six patients with CTCL. One patient died owing to myelosuppression. Partial responses were seen in four cases but full remission was observed in only one case. We concluded that 2CdA has a limited usefulness in the management of advanced CTCL.