Long-term outcomes and clinical phenotypes associated with best response to low dose alemtuzumab in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Abstract Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) have in common malignant T-lymphocyte infiltration in the skin. Low dose alemtuzumab (LDA) appears to be an effective treatment for leukemic disease, but in the absence of clinical trials, there is need for improved characterization of patients with CTCL mo...

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Main Authors: Cecilia Larocca, Ai-Tram N. Bui, John T. O’Malley, Anita Giobbie-Hurder, Marianne Tawa, Jessica E. Teague, Rachael A. Clark, Corey Cutler, Eric Jacobsen, David C. Fisher, Thomas S. Kupper, Nicole R. LeBoeuf
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-04-01
Series:Blood Cancer Journal
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-025-01237-5
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author Cecilia Larocca
Ai-Tram N. Bui
John T. O’Malley
Anita Giobbie-Hurder
Marianne Tawa
Jessica E. Teague
Rachael A. Clark
Corey Cutler
Eric Jacobsen
David C. Fisher
Thomas S. Kupper
Nicole R. LeBoeuf
author_facet Cecilia Larocca
Ai-Tram N. Bui
John T. O’Malley
Anita Giobbie-Hurder
Marianne Tawa
Jessica E. Teague
Rachael A. Clark
Corey Cutler
Eric Jacobsen
David C. Fisher
Thomas S. Kupper
Nicole R. LeBoeuf
author_sort Cecilia Larocca
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) have in common malignant T-lymphocyte infiltration in the skin. Low dose alemtuzumab (LDA) appears to be an effective treatment for leukemic disease, but in the absence of clinical trials, there is need for improved characterization of patients with CTCL most likely to benefit. A retrospective cohort study of 38 patients with CTCL treated with LDA with at least 5 years’ follow-up data was conducted. As a surrogate for a central memory T-cell (TCM) clinical phenotype, we evaluated whether the absence of a history of papules, plaques, and tumors (PPT) predicts better global and skin response. Twenty-five (65.8%) patients responded to LDA (95% CI: 49–80%). Patients with a TCM phenotype were more than eight times as likely to achieve a CR [OR: 8.2, 95% CI: 1.2–57.6]. CR rate in the skin was 81.8% in TCM phenotype patients compared to 37.0% in patients with a history of PPT (resident memory T-cell phenotype, TRM) [OR: 7.7, 95% CI: 1.4–42.7]. Three patients experienced any infection requiring systemic intervention. LDA monotherapy can safely produce exceptional response rates in those presenting with diffuse erythema but without a history of PPT.
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spelling doaj-art-1a038e1fcb2b493fbcb402f937a7560f2025-08-20T02:24:26ZengNature Publishing GroupBlood Cancer Journal2044-53852025-04-011511810.1038/s41408-025-01237-5Long-term outcomes and clinical phenotypes associated with best response to low dose alemtuzumab in cutaneous T-cell lymphomaCecilia Larocca0Ai-Tram N. Bui1John T. O’Malley2Anita Giobbie-Hurder3Marianne Tawa4Jessica E. Teague5Rachael A. Clark6Corey Cutler7Eric Jacobsen8David C. Fisher9Thomas S. Kupper10Nicole R. LeBoeuf11Harvard Medical SchoolHarvard Medical SchoolHarvard Medical SchoolDivision of Biostatistics, Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteDepartment of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s HospitalDepartment of Dermatology, Brigham and Women’s HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolDepartment of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer CenterDepartment of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer CenterDepartment of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer CenterHarvard Medical SchoolHarvard Medical SchoolAbstract Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) have in common malignant T-lymphocyte infiltration in the skin. Low dose alemtuzumab (LDA) appears to be an effective treatment for leukemic disease, but in the absence of clinical trials, there is need for improved characterization of patients with CTCL most likely to benefit. A retrospective cohort study of 38 patients with CTCL treated with LDA with at least 5 years’ follow-up data was conducted. As a surrogate for a central memory T-cell (TCM) clinical phenotype, we evaluated whether the absence of a history of papules, plaques, and tumors (PPT) predicts better global and skin response. Twenty-five (65.8%) patients responded to LDA (95% CI: 49–80%). Patients with a TCM phenotype were more than eight times as likely to achieve a CR [OR: 8.2, 95% CI: 1.2–57.6]. CR rate in the skin was 81.8% in TCM phenotype patients compared to 37.0% in patients with a history of PPT (resident memory T-cell phenotype, TRM) [OR: 7.7, 95% CI: 1.4–42.7]. Three patients experienced any infection requiring systemic intervention. LDA monotherapy can safely produce exceptional response rates in those presenting with diffuse erythema but without a history of PPT.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-025-01237-5
spellingShingle Cecilia Larocca
Ai-Tram N. Bui
John T. O’Malley
Anita Giobbie-Hurder
Marianne Tawa
Jessica E. Teague
Rachael A. Clark
Corey Cutler
Eric Jacobsen
David C. Fisher
Thomas S. Kupper
Nicole R. LeBoeuf
Long-term outcomes and clinical phenotypes associated with best response to low dose alemtuzumab in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Blood Cancer Journal
title Long-term outcomes and clinical phenotypes associated with best response to low dose alemtuzumab in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
title_full Long-term outcomes and clinical phenotypes associated with best response to low dose alemtuzumab in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
title_fullStr Long-term outcomes and clinical phenotypes associated with best response to low dose alemtuzumab in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
title_full_unstemmed Long-term outcomes and clinical phenotypes associated with best response to low dose alemtuzumab in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
title_short Long-term outcomes and clinical phenotypes associated with best response to low dose alemtuzumab in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
title_sort long term outcomes and clinical phenotypes associated with best response to low dose alemtuzumab in cutaneous t cell lymphoma
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41408-025-01237-5
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