Importance Hypopigmented mycosis fungoides (HMF) is uncommon in adults, and data on clinicopathologic features and long-term outcomes remain sparse. Objective To investigate the clinicopathologic features and outcomes of adults with HMF in a large multicenter cohort. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective multicenter cohort study conducted from January 2011 to October 2023 at 6 US tertiary referral centers and included adults (18 years or older at diagnosis) with biopsy-confirmed HMF and hypopigmentation documented at diagnosis, with a median (range) follow-up of 39 (1-347) months. Data were analyzed from February to December 2025. Exposures Clinical variant, immunophenotype predominance, and polymerase chain reaction–based T-cell receptor ( TCR ) gene rearrangement in peripheral blood and/or skin. Main Outcomes and Measures Best overall response, defined as complete response, partial response, stable disease, or progressive disease, and progression to a higher stage. Results The cohort included 224 adults with HMF (median [range] age, 44 [18-74] years), of whom 164 (73%) were women (60 men [27%]), 5 (2%) were Asian individuals, 1 (0.4%) was a Hispanic/Latino individual, 1 (0.4%) was a Middle Eastern individual, 19 (8%) were White individuals, and 186 (83%) were Black individuals; 219 (98%) presented with early-stage disease. Most had hypopigmented lesions only (159 [71%]), whereas 65 (29%) exhibited mixed-variant mycosis fungoides; outcomes were similar between groups. Among 141 patients with available immunophenotyping, 88 (63%) had CD8-positive predominance. Among 207 treated patients, most (179 [90%]) received skin-directed therapy alone. Among 198 evaluable patients, the best overall response was complete response for 52 (26%), partial response for 101 (51%), stable disease for 34 (17%), and progressive disease for 11 (6%). Over a median (range) follow-up of 39 (1-347) months, 14 of 224 patients (6%) experienced progression to a higher stage, including 5 of 219 patients (2%) with early-stage disease at baseline who experienced progression to advanced-stage disease. Peripheral blood TCR monoclonality was detected in 23 of 85 tested patients (27%) and was associated with poorer treatment response but not with disease progression. Conclusions and Relevance The finding of this cohort study suggest that adult HMF demonstrated a generally indolent course, with favorable response to skin-directed therapy, irrespective of immunophenotype or mixed-variant presentation. Peripheral blood TCR monoclonality was associated with lower treatment response but not disease progression.
Efficacy and Safety of Topical Hypericin Photodynamic Therapy for Early-Stage Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (Mycosis Fungoides)
Importance Given that mycosis fungoides−cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (MF/CTCL) is chronic, there is a need for additional therapies with minimal short- and long-term adverse effects. Topical synthetic hypericin ointment, 0.25%, activated with visible light is a novel, nonmutagenic photodynamic therapy (PDT). Objectives To determine the efficacy and safety of topical synthetic hypericin ointment, 0.25%, activated with visible light as a nonmutagenic PDT in early-stage MF/CTCL. Design, Settings, and Participants This was a multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, phase 3 randomized clinical trial (FLASH study) conducted from December 2015 to November 2020 at 39 academic and community-based US medical centers. Participants were adults (≥18 years) with early-stage (IA-IIA) MF/CTCL. Interventions In cycle 1, patients were randomized 2:1 to receive hypericin or placebo to 3 index lesions twice weekly for 6 weeks. In cycle 2, all patients received the active drug for 6 weeks to index lesions. In cycle 3 (optional), both index and additional lesions received active drug for 6 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was index lesion response rate (ILRR), defined as 50% or greater improvement in modified Composite Assessment of Index Lesion Severity (mCAILS) score from baseline after 6 weeks of therapy for cycle 1. For cycles 2 and 3, open label response rates were secondary end points. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed at each treatment visit, after each cycle, and then monthly for 6 months. Data analyses were performed on December 21, 2020. Results The study population comprised 169 patients (mean [SD] age, 58.4 [16.0] years; 96 [57.8%] men; 120 [72.3%] White individuals) with early-stage MF/CTCL. After 6 weeks of treatment, hypericin PDT was more effective than placebo (cycle 1 ILRR, 16% vs 4%; P = .04). The ILRR increased to 40% in patients who received 2 cycles of hypericin PDT ( P < .001 vs cycle 1 hypericin) and to 49% after 3 cycles ( P < .001 vs cycle 1 hypericin). Significant clinical responses were observed in both patch and plaque type lesions and were similar regardless of age, sex, race, stage IA vs IB, time since diagnosis, and number of prior therapies. The most common treatment-related AEs were mild local skin (13.5%-17.3% across cycles 1-3 vs 10.5% for placebo in cycle 1) and application-site reactions (3.2%-6.9% across cycles 1-3 vs 4% for placebo in cycle 1). No drug-related serious AEs occurred. Conclusion and Relevance The findings of this randomized clinical trial indicate that synthetic hypericin PDT is effective in early-stage patch and plaque MF/CTCL and has a favorable safety profile. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02448381
Abstract CT215: LB1901: A phase 1, open-label, multicenter, multicohort study of CD4-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CD4-CAR-T) in relapsed or refractory T-cell lymphoma (TCL)
Abstract Background: Disease relapse is common with peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) or cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). Adoptive immunotherapy with CD19 directed CAR-T cells is a standard option for B cell lymphoid malignancies in the relapsed setting. This study assesses the safety and preliminary efficacy of CD4 targeting autologous CAR-T, LB1901, in patients (pts) with CD4+ relapsed or refractory (R/R) TCL. A pre-clinical study showed LB1901 exhibited potent anti-tumor activity without off-target effects (Zeng 2021). Methods: This is a phase 1, open-label, multicenter, multicohort study of LB1901 (NCT04712864; currently enrolling). Eligible pts are ≥18 years with histologically confirmed CD4+ PTCL-NOS (not otherwise specified); or CD4+ AITL (angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma); or CD4+ CTCL (either MF [mycosis fungoides] or SS [Sézary syndrome]). In Part A (dose escalation), pts with SS must have ≤2,000 circulating Sézary cells/µL to ensure safety of pts with higher disease burden. In Part B, pts with >2,000 Sézary cells/µL is allowed. CD4 expressed on tumor cells must be confirmed within 3 months prior to apheresis. Other inclusion criteria include: R/R disease with ≥2 prior lines of systemic antineoplastic therapy; for pts with PTCL-NOS or AITL, ≥1 measurable lesion according to IWG Response Criteria (Cheson 2014) and for pts with CTCL, ≥stage IIB on TNMB-ISLC/EORTC staging system; identified HSCT donor available prior to enrollment (in the event of severe recurrent infections and prolonged lymphopenia for which pt may need an allogeneic HSCT as a safety rescue); and ECOG status of 0 or 1. Response will be evaluated based on IWG response criteria for PTCL and Global Composite Response for CTCL (Olsen 2007). The study will be conducted in 2 parts (Part A: dose escalation and Part B: dose expansion). Three dose levels (0.3 X 106, 1.0 X 106, and 3.0 X 106 CAR+ viable T cells/kg) will be evaluated (N=3-6 for each dose level) with an optional dose level minus 1 (0.1 X 106 CAR+ viable T cells/kg). Part B will include 2 cohorts, PTCL and CTCL (N=12-20 for each), after the recommended dose for expansion (RDE) has been identified in Part A. Enrolled pts will undergo apheresis for PBMC collection. LB1901 will be manufactured from autologous CD8+ T cells. Pts may receive optional bridging therapy and receive lymphodepleting chemotherapy with fludarabine 30mg/m2/day and cyclophosphamide 300mg/m2/day (Flu-Cy), for 3 days followed by LB1901. Primary endpoints are incidence, duration, and severity of AEs and laboratory abnormalities (Parts A and B) and DLT at each dose level (Part A). Secondary endpoints include overall response rate; duration of response; CAR-positive T cell counts and CAR transgene level in blood; and presence of anti-CAR antibody response. Exploratory endpoints include preliminary efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and CD4+ T cell counts. Citation Format: Swaminathan P. lyer, David G. Maloney, Nora Bennani, Auris Huen, Muhammad Akram, Soo Kim, Chuan Wang, Zhiyin Liang, Henry Castro, Lida Pacaud, Mehdi Hamadani. LB1901: A phase 1, open-label, multicenter, multicohort study of CD4-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CD4-CAR-T) in relapsed or refractory T-cell lymphoma (TCL) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr CT215.
Determination of immunophenotypic aberrancies provides better assessment of peripheral blood involvement by mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome than quantification of CD26− or CD7− CD4+ T‐cells
AbstractBackgroundBlood involvement by mycosis fungoides (MF)/Sézary syndrome (SS) influences prognosis and therapeutic decisions. MF/SS blood stage is currently determined by absolute CD4 + CD26− or CD4 + CD7‐cell counts, which quantification method may overestimate MF/SS by including CD26− or CD7− normal CD4+ T‐cells, or underestimate disease burden when MF/SS cells show incomplete loss of CD26 and/or CD7. Recently, through the standardization effort led by the International Clinical Cytometry Society (ICCS), recommendation was made to quantify MF/SS by enumerating immunophenotypically aberrant CD4+ T‐cells, rather than CD26− or CD7− in isolation.MethodsWe compared these two quantitation methods in 309 MF/SS patients who had blood samples analyzed by flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) over a 1‐year period.ResultsUsing the European Organization of Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)/International Society for Cutaneous Lymphomas (ISCL) criteria, 221 (71.5%) patients had a blood stage corresponding to B0, 57 (18.4%) to B1, and 31 (10%) to B2. By FCI analysis, a total of 62 patients (20.0%) were found positive for MF/SS. Among EORTC B0 patients, 11/221 (5%) were positive by FCI (false negatives), and among EORTC Stage B1 patients, 35/57 (61%) were negative by FCI (false positives). Regarding patients positive for MF/SS cells by FCI, there was an overall excellent correlation (r = .999, p < .001) between the EORTC/ISCL method and FCI method; however, four (6.5%) patients would have an altered B stage between B0 and B1.ConclusionThe MF/SS cell quantification method using immunophenotypic aberrancies, as recommended by the ICCS, allows to distinguish MF/SS cells from background benign T‐cells and enables for more accurate staging, especially among patients currently being considered to have B0 and B1 stage diseases.