TOPICAL ADMINISTRATION OF HEXADECYLPHOSPHOCHOLINE IN PATIENTS WITH CUTANEOUS LYMPHOMAS - RESULTS OF A PHASE-I II STUDY/

Background. Hexadecylphosphocholine is a new antineoplastic drug that inhibits tumor cell growth directly and, in addition, might have immun oregulatory properties. Objective: We investigated the topical applica tion of this phospholipid in patients with cutaneous lymphoma. Methods : Twenty-four patients with histologically documented cutaneous lympho ma were treated for 8 weeks. Lesions that responded to treatment were biopsied and evaluated histologically. Results: Of 15 patients with cu taneous T-cell lymphomas, 12 were evaluable. Two complete remissions, four partial remissions, and one minor remission were observed. Of sev en patients with B-cell lymphomas, six were evaluable. One complete re mission, three partial remissions, one case of stable disease, and one case of progressive disease were seen. However, histologic monitoring demonstrated only a partial clearing of infiltrating lymphocytes in l esions that showed a partial or complete response clinically. Both pat ients with lymphomatoid papulosis had complete clearing of the lesions clinically. An objective response rate (partial and complete response ) of 56% (10/18) was achieved in the patients with cutaneous lymphoma who were treated in this study. Conclusion: Hexadecylphosphocholine ap pears to be effective topically in the treatment of some cases of cuta neous lymphomas.