Extracorporeal photochemotherapy alone or with adjuvant therapy in the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: A 9-year retrospective study at a single institution

Background: Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP; photopheresis) is a trea tment option for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Objective: This study describes the outcomes obtained with ECP alone or wit h adjuvant therapy in treating CTCL. Methods: A 9-year retrospective study was performed at a single institution . Results: Among 69 patients, 37 were treated with 6 months or more of ECP al one over an average of 36.9 months. Of these patients, 68% (25/37) had stag e T2, 5% (2/37) had stage TS, and 27% (10/37) had stage T4 CTCL. Complete r esponse (no skin or systemic disease for 1 month or more) and partial respo nse (50%-99% skin improvement for 1 month or more) were achieved by 14% (5/ 37) and 41% (15/37) of patients, respectively, giving an overall response r ate of 54% (20/37). In recalcitrant patients, adjuvant therapy significantl y increased the response rate from 31% (4/13) to 69% (9/13) (P = 0.004). EC P was well tolerated in the entire patient population. Conclusion: Response rates in this study compared favorably with those in p revious studies, underscoring the potential value of ECP in treating CTCL. To our knowledge, this investigation included the largest group of CTCL pat ients ever treated with ECP at a single institution.