Mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome: new pathogenetic aspects

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative skin disorders whose pathogenesis is poorly understood. Cytokines and chem okines are important factors which can modify the cutaneous microenvironmen t allowing the accumulation of lymphocytes. Most of these neoplasms seem to be T helper-2 cells. While interferon gamma is the natural inhibitor of cl onal T-cell proliferations, interferon resistance has been recently found i n these cells. This interferon resistance may be an Achilles heel that can be targeted by molecular therapeutic interventions.