A novel regimen of vorinostat with interferon gamma for refractory Sézary syndrome

Long-term prognosis for advanced stages of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma may be beneficially altered with the use of multimodality therapy. However, refractory disease exists in which current therapeutic options fail to halt the progression of disease. We present 3 cases of refractory Sézary syndrome in which the combination of vorinostat and interferon gamma was well tolerated and produced significant clinical improvement. The potential immunologic basis for this is discussed.

Abbreviations used: CBC, complete blood cell count, CTCL, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, IL, interleukin, MF, mycosis fungoides, SS, Sézary syndrome, TSEB, total skin electron beam

a Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

b Department of Medicine, Hematology Oncology Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Correspondence to: Alain H. Rook, MD, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3600 Spruce St, 2 Maloney Bldg, Philadelphia, PA 19146.

Funding sources: None.

Disclosure: Dr Rook has lectured at events sponsored by Merck. Dr Kim was a study site investigator for a clinical trial involving vorinostat from 2004 to 2005. Drs Gardner, Introcaso, Nasta, and Vittorio have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Reprints not available from the authors.

PII: S0190-9622(08)02460-2

doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2008.11.889

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