TOX expression in patients with Mycosis fungoides- a potential diagnostic marker?

Abstract

Introduction: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and characterized by clonal expansion of atypical T lymphocytes initially affecting the skin. The diagnosis of MF is both a clinical and histological challenge because of the morphological and histological similarities to benign inflammatory dermatitis (BID). The TOX gene plays an important role in regulating T-cell development and has been implicated as an oncogenic marker in CTCL, being significantly increased in MF compared to reactive skin conditions, indicating a potential role of TOX as a useful diagnostic marker.