Treatment of mycosis fungoides

Abstract

Mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), can be divided into erythematous, plaque, tumor stages according to its typical clinical manifestations. The course of MF is chronic and progressive. The cause and pathogenesis of MF still remain unclear, and its treatment and prognosis are associated with the disease stage. According to the different stages of the disease, local treatment is preferred in patients with early MF, including topical glucocorticoids, nitrogen mustard, phototherapy and radiotherapy, while combined therapy should be considered for patients with late MF, such as combined treatment with interferon, retinoids or chemotherapeutic drugs. After treatment, most patients′ condition can be relieved, but the median duration of disease remission is usually short, and relapse or progression may occur easily. Recently, with further insights into the pathogenesis of MF, some novel therapies have appeared, such as new topical preparations and topical formulations, monoclonal antibodies, immunoconjugates, histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI), proteasome inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Key words: Mycosis fungoides; Therapeutic uses; Drug therapy, combination; Immunity