Therapeutic advances for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Abstract Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCLs) are a group of rare and heterogenous diseases. There is currently no curative treatment for patients with advanced mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS). The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer consensus recommendations for the treatment of MF/SS have been updated and focus on recently available treatments. Peginterferon, a new form of interferon, has a favourable risk–benefit profile for the treatment of patients with CTCL. Recently approved monoclonal antibodies (mABs) have completely modified the treatment algorithm of advanced CTCL treatment. Brentuximab vedotin is very efficient for tumours and transformed MF. Mogamulizumab can induce long-term remission in patients with SS. An international trial of lacutamab has recently been completed, for both SS and MF. Numerous novel targets have been identified, and several new mABs have been shown to be able to enhance specific immune responses and to induce targeted antibody-dependent cytotoxicity and cytophagocytosis. These new antibodies warrant further evaluation in controlled trials. Kinase inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy are promising new treatments. Finally, recent studies have demonstrated that allogeneic haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation can increase survival and quality of life in patients with advanced CTCL.