The Treatment of Advanced-Stage Mycosis Fungoides and Sezary Syndrome: a Hematologist's Point of View

Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of T-cell neoplasms involving the skin, the majority of which may be classified as Mycosis Fungoides (MF) or Sezary Syndrome (SS). Mycosis fungoides (MF) is usually associated with an indolent clinical course and intermittent, stable, or slow progression of the lesions. Extracutaneous involvement (lymph nodes, blood, or less commonly other organs) or large cell transformation (LCT) may be seen in advanced-stage disease. Sezary syndrome (SS) is a rare leukemic subtype of CTCL characterized by significant blood involvement, erythroderma, and often lymphadenopathy. Although the early-stage disease can be effectively treated predominantly with skin-directed therapies, systemic therapy is often necessary to treat advanced-stage disease. Systemic therapy options have evolved in recent years with the approval of novel agents such as vorinostat, brentuximab vedotin, and mogamulizumab. This review aims to discuss the diagnosis and management of advanced-stages MF and SS.