Mycosis fungoides (MF), the most common type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), is a malignancy characterized by the infiltration of malignant T-cells into the skin.1,2
Patients with MF can experience either “early” or "advanced” stage of their disease. While patients in the early stage have a normal life expectancy, about 25% of patients may progress to an advanced stage with worse prognosis.3 As the disease progresses, malignant T-cells migrate into the lower dermal layer, lymph nodes, blood, and organs.1

Unfortunately, there is currently no definitive cure for MF-CTCL. Therefore, reducing the burden of disease and decreasing the risk of disease progression are primary goals for onco-dermatologists. Ensuring symptom relief to improve or maintain patients’ quality of life is also crucial.4

In recent years, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has attracted increasing interest and research in the medical community.5  Malignant cells interact with and modify their environment to support tumor growth, regulate cell migration and proliferation, suppress immune responses, and modulate through chemokines and cytokines.6

Understanding the TME helps identify drug targets that can disrupt a compromised microenvironment and potentially impact disease outcomes.5 Treatments that are able to disrupt the unfavourable tumor microenvironment have the potential to prolong the duration of treatment response, the time to next treatment and may influence disease evolution, thereby reducing the risk of disease progression.7

To further explore the topic of disease progression in MF-CTCL, Helsinn was pleased to support the symposium entitled "Early-stage MF-CTCL and disease progression - what drives progression and how do we tackle it?", chaired by renowned experts in tumour microenvironment, Prof. Adèle de Masson and Dr. Gabor Dobos, on 9 October 2024. In particular, the discussion focused on early-stage MF-CTCL, highlighting the key drivers of disease progression and strategies to mitigate the risk. The experts also reviewed treatment options which can potentially alter the course of the disease by modulating the tumour microenvironment and reducing tumour burden. The safety and long-term efficacy of these treatments, as supported by the EORTC guidelines, were key points of discussion, aiming to improve outcomes for early-stage patients.

Helsinn is committed to raising awareness about MF-CTCL and improving the quality of life for patients affected by the disease.

1. Diamandidou, E., Cohen, P., & Kurzrock, R. (1996). Mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome [see comments]. Blood, 88(7), 2385–2409. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.v88.7.2385.bloodjournal8872385
2. Hwang, S. T., Janik, J. E., Jaffe, E. S., & Wilson, W. H. (2008). Mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. The Lancet, 371(9616), 945–957. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(08)60420-1
3. Scarisbrick, J. (2018). Staging of mycosis fungoides and Sézary Syndrome: Time for an update? EMJ Hematology, 92–100. https://doi.org/10.33590/emjhematol/10313097
4. Latzka, J., Assaf, C., Bagot, M., Cozzio, A., Dummer, R., Guenova, E., Gniadecki, R., Hodak, E., Jonak, C., Klemke, C., Knobler, R., Morrris, S., Nicolay, J. P., Ortiz-Romero, P. L., Papadavid, E., Pimpinelli, N., Quaglino, P., Ranki, A., Scarisbrick, J., . . . Trautinger, F. (2023). EORTC consensus recommendations for the treatment of mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome – Update 2023. European Journal of Cancer, 195, 113343. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2023.113343
5. Jin, M., & Jin, W. (2020). The updated landscape of tumor microenvironment and drug repurposing. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-020-00280-x
6. Liu, Z., Wu, X., Hwang, S. T., & Liu, J. (2021). The role of tumor microenvironment in mycosis fungoides and Sézary Syndrome. Annals of Dermatology, 33(6), 487. https://doi.org/10.5021/ad.2021.33.6.487
7. Li, H., Zhou, L., Zhou, J., Li, Q., & Ji, Q. (2021). Underlying mechanisms and drug intervention strategies for the tumour microenvironment. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, 40(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13046-021-01893-y