Evaluation of Alitretinoin for the Treatment of Mycosis Fungoides and Sézary Syndrome

Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are the most common subtypes of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). There is currently no cure for CTCL, and treatment is aimed at limiting disease progression. This study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of alitretinoin in CTCL management. Methods: A retrospective, multicenter study was conducted on CTCL patients treated with alitretinoin as a primary agent or in combination with standard therapies. Results: Forty-eight patients with MF (n = 40) and SS (n = 8) with a median age of 59.7 years (±14.3) were eligible for study inclusion. Treatment response data were evaluated in 40 patients and safety in 42 patients. 40.0% of the patients had early-stage, 43.8% had advanced-stage CTCL, and in 16.7% of patients there was insufficient information for staging. 40.0% (16/40) of the patients achieved a complete or partial response, whereas 47.5% (19/40) achieved stable disease, 12.5% (5/40) had progressive disease, and there were no cases of disease relapses in responders. Both early and advanced stages of CTCL were responsive to alitretinoin as a primary or combined modality. Alitretinoin was well tolerated, and 64.3% (27/42) of patients did not report any side effects. The most commonly observed side effect was hypertriglyceridemia. Conclusions: This retrospective analysis supports the efficacy and safety of alitretinoin in clearing skin disease and preventing disease progression in CTCL as a monotherapy or in combination with standard therapies.