Successful treatment of chemotherapy‐refractory Sézary syndrome with alemtuzumab (Campath‐1H)

• Published in: European journal of haematology 2004-01, Vol.72 (1), p.61-63
• Main Authors: Gautschi, O., Blumenthal, N., Streit, M., Solenthaler, M., Hunziker, T., Zenhäusern, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alemtuzumab; Antibodies, Monoclonal - therapeutic use; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antibodies, Neoplasm - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - therapeutic use; Campath‐1H; cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma; Drug Resistance; Hodgkin Disease - drug therapy; Humans; Male; monoclonal antibodies; Neoplasms, Second Primary - diagnosis; Neoplasms, Second Primary - drug therapy; Sezary Syndrome - diagnosis; Sezary Syndrome - drug therapy; Skin Neoplasms - diagnosis; Skin Neoplasms - drug therapy; Sézary syndrome
• ISSN: 0902-4441; 1600-0609
• DOI: 10.1046/j.0902-4441.2004.00169.x

: Introduction:  Sézary syndrome (SS) is a cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma characterized by erythroderma, lymphadenopathy and circulating atypical T cells. Median survival after diagnosis is 10 yr, with chemotherapy resistance being a major problem in advanced disease. Alemtuzumab (Campath‐1H) is a monoclonal antibody directed against the lymphocytic antigen CD52, expressed on B‐ and T‐cells. Alemtuzumab is approved for relapsing chronic B‐cell leukemia and seems to be active also in T‐cell lymphomas such as T‐cell prolymphocytic lymphoma, SS and mycosis fungiodes. Case history:  A 32‐yr‐old male patient presented with advanced stage, extensively pretreated SS with heavily itching erythroderma, peripheral lymphadenopathy, circulating Sézary cells and bone marrow infiltration. The disease had not responded to PUVA/interferon‐α and progressed on chemotherapy with CHOP, 2‐CDA, vinorelbine, etoposide and liposomal doxorubicin. Following treatment with alemtuzumab (30 mg i.v. three times per week for 10 wk), itching resolved rapidly and an almost complete remission was achieved within 3 months after starting this treatment. At 12‐month follow up, no disease progression was present. Conclusion:  In accordance with previous data, this single case underlines the potent activity of alemtuzumab in advanced, chemotherapy‐refractory SS.