Treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with the combination extracorporeal photochemotherapy and conventional psoralen ultraviolet A irradiation

INTRODUCTION: Combination UVA irradiation (PUVA) and photophoresis as an option for the treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). METHODS: Two patients with CTCL, who had demonstrated clinical response to therapy with a variety of agents (including photochemotherapy and photophoresis) followed by relapses, were placed on a treatment regimen combining photophoresis every 4 to 8 weeks with PUVA four times per week. RESULTS: There was a decrease in the size of existing lesions, arrest of new tumor development, and resolution of lymphadenopathy. These patients who had become unresponsive to both PUVA and photophoresis, individually, were successfully treated with combination therapy and have not relapsed over an 8-month period. CONCLUSION: The combination of PUVA and photophoresis may act synergistically resulting in clinical improvement in patients with CTCL.