Forum,Winter 2011
11
Highlights from the First WorldCongress of Cutaneous Lymphomas
T
heFirstWorldCongress ofCutaneousLymphomas
convened inChicago, Illinois, September 22-25, 2010.
Itwas sponsoredby the International Society forCutaneous
Lymphomas (ISCL), theUnitedStatesCutaneous
LymphomaConsortium (USCLC) and theRobertH.Lurie
ComprehensiveCancerCenter ofNorthwesternUniversity.
Themeetingbeganwith ahalf dayUSCLCWorkshop
that focusedon clinical issues in cutaneous lymphoma and
includedmultiple specialties. Itwas the firstmultidisciplinary
meetingof its kind for theUSCLC andwas intended topro-
vide education and information across the specialities inmedi-
cine involved in the careof the cutaneous lymphomapatient:
dermatology,medical oncology, radiationoncology andderma-
topathology.
The scientificprogram includedpresentations from
laboratories andmedical centers around theglobe.Over 60
abstractswerepresentedover threedays.
Anovel basic science findingwas presentedby investiga-
tors forYaleUniversityDepartment ofDermatology.Utilizing
computer analysis of differences in cutaneousT-cell lymphoma
(CTCL) genome content and expression, anew candidate
genewas identified and correlatedwith resistance to skindis-
ease improvement. Further genetic studieswill determine the
exact roleof this gene in thedevelopment ofCTCL andmay
serve as anew target for thedevelopment of new immunother-
apies.
New translational researchon theuseofmonoclonal
antibody therapy inSézary syndrome from theUniversityof
Turinwas presented.Alemtuzumab is amonoclonal antibody
that targetsCD52, a surfaceprotein that is expressedon lym-
phocytes.Low subcutaneousdosing resulted inhigh response
rates inpatientswithSézary syndrome.The clinical response
of lowdose alemtuzumabwas evaluatedby investigators at
Women’s andBrigham’sHospital inBoston and appears to
result from a selective eliminationof cancerousSézaryT-cells
circulating in thebloodwhile sparingT-cells residing in the
skin.These findings that combine clinical and laboratory
observations suggest thepresenceof separate compartments
ofT-cells in the skin andblood andprovidenew insights into
thedevelopment of skin-basedmycosis fungoides and leukemic
Sézary syndrome.
Results of anewly completedmulti-center clinical trial
testing topical nitrogenmustard inmycosis fungoideswere
presented.ThirteenUnitedStates centers participated in
the largest single clinical trial inCTCL.The trial demon-
strated that anewmanufacturednitrogenmustardgel for-
mulationwas comparable to compoundednitrogenmustard
ointment.The trial resultswill be submitted to theUnited
StatesFood andDrug
Administration (FDA)
with thegoal of obtain-
ingFDA approval of a
manufacturednitrogen
mustardgel thatwill
be available inpharma-
cies by the endof 2011.
Thesepromising results
aregreatlywelcomed
by theCutaneous
LymphomaFoundation
since consistent access
to topical nitrogenmus-
tardhas been apriority
issue for theFoundation
since its inception.
The ISCLhonored
Dr.EricVonderheid
for his lifetime achieve-
ments inCTCL at
theWorldCongress’
dinner gala event.
Dr.Vonderheid’s con-
tributions to clinical
medicine, research and
leadership in the fieldof
CTCLwere recognized
by international col-
leagues, collaborators
andbyhis patients, all in
attendance for the event.
TheCutaneous
LymphomaFoundation,
in collaborationwith
theWorldCongress organizers, held aPatientEducational
Forum concurrentlyon the final dayof themeeting.Over 100
patients, familymembers andother attendees gathered for this
forumwhere theyhad theopportunity tohear talks by leading
physicians, nurses andpatient advocates, participate inques-
tion and answer sessions,meet other patients and share their
experiences.
Dr. Stuart Lessin, Foundation
BoardMember, andDr. Eric
Vonderheidcelebrate together
Susan Thornton, Foundation
Secretary; Dr. EricVonderheid;
and Judy Jones, Foundation
President
Judy Jones, Foundation
President (far right), andothers
participateonapanel
