Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma
Treatment Options
Many factors are considered to identify the most appropriate treatment for each patient, including the extent of skin involvement, the type of skin lesion, and whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other internal organs.
For mycosis fungoides, treatment is either directed at the skin or the entire body (systemic). Many patients live normal lives while they treat their disease, and some are able to remain in remission for long periods of time.
Since Sézary syndrome is systemic, one in which both blood and skin involvement is noted, it is usually not treated with skin-directed therapies alone. Treatments may be prescribed alone or in combination to achieve the best long-term benefit.
- Skin-Directed Therapies are generally used for earlier stage disease and are typically useful for patches and limited plaques.
- Topical treatments such as corticosteroids, retinoids, imiquimod, or chemotherapy. The following topical treaments have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
- Bexarotene gel (Targretin)
- Mechlorethamine gel (Valchor)
- Local radiation
- Ultraviolet light
- Topical treatments such as corticosteroids, retinoids, imiquimod, or chemotherapy. The following topical treaments have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):
- Systemic Treatment may be used in more advanced stage disease and in those with earlier stage disease in whom skin-directed therapies did not help, were not tolerated, or are not available. Systemic treatments include extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) and/or single-agent or combination chemotherapy regimens, which may include:
- Acitretin (Soriatane)
- Bexarotene capsules (Targretin)
- Interferons (alpha or gamma)
- Methotrexate tablets (Trexall)
- Romidepsin (Istodax)
- Vorinostat (Zolinza)
Learn More
To learn more about CTCL, download the Cutaneous Lymphoma Fact Sheet. Want to talk to someone? For answers to lymphoma-related questions and resources, contact our Helpline at (800) 500-9976 or helpline@lymphoma.org.
Additional Resources
To learn more about CTCL, download the Cutaneous Lymphoma Fact Sheet.
Events

Lymphoma Talk: Los Angeles
Lymphoma Talk is a two-hour weekday evening in-person program led by lymphoma experts that provides […]

Ask the Doctor About Lymphoma: Information for Newly Diagnosed Patients
Ask the Doctor About Lymphoma is a virtual two-hour program that combines a comprehensive and […]

Drug Development and Clinical Trials for Lymphoma and CLL/SLL Webinar
Webinars are hour-long interactive programs discussing the diagnosis and treatment of specific lymphoma subtypes and […]