Low-dose total skin electron beam therapy as an effective modality to reduce disease burden in patients with mycosis fungoides: Results of a pooled analysis from 3 phase-II clinical trials. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Hoppe, R. T., Harrison, C., Tavallaee, M., Bashey, S., Sundram, U., Li, S., Million, L., Dabaja, B., Gangar, P., Duvic, M., Kim, Y. H. 2015; 72 (2): 286-292

Abstract

Standard-dose (36-Gy) total skin electron beam therapy (TSEBT) is a highly effective treatment in mycosis fungoides. However, the regimen is time-intensive and may be associated with significant toxicity.We sought to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability associated with low-dose (12-Gy) TSEBT.Data from 3 clinical trials using low-dose (12-Gy) TSEBT were pooled. In all trials, TSEBT-naïve patients with stage IB to IIIA mycosis fungoides were treated with TSEBT (12 Gy, 1 Gy per fraction over 3 weeks). The primary end point was clinical response rate. Secondary end points included time to response and duration of clinical benefit.In all, 33 patients enrolled. Eighteen were male; stages were 22 IB, 2 IIA, 7 IIB, and 2 IIIA. Overall response rate was 88% (29/33), including 9 patients with complete response. Median time to response was 7.6 weeks (3-12.4 weeks). Median duration of clinical benefit was 70.7 weeks (95% confidence interval 41.8-133.8 weeks). Toxicities from TSEBT were mild and reversible.Conclusions are limited because of the small number of patients.Low-dose TSEBT provides reliable and rapid reduction of disease burden in patients with mycosis fungoides, which could be administered safely multiple times during the course of a patient's disease with acceptable toxicity profile.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaad.2014.10.014

View details for PubMedID 25476993