Molecular detection of circulating Sezary cells in patients with mycosis fungoides: could it predict future development of secondary Sezary syndrome? A single-institution experience

Leuk Lymphoma. 2012 May;53(5):868-77. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2011.633408. Epub 2012 Feb 13.

Abstract

While the majority of patients with early-stage mycosis fungoides (MF) have an excellent prognosis, a few cases progress to secondary Sezary syndrome (sSS), which carries a dismal clinical outcome. We retrospectively analyzed 135 cases of MF/SS and correlated molecular detection of T-cell clones in the skin and blood with other clinicopathologic findings. When stratified by the diagnoses, patients with MF demonstrated a 26.5% (31/117) positive rate for a blood T-cell clone, of which 50% (10/20) had an identical T-cell clone in the skin. Follow-up evaluation showed conversion into sSS or leukemic phase in 50% (5/10) of cases with a positive blood T-cell clone (estimated mean interval 41.8 months) in comparison to no cases in the group without a clone (0/31). Interestingly, 4/5 cases of sSS had an identical T-cell clone in the skin, while the remaining case did not have the test performed on skin for clonal comparison. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a poor clinical outcome in the group with a blood T-cell clone, in comparison with the group without, in overall survival (p < 0.0001) and progression-free survival (p < 0.0001; HR = 22.6). These findings suggest that molecular detection of a blood T-cell clone may have a role in predicting sSS. Due to amplification of non-neoplastic T-cell expansion in a significant number of cases, comparison of blood T-cell clones with skin may have confirmatory value.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Clone Cells / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycosis Fungoides / pathology*
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / pathology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sezary Syndrome / pathology*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Young Adult