Mogamulizumab in the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Cutaneous T cell lymphomas are a heterogeneous group of malignancies characterized by the accumulation of malignantly transformed skin homing T cells. Mycosis fungoides, a typically indolent form of cutaneous T cell lymphoma characterized by patches, plaques, and tumors, and Sézary syndrome, a leukemic variant, make up the majority of cutaneous T cell lymphomas, and prognosis in advanced-stage disease remains poor. The defucosylated monoclonal antibody, mogamulizumab, targets the CC chemokine receptor 4 on malignant cells of cutaneous T cell lymphoma and offers a novel approach to treating advanced-stage disease.

Areas covered: Mogamulizumab has shown efficacy in phase I/II clinical trials in patients with cutaneous T cell lymphoma, with overall response rates between 35–36.8%. Currently, a phase III trial is underway comparing mogamulizumab to vorinostat in the treatment of cutaneous T cell lymphoma.

Expert opinion: Mogamulizumab has already been approved in Japan for the treatment of relapsed/refractory adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma. Clinical trials, currently in progress, are investigating the efficacy of mogamulizumab for advanced and metastatic solid tumors. Depletion of regulatory T cells, and the resulting boost in anti-tumor immunity caused by mogamulizumab, have great potential in the treatment of a wide range of malignancies, including cutaneous T cell lymphomas.

KEYWORDS:

• CC Chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4)
• cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL)
• mycosis fungoides (MF)
• regulator T cells (Tregs)
• Sézary Syndrome (SS)

Declaration of interest

M Duvic has received Blanche Bender Professorship in Cancer Research. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.