Pooya Khan Mohammad Beigi
University of British Columbia, Canada
Title: Efficacy of “Interferon alpha-2a combined with PUVA†compared with “PUVA monotherapy†in various stages of Mycosis Fungoides (MF)
Biography
Biography: Pooya Khan Mohammad Beigi
Abstract
Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the most common form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Even though phototherapy is one of the most effective treatment methods during the early phases of MF, it does not seem to be as effective for long-term remission when used solely. The use of interferon as an effective immunotherapy in the treatment of MF could be considered as an adjunctive therapy. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of the two treatment methods, PUVA monotherapy and PUVA combined with interferon alpha-2a. This study examined 150 patients diagnosed with MF through biopsy, who were either treated with PUVA or PUVA and interfron 2A at Razi Dermatology Hospital during the years of September 2005 to August 2015. In PUVA monotherapy group, all patients at stage IA had complete or partial remission. However, patients at stages III or IVA did not respond to treatment. In PUVA+INF group, all patients at stage IA had complete or partial remission but similar to PUVA alone group, patients in stages III or IVA did not respond to treatment. Complete remission was found in 78.6% of patients at stage IA, 57.1% of stage IB and 75% of stage IIA. Partial remission was documented in 21.4% of patients at stage IA, 28.6% of stage IB and 25% of stage IIA. 66.7% of patients at stage III and 75% of individuals at stage IVA did not respond to treatment (P=0.007). Complete and overall remissions showed no significant difference based on the type of treatment. This study found that PUVA alone and the combination of PUVA with interferon are both effective in patients with MF, especially at the early stages of MF.