Cyclosporine in relapsed subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare T-cell lymphoma characterized by involvement of the subcutaneous tissue of neoplastic T lymphocytes. SPTCL with hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is associated with an aggressive clinical course and treatment of SPTCL with HPS is not well established. Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone (CHOP) therapy is not successful in most patients suffering from SPTCL with HPS. The role of high dose chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains controversial. We report a case of relapsed SPTCL after CHOP chemotherapy and salvage chemother weeks after cyclosporine and prednisolone. Immunosuppressive apy followed by autologous HSCT, which had rapid improvement withintherapy may be an important and successful treatment option in SPTCL patients, even though they may have clinically aggressive disease. © 2011 by the Korean Cancer Association.