Study says mycosis fungoides responds well to biological - modifier therapies

National report - According to a study published in the November issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, interleukin-12 (IL-12) produces a partial response rate of 43 percent in patients with previously treated mycosis fungoides.

IL-12 is a biological response modifier that enhances the ability of the immune system to kill tumor cells and may interfere with blood flow to the tumor. The new study involved 23 patients with mycosis fungoides, all of whom had received more than three prior therapies. The study authors reported that 10 patients achieved a partial response (PR) to the IL-12, while 30 percent had minor responses. The study also reports that the duration of PRs ranged from three to 45 weeks. Ten patients were treated for six months, and one patient was treated for two years. The major side effects included asthenia, headache, chills, fever, injection-site reactions, pain myalgia, arthralgia and elevated liver enzymes.

The study concludes that mycosis fungoides responds to biological modifier therapies, and that such therapy may be enhanced by combining two or more biological agents for optimal results.