Pilot study of etanercept in patients with relapsed cutaneous T-cell lymphomas

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).To assess the toxicity, safety, and efficacy of etanercept (soluble TNF receptor) in patients with relapsed CTCL.Etanercept was administered twice weekly at a dose of 25 mg subcutaneously. Patients with improvement after two months could be continued on treatment.Twelve out of the 13 patients enrolled on study were evaluable (Stage I-IIA, 3 patients; Stage IIB-IV disease, 9 patients). The median number of previous therapies was 7 (range, 3-12). Etanercept induced partial remission in one patient (8%) and minor response in one patient (8%), both of whom had Stage IB disease. Most patients experienced no side effects.This pilot study suggests that etanercept is safe and generally well tolerated in patients with CTCL. The effect of etanercept in a larger cohort of patients with early disease merits investigation.