Interleukin-2 receptor-directed therapies for cutaneous lymphomas.

Our emerging understanding of the IL-2/IL-2R system opens the possibility for more specific immunotherapy of CTCL. This understanding, taken in conjunction with the ability to produce humanized antibodies to the IL-2R subunit by genetic engineering; to arm these antibodies, as well as IL-2 itself with toxins or with alpha- and beta-emitting radionuclides; and to modulate IL-2R subunits to optimize targeting of these agents provides a rational therapeutic strategy for the treatment of IL-2R-expressing CTCL. Although most of these studies were conducted in HTLV-1-associated T-cell lymphomas or CTCL, it is likely that these agents may be applicable to other T-cell lymphomas, including the anaplastic large cell lymphomas, peripheral T-cell lymphomas, and the natural killer lymphomas, because these cells express the IL-2 receptor.