Prospective observational trial of low-dose skin electron beam therapy in mycosis fungoides using a rotational technique.

INTRODUCTION

Low-dose total skin electron beam therapy provides a durable treatment response for skin lesions caused by cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. We prospectively assessed the durability of response and quality of life for patients receiving low-dose total skin electron beam therapy using a novel rotational technique and dosing regimen.

METHODS

Patients completed baseline Skindex-29 quality-of-life surveys and had baseline Modified Severity-Weighted Assessment Tool score recorded. Patients received 12 Gy in 12 fractions with a dual-field rotational technique. The primary outcome was overall response rate, with the secondary outcomes being time to treatment response, duration of clinical benefit, and quality-of-life change.

RESULTS

We enrolled 20 patients and recorded an overall response rate of 90%. The median time to treatment response was 6.5 weeks. The baseline Modified Severity-Weighted Assessment Tool score was 55.6 and it declined to a median of 2.2 at last follow-up (P < .001). The median duration of clinical benefit was 21 months. There was a decline in the Skindex-29 total score and every subdomain when each follow-up visit was compared (P = .004).

CONCLUSIONS

This prospective study demonstrated a very high overall response rate and improvement in skin-related quality of life. Low-dose rotational total skin electron beam therapy can be implemented routinely in clinical practice.