Greg Palko, Vice President and Oncology Franchise Head of Kyowa Kirin North America, discusses a new cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) Staging Tool.
CTCL is a rare group of malignancies that attack the body’s immune lymphatic system, affecting both B-cells and T-cells. The underlying cause of CTCL is not fully understood. Genetic causes are suspected but these issues appear to be sporadic mutations for the most common forms of CTCL. The most common subtypes of CTCL are Sézary syndrome and mycosis fungoides.
Common symptoms include widespread red rash that may cover most of the body, the presence of cancerous T cells in the blood, and abnormally enlarged lymph nodes. Other signs and symptoms may include intense itchiness, scaling and peeling of the skin; fever; weight loss; hair loss; ectropion; palmoplantar keratoderma; malformation of the nails; and hepatosplenomegaly.
As Mr. Palko explains, due to the variety of symptoms and many disease types, diagnosis of CTCL can be challenging. Many patients go two to seven years before getting an accurate diagnosis. Similarly, staging the severity of the disease can be fraught with uncertainty. However, properly staging patients can be crucial to developing and choosing accurate treatment plans.
The CTCL Staging Tool on PROBEinCTCL.com is a first-of-its kind tool aimed at guiding physicians on what to consider when staging patients with mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. The tool takes physicians through a combination of questions and clinical case imagery evaluating the extent of disease across the TNMB system looking at skin, lymph nodes, visceral/metastasis, and blood. After completion, the tool shows a staging that best aligns with the individual patient case and additional information and guidance is provided for next steps.
The tool was developed from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines and clinical trial design and staging recommendations from the International Society for Cutaneous Lymphoma, the U.S. Cutaneous Lymphoma Consortium, and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer. The tool works to translate these complex guidelines into a more simple assessment with the goal of supporting more consistent and informed care.
For more information and a demo of the tool, visit https://checkrare.com/new-staging-tool-available-for-healthcare-providers-treating-patients-with-ctcl/