Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare and a collection of non-Hodgkin lymphomas that is formed by the uncontrolled growth of T-cells that sofisticated infiltrate the skin. This type of cancer is difficult to treat considering the variety of clinical presentations and the generally grim outlook for advanced cases. Protheragen offers sophisticated preclinical drug and therapy development services for CTCL.
CTCL is a rare disease that is malignant and has an impact on the skin. It has an approximate global incidence of 6.4 cases for every million people every year. The prevailing sub-types Mycosis Fungoides (MF) and Sézary Syndrome (SS) form due to a surge of skin-homing malignant T-cells. The range of CTCL manifestations includes: scaly patches, and plaques, tumors, and erythroderma. The disease is progressive and it spreads to the lymph nodes, the blood, and other organs, generally leading to a poorer prognosis. Early detection and a better understanding of the disease's progress is important for better therapeutic development.
Fig.1 T-Cell receptor rearrangements. (Mandel et al., 2023)CTCL is characterized by the malignant change of T-cells, which accumulate and proliferate within the skin. The skin is the site of the T-cell accumulation and proliferation, which undergoes malignant changes. The process is governed by a blend of genetic, epigenetic, and immunological factors. It is made up of molecular drivers such as mutations in the genes STAT3, JAK1, and TET2, which result in persistent activation of the cell survival pathways. The malignant T-cells orchestrate the immunosuppressive microenvironment within the skin while avoiding detection and destruction by the host immune system. The joints of the host's immune system are suppressed, and the immune surveillance is heavily regulated. This imbalance of the immune system and cellular signaling is a defining characteristic of CTCL.
| Drug Name | Target | Key Findings/Mechanism | Development Stage |
| Brentuximab vedotin | CD30 | CD30-targeting ADC delivering MMAE toxin; induces apoptosis in malignant T cells | Phase II |
| Mogamulizumab | CCR4 | Depletes regulatory T cells via ADCC; superior efficacy vs. vorinostat in relapsed/refractory CTCL | Approved |
| Vorinostat | HDAC | Inhibits histone deacetylase, inducing tumor cell apoptosis | Phase IIb |
| Bexarotene | RXR | Selective retinoid X receptor agonist; promotes tumor cell differentiation | Phase II/III |
| Ipilimumab | CTLA4 | Blocks immune checkpoint via CTLA4 inhibition | Phase II |
| Pembrolizumab | PD-1 | Activates T-cell anti-tumor immunity through PD-1 blockade | Phase II |
Disclaimer: Protheragen focuses on providing preclinical research services. This table is for information exchange purposes only. This table is not a treatment plan recommendation. For guidance on treatment options, please visit a regular hospital.
Protheragen provides comprehensive, integrated services to accelerate the innovation of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma therapeutics. We offer end-to-end solutions, including therapeutic development, and disease models, to facilitate the translation of your therapeutic concepts. Our advanced platforms ensure seamless transitions from discovery to IND-enabling studies.
Protheragen offers customized in vitro models, including 2D cell models and 3D skin models, to precisely study the unique molecular pathogenic processes of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Furthermore, our animal models are designed to faithfully reproduce the classical disease phenotypes of CTCL, allowing for robust in vivo validation of both targeted therapies and small molecule therapeutics against neoplastic infiltration and immune evasion mechanisms.
In Vivo Pharmacokinetics Services
Protheragen is a one-stop preclinical research services provider who is committed to advancing therapeutics for complex autoimmune and rare skin diseases, including cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Our end-to-end solutions range from target discovery, disease modeling, and comprehensive drug safety evaluation and DMPK services. If you are interested in our services, please feel free to contact us.
References
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.
