CTCL Treatment Options

Treatment of CTCL (Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma) is customized to your symptoms. Your treatment options are also influenced by the stage of CTCL at the time of your diagnosis. Remember that individual symptoms may vary.

CTCL stages range from IA to IVB. The stage depends on the extent of your lesions, the condition of your lymph nodes, and the spread of CTCL.

CTCL Treatment options fall into two broad categories.

CTCL Treatments - Topical medications

CTCL in its early stages may be treated with topical medications. It may also be treated with other therapies applied directly to the patches and plaques, including:

  • Topical retinoids [REH-tin-oyds] (synthetic compounds related to vitamin A used clinically in the treatment of skin conditions), such as Targretin Gel, a topical retinoid treatment used to treat the skin problems arising from a disease called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, or CTCL. Your doctor must instruct you on the proper use of Targretin gel
  • Ultraviolet light treatments, including psoralen [SOR-uh-len] (a light-sensitizing medication)+ultraviolet A light (PUVA), ultraviolet B light (UVB), and narrow-band UVB light (effective treatment for many skin conditions)
  • Topical steroids, drugs used to reduce swelling, pain, and other symptoms of inflammation
  • Topical chemotherapies, including nitrogen mustard and carmustine
  • Local radiation to single lesions or total skin electron beam radiation

CTCL Treatments - Systemic medications

Systemic CTCL treatments attack CTCL from inside the body. These CTCL treatment options include:

  • Oral retinoids: synthetic compounds related to vitamin A used in the treatment of skin conditions
  • Photopheresis [FOH-toh-fuh-REE-sis]: a procedure in which blood is removed from the body, treated with ultraviolet light and drugs, then returned to the body
  • Fusion protein: a protein created to deliver a toxin to specific cancer cells
  • Interferon [in-ter-FEER-on]: a medication that enhances the ability of the body’s immune system to attack cancer
  • Systemic chemotherapy: anticancer drugs that travel through the blood to attack cancerous cells in the body, however, can also affect normal, healthy cells

Talk to your doctor to see which CTCL treatment option is the right choice for you.

Targretin gel is proven effective in treating people with stage IA and IB CTCL. Find out more about who should use Targretin gel.

Learn how to work closely with your treatment team during your therapy. Find out how to treat CTCL with Targretin gel, a topical retinoid.

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Please see the Patient’s Instructions for Use for Targretin gel. Find out how to use Targretin gel.