Transformation of mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome: Clinical characteristics and prognosis

The occurrence of large cell transformation has been well documented in a subgroup of patients with mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome (MF/SS). However, because of the rarity of MF/SS, little is known about the influence of clinicopathologic features in predicting large cell transformation and about outcome in the transformed cases. We evaluated all patients with MF/SS who were registered in our clinic during the study period and for whom pathologic slides for review were available or could be obtained. Disease was classified as transformed if biopsy showed large cells (≤4 times the size of a small lymphocyte) in more than 25% of the infiltrate or if they formed microscopic nodules. Twenty-six patients with transformation were identified from a total of 115 evaluable cases with a diagnosis of MF/SS. The actuarial cumulative probability of transformation reached 39% in 12 years. The median time from diagnosis of MF/SS to transformation was 12 months (range, 0 to 128 months). Thirty-one percent of all patients with stage IIB-IV disease at presentation eventually transformed versus 14% of those with stage I-IIA (P = .03), with transformation being especially common in patients with tumors (T3), 46% of whom transformed. Combining elevated β2 microglobulin and lactic dehydrogenase (neither elevated v one or both elevated) was also predictive for transformation (P = .009). The median survival from initial diagnosis of MF/SS for the transformed patients was 37 months versus 163 months for the untransformed group (P = .0029). The median survival from transformation was 19.4 months (range, 2+ to 138 months). The following characteristics were associated with an inferior survival in transformed patients: (1) early transformation (<2 years from the diagnosis v ≤2 years; P = .011) and (2) advanced stage (IIB-IV v I-IIA; 2-year survival, 23% v 86%; P = .0035). We conclude that MF/SS patients with stages IIB-IV disease and, in particular, those with tumors have a high incidence of large-cell transformation. Patients with transformation have a relatively poor survival, especially if transformation occurs early (within 2 years) in the course of disease or if they are staged as IIB or higher.