pentostatin and Autoimmune-Diseases

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a dynamic disease with several distinct components that make it unique from other lymphomas. The components of CTCL are reviewed to provide a background for understanding the role of pentostatin (Nipent; SuperGen, San Ramon, CA) in CTCL. In CTCL the malignant T cells mimic and eventually replace their nonmalignant counterparts. This enhances the need for targeting T cells with therapy that preferentially eliminates CTCL cells while sparing nonmalignant cells. Given the similarities of CTCL with T-cell mediated chronic inflammatory diseases, therapies used for this lymphoma also may play a role in nonmalignant disease management.

Topics: Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Autoimmune Diseases; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Chronic Disease; Dermatitis; Forecasting; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous; Pentostatin; Skin; Skin Neoplasms; T-Lymphocytes

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; Autoimmune Diseases; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hematologic Neoplasms; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Pentostatin

Autoimmune rheumatologic disease has a wide range of clinical expression that occasionally can be disabling. Patients with visceral organ involvement are exposed to significant morbidity and mortality if effective therapy is not forthcoming. The mainstay of therapy has been immunosuppression. However, some patients fail to respond to conventional doses of corticosteroids, methotrexate, or cyclophosphamide, and new approaches are needed for these patients. One new approach involves the use of intensified immunosuppression by combining cyclophosphamide with purine nucleoside analogs, including the adenosine deaminase inhibitor pentostatin (Nipent; SuperGen, San Ramon, CA).

Topics: Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitors; Antirheumatic Agents; Autoimmune Diseases; Cyclophosphamide; Drug Combinations; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents; Methotrexate; Pentostatin; Purine Nucleosides; Rheumatic Diseases

Topics: Anemia, Hemolytic; Antineoplastic Agents; Autoimmune Diseases; Fatal Outcome; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Male; Middle Aged; Pentostatin; Recurrence; Vidarabine