Mycosis fungoides is the most common type of skin lymphoma. It develops when certain white blood cells (T cells) grow abnormally in the skin, causing red, scaly, or itchy patches. The disease is often treated with phototherapy, a light-based treatment that can control symptoms in early stages. This study looked at a protein called interleukin-35 (IL-35), which normally helps regulate the immune system but can also suppress the body's ability to fight cancer. The investigators aimed to determine if IL-35 levels are higher in patients with mycosis fungoides and whether phototherapy can change those levels. The study enrolled 16 patients with mycosis fungoides and compared them to 16 healthy people. Blood samples and small skin biopsies were taken before and after phototherapy. The study found that IL-35 levels were significantly higher in patients than in healthy people. After phototherapy, IL-35 levels dropped back to normal. These results suggest that phototherapy not only treats skin lesions directly but also helps restore immune balance by lowering IL-35. IL-35 may become a useful marker to monitor disease activity and treatment response in patients with mycosis fungoides.
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Change in serum and tissue interleukin-35 (IL-35) levels in mycosis fungoides patients before and after phototherapy
Timeframe: Baseline and after up to 36 phototherapy sessions (approximately 3 months)