Staging lymph nodes and blood at diagnosis in mycosis fungoides identifies patients at increased risk of progression to advanced stage: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Risk factors for progression to advanced-stage mycosis fungoides (MF) are poorly defined.

Methods: The authors performed a single-center, retrospective cohort study among patients with MF at an academic medical center from 1990 to 2020 to identify clinical variables associated with progression to advanced-stage MF (stage IIB-IVB), and 388 patients who had a clinicopathologic diagnosis of early stage (IA-IIA) MF were identified from their cutaneous lymphoma database. Baseline clinical characteristics, laboratory values, imaging, and blood flow cytometry or T-cell receptor gene rearrangement (TCR) data were collected. Logistic regression was used to assess risk factors associated with progression.

Results: Overall, 93 of 388 patients (24.0%) progressed to advanced stage. Patients who progressed had an increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 4.50; 95% CI, 2.89-7.00; p < .001). Progression was associated with a higher overall stage at diagnosis, tumor stage, lymph node stage, low-level blood involvement, as measured with TCR data and/or flow cytometry, and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Limitations included missing data for LDH, imaging, peripheral blood TCR data, or flow cytometry assessed at diagnosis.

Conclusions: Staging and baseline laboratory assessments with imaging, peripheral blood flow cytometry, TCR data, and LDH in patients who have newly diagnosed MF may identify those who are at risk for progression to advanced stage.