13-cis-retinoic acid effective in mycosis fungoides. A report from the Scandinavian Mycosis Fungoides Group.

Twenty patients with mycosis fungoides and four with Sézary's syndrome were treated with 13-cis-retinoic acid as single therapy in an initial dose of 1 to 2 mg per kg body weight in most cases. Complete remission in mycosis fungoides was obtained in six cases (33%) and partial remission in another ten cases (50%). No convincing response was observed in three cases, and progression of limited nodular lesions occurred in one case. In cases responding to treatment the first sign of remission was observed within two to four weeks. Our short-term experience is that the drug is effective in early as well as advanced stages of mycosis fungoides. Patients with Sézary's syndrome, however, did not respond to the same extent.