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Background: Previous studies demonstrating that the neoplastic cells in Sézary syndrome and tumor stage mycosis fungoides express interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, and IL-10 have resulted in the concept that cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are derived from CD4[sup +] T cells with a TH2 type cytokine profile. Objective: To determine the cytokine profile in CD30primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas, which represent a subgroup of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with an aggressive clinical behavior (5-year survival rate of 15%). Design and Methods: Seven biopsy specimens were taken from 4 patients with CD30[sup -] primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas and studied for the expression of T[sub H]1 (IL-2 and interferon γ) and T[sub H]2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) cytokines using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique. Skin biopsy specimens from patients with Sézary syndrome, mycosis fungoides, atopic dermatitis, or psoriasis were included as controls. Results: In the 7 CD30[sup -] primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas showing an almost pure population of large tumor cells (>90%), no expression of IL-4 was found, and IL-5 was only found in 1 of 7 cases. In control biopsy specimens, expression of IL-4 and/or IL-5 was demonstrated in atopic dermatitis (3/3), tumor stage mycosis fungoides (2/2), and Sézary syndrome (3/3), but not in plaque stage mycosis fungoides. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that CD30[sup -] primary cutaneous large T-cell lymphomas do not produce T[sub H]2 cytokines, illustrating that not all cutaneous T-cell lymphomas have a TH2 cytokine profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]