Interferon-alpha is effective for CD4(+), CCR4(-) mycosis fungoides

Mycosis fungoides (MF), a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, is usually characterized by cell features of T-helper-2 (Th2) lymphocytes. MF has recently been reported to show increased CCR4 expression, a chemokine receptor specifically expressed in Th2. Previously, we have reported the effectiveness of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) for the treatment of CCR4(+) MF. In this report, we describe two cases of CD4(+), CCR4(-) MF successfully treated with IFN-alpha, but not IFN-gamma. Although MF usually displays a Th2 profile, the tumor cells in our two cases did not express CCR4. Our cases suggest the effectiveness of IFN-alpha, but not IFN-gamma, for CCR4- MF.