Photopheresis in Early-stage Mycosis Fungoides

April 22, 2026 updated by: Larisa Geskin, MD, Columbia University

THERAKOS® CELLEX Photopheresis System as an Interventional Therapy for the Treatment of Early Stage CTCL (Mycosis Fungoides), an Open-label, Single-arm, Multi-center, Phase II Study

The purpose of this study is to determine whether photopheresis therapy can be used to improve the clinical course of early stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Currently, photopheresis is performed as a palliative treatment for late stage CTCL. However, recent studies have demonstrated that patients with early stage CTCL may have markers in their blood which were previously observed primarily in late stage disease, such as clonal T cell populations. Considering these findings, the study aims to investigate whether photopheresis therapy may be used earlier in the disease course to produce a clinical response.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The THERAKOS® CELLEX Photopheresis System is currently FDA approved and indicated for the palliative treatment of the skin manifestations of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in patients not responsive to other forms of treatment. The original studies in CTCL were performed in patients having extensive patch/plaque or erythrodermic stage disease. Therefore, photopheresis is used primarily to treat stage III or IV CTCL. However, studies have shown that 50% of patients with early disease may have clonal T-cells in their peripheral blood if polymerase chain reaction is used to amplify the T-cell receptor gamma gene fragments. Thus, patients who are staged as T1 or T2 who also have slight abnormalities in blood involvement, such as atypical cells seen on blood smear or abnormal flow cytometry may benefit from photopheresis therapy. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of photopheresis therapy in patients with Stage !A, 1B, or IIA CTCL.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
74

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10032
        • Recruiting
        • Columbia University Irving Medical Center
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Who are male or female, over the age of 18 and <40 kg body weight with adequate veins to provide intravenous access.
  2. Who are willing to adhere to the protocol and sign an Informed Patient Consent Document
  3. Must not be on any other investigational device/drug treatment.
  4. Who have the diagnosis of Mycosis Fungoides (MF) including a skin biopsy consistent with MF (atypical epidermotropic or folliculocentric T-cells) with appropriate staging as IA, IB or IIA: T1 or T2 (patches or plaques) with measurable lesions.
  5. With IA stage must demonstrate a minor blood abnormality by morphology/laboratory assessment.
  6. With IIA stage - clinically significant nodes (1.5 cm) must have lymph node biopsy showing dermatopathic nodes or no involvement.
  7. Must be willing and able to discontinue concomitant medications for MF. Subjects currently taking the following drugs must discontinue medication with the following wash out periods prior to enrollment in the trial: PUVA or UVB Therapy - 4 weeks, topical nitrogen mustard or other topical chemotherapy - 4 weeks, bexarotene capsules or other systemic biologic agent - 3 weeks washout, high dose topical steroids, topical retinoids or immunotherapy - 2 week washout with 1% topical hydrocortisone , oral steroids above 10 mg - 30 day washout, unless subject has Addison's Disease or adrenal insufficiency
  8. Who are refractory to at least one of the standard therapies used to treat Stage IA, IB or IIA CTCL such as oral steroids, high-dose topical steroids, topical nitrogen mustard, Bexarotene, PUVA therapy, electron beam radiation, biological response modifiers or oral methotrexate.
  9. Must be willing to abstain from therapeutic sunbathing, phototherapy, tanning beds, etc. for the duration of the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Who have MF (T3 cutaneous tumors or T4 exfoliative erythroderma) Stage IIB - IVB
  2. Who are unable to tolerate extracorporeal volume loss i.e., severe cardiac disease/anemia
  3. With deterioration of renal function who have a serum creatinine level greater than 3.0 mg/dL.
  4. With lipemic plasma >500 ng/dL, uncontrolled diabetes, history of liver damage (2.5 x normal alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), porphyria, lupus, positive tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody, hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody or Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, severe emotional, behavioral or psychiatric problems that, in the opinion of the investigator, would result in poor compliance with the treatment regimen, and idiosyncratic or hypersensitivity reactions to 8-methoxypsoralen compounds, heparin, or citrate.
  5. On oral prednisone therapy or high potency topical steroids.
  6. Who are pregnant or nursing a child.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: UVA Sterile Solution in conjunction with the THERAKOS® CELLEX Photopheresis System
TREATMENT with THERAKOS® CELLEX Photopheresis System on two consecutive days every 2 weeks for the first 3 months; then once per month for following 9 months.
Drug: UVADEX® (methoxsalen) Sterile Solution in conjunction with the THERAKOS® CELLEX Photopheresis
Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP)
Other Names:
  • UVADEX® with THERAKOS® CELLEX Photopheresis
Device: THERAKOS® CELLEX photopheresis system
THERAKOS® CELLEX is an FDA-approved extra-corporeal photopheresis system

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall Response Rate
Time Frame: 1 Year
Overall response rate at 1 year measured by the modified skin-weighted assessment tool (mSWAT) in accordance with Olsen et al criteria for response in clinical trial. Measurable lesions are defined as those that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension.
1 Year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to Response of Photopheresis Therapy
Time Frame: 1 Year
The time to response calculated from time of photopheresis treatment initiation to the first objective response (clearance of skin disease from baseline ≥50%) observed for participants who achieved a complete response (CR) (clearing of all disease manifestations confirmed by biopsy) or partial response (PR) (partial response defined as > 50% improvement in the extent of skin involvement).
1 Year
Duration of Response
Time Frame: 1 Year
Duration of response (DOR) will be calculated from time of response to documentation of progression or death.
1 Year
Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 1 Year
The FACT-G is a 27-item questionnaire designed to measure four health related quality of life in cancer patients. Scores range from 0-108 with a higher score indicating better quality of life.
Baseline and 1 Year
Change in Skindex-29 Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 1 Year
The Skindex-29 is a questionnaire with 29 questions that assess the health-related quality of life of patients with skin diseases. Scores range from 0-100 with a higher scoring indicating a worse health status.
Baseline and 1 Year
Change in Short Form Survey (SF-36v2) Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 1 Year
The SF-36v2 is a health survey measuring quality of life. Scores range from 0-100 with a higher scoring indicating a better quality of life.
Baseline and 1 Year
Change in Size of Lymph Nodes
Time Frame: Baseline and 1 Year
The change in size (single maximum dimension in centimeters) of lymph nodes will be noted as applicable. By definition, the patients should not have pathologically involved lymph nodes.
Baseline and 1 Year
Change in Sézary Cell Counts at 6 and at 12 months
Time Frame: Baseline, 6 months and 12 months
Change in Sézary cell counts (malignant cells) in blood samples as assessed by flow cytometry. By definition, the enrolled patients will have only minor blood involvement and not leukemia.
Baseline, 6 months and 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Columbia University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Mallinckrodt, Inc.

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Larisa Geskin, MD, Columbia University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
May 8, 2021

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 12, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 23, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 11, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 22, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • AAAS9960

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings