Investigating potential exogenous tumor initiating and promoting factors for Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphomas (CTCL), a rare skin malignancy

Ivan V. Litvinov, Anna Shtreis, Kenneth Kobayashi, Steven Glassman, Matthew Tsang, Anders Woetmann, Denis Sasseville, Niels Ødum, Madeleine Duvic*

*Corresponding author for this work
    23 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Most skin malignancies are caused by external and often preventable environmental agents. Multiple reports demonstrated that cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL) can occur in married couples and cluster in families. Furthermore, recent studies document geographic clustering of this malignancy in Texas as well as in other areas of the United States. Multiple infectious, occupational, and medication causes have been proposed as triggers or promoters of this malignancy including hydrochlorothiazide diuretics, Staphylococcus aureus, dermatophytes, Mycobacterium leprae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, human T-Cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). In this report, we review recent evidence evaluating the involvement of these agents in cancer initiation/progression. Most importantly, recent molecular experimental evidence documented for the first time that S. aureus can activate oncogenic STAT3 signaling in malignant T cells. Specifically, S. aureus Enterotoxin type A (SEA) was recently shown to trigger non-malignant infiltrating T cells to release IL-2 and other cytokines. These signals upon binging to their cognate receptors on malignant T cells are then able to activate STAT3 and STAT5 oncogenic signaling and promote cancer progression and IL-17 secretion. In light of these findings, it might be important for patients with exacerbation of their CTCL symptoms to maintain high index of suspicion and treat these individuals for S. aureus colonization and/or sepsis with topical and systemic antibiotics.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article numbere1175799
    JournalOncoImmunology
    Volume5
    Issue number7
    Number of pages5
    ISSN2162-4011
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2 Jul 2016

    Keywords

    • Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)
    • HTLV-1 and geographic clustering
    • IL-17
    • Mycosis fungoides (MF)
    • S. aureus
    • STAT3
    • Sézary syndrome (SS)
    • viruses

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