Tissue Repository: CTCL Collection Protocol

CTCL is a heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas characterized by chronic inflammation and accumulation of malignant T cells in the skin. In order to carry out research to expand the knowledge and develop more effective treatments, tissue samples from CTCL patients with presumed or known disorders are required and tissue samples from control patients will be required to compare the differences between affected and healthy populations.

Scientists will be able to test new ideas and new technologies that are not apparent or available at the present moment from this tissue repository in the future. This type of information will thus be of great advantage to future patients with these diseases.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with CTCL or Lymphomatoid Papulosis (LYP): a clinical or histologic diagnosis of a) newly diagnosed, b) progressive, or c) relapsed CTCL or LYP who are initiating or changing therapy.
• Patients with Sézary Syndrome (SS) or stage IV B CTCL as defined by blood involvement on flow cytometry or morphology: (1) ≥1000/μL Sézary cells by morphology; (2) Cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4)/cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8) ratio ≥10; (3) CD4+cluster of differentiation 7 (CD7)- cells ≥40 percent; (4) or CD4+cluster of differentiation 26 (CD26)- cells ≥30 percent.
• Ability to understand and willing to sign a willing informed consent document.
• Age ≥ 18 years.

Inclusion criteria

for Age and Sex Matched Controls:

• Matched for sex, and age +/- 10 years.
• Ability to sign informed consent document.
• Patients with or without benign inflammatory skin conditions including, but not limited to, eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis or Patients without skin conditions requiring treatment with systemic immunosuppressive, biologic, or chemotherapeutic agents.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a history of previous lymphoma other than CTCL or SS or LYP.
• Medical illnesses with potential suppressive or activating impact on immune and bowel function as judged by the investigator.
• Current, viable pregnancy.
• Anemia with a documented hemoglobin laboratory value of <7.5 g/dl within the past 6 months.

Exclusion criteria

for Age and Sex Matched Controls:

• Previous history of CTCL, SS, LYP, or any lymphoma.
• Previous history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection.
• Anemia with a documented hemoglobin laboratory value of <7.5 g/dl within the past 6 months.