Bexarotene, a selective retinoid X receptor ( RXR ) modulator, induces apoptosis of malignant T cells isolated from patients with a leukemic variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Sézary syndrome.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 9 patients with Sézary syndrome and a high burden of circulating malignant T cells ( >50% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells ) and from 6 healthy volunteers underwent evaluation to test the effects of Bexarotene on T cells.
The cells from two thirds of patients were sensitive to Bexarotene and one third of the cells from these was resistant to apoptotic effects of drug.

Investigators at University of Pennsylvania found that Bexarotene induces apoptosis in malignant T cells from patients with Sézary syndrome and inhibits interleukin-4 production, which can play a role in the systemic immunosoppression that characterizes advancing syndrome.

In December 1999, FDA has approved Targretin ( Bexarotene ) capsules with once daily oral administration for the treatment of cutaneous manifestations of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma ( CTCL ) in patients who are refractory to at least one prior systemic therapy.

The side effects of Bexarotene are mostly mild to moderate.
Most patients at the 300 mg/m2/day experienced reversible lipid abnormalities ( 79 percent ), hypothyroidism ( 29 percent ) and leukopenia ( 17 percent ), which frequently required concomitant medications.
Among the other less frequent side effects were diarrhea, fatigue, headache, liver function test abnormalities, rash, pancreatitis and itching.

Source: Archives of Dermatology, 2005


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