Cabello I, et al. - Whether genetic polymorphisms of apolipoprotein genes APOA5, APOC3, and APOE have any impact on the severity of hypertriglyceridemia in patients receiving bexarotene therapy for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), was determined. Researchers also intended to optimize patient selection for bexarotene therapy based on adverse effect profile. They suggested that, as far as estimation of changes in triglyceride concentrations during bexarotene treatment is concerned, it may be useful to go for screening of APOA5 and APOC3 genotypes in patients with CTCL receiving bexarotene therapy. Also, this approach may be useful for the detection of the best candidates for bexarotene therapy based on the expected adverse effect profile.

Methods

• This was a case series study, wherein, 125 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CTCL who had received bexarotene therapy for at least 3 months were enrolled, and 9 patients with missing analytic triglyceride level data were excluded, leaving a study group of 116 patients.
• This study was performed in 12 university referral hospitals in Spain from September 17, 2014, to February 6, 2015.
• Researchers obtained data on demographic and cardiovascular risk factor, and carried out a complete blood analysis, including lipid profile and genetic analysis from a saliva sample.
• They assessed the maximal triglyceride levels reported in relation to the minor alleles of the polymorphisms studied (primary outcomes).

Results

• This study included 116 patients, with mean (SD) age 61.2 (14.7) years, 69 (59.5%) were men, and 85 (73.2%) had mycosis fungoides, the most prevalent form of CTCL.
• Hypertriglyceridemia was detected in 96 patients (82.7%) on bexarotene therapy, severe or extreme hypertriglyceridemia was noted in 8 of these patients (8.3%).
• No significant differences in baseline triglyceride concentrations were seen in patients who carried minor alleles of the polymorphisms.
• After bexarotene treatment, lower levels of triglycerides were observed in carriers of at least 1 of the 2 minor alleles of APOA5 c.-1131T>C and APOC3 c.*40C>G vs noncarriers (mean [SD], 241.59 [169.91] vs 330.97 [169.03] mg/dL, respectively; P=.02).