Dupilumab Therapy and Its Association with the Risk of Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma in Atopic Dermatitis Patients

Dupilumab can block the signal transduction of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, and is used for the treatment of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), prurigo nodularis, chronic urticaria, bullous pemphigoid, and other conditions. However, when used in the treatment of AD, this drug carries the risk of inducing cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) or accelerating disease progression. The specific mechanism remains unclear, and it may be related to the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines, overactivation of the IL-13 receptor α2 subunit (IL-13Rα2), abnormal lymphocyte proliferation, and disease misdiagnosis, etc. To prevent dupilumab-associated CTCL, careful differentiation between AD and CTCL or parapsoriasis should be made during the diagnosis of AD patients, and continuous monitoring of the therapeutic efficacy in patients is also required during the treatment process.