Dupixent and CTCL Risk: What Dermatologists Need to Know

Does Dupixent raise the risk of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) in atopic dermatitis patients? It’s the burning question gripping dermatology—and we’ve got answers.

Join the Derms on Drugs team as we unpack the latest with Dr. Shamir Geller, who runs a CTCL clinic at Memorial Sloan Kettering and published the first data that truly helps us understand if there is a Dupixent - CTCL link.

Plus, we dive into CTCL survival stats and must-know updates for practicing dermatologists. Essential listening for anyone who is taking care of dermatology patients.

Derms on Drugs is brought to you by Scholars in Medicine.

Guest: Shamir Geller, MD 

Associate Attending Physician Dermatology Service, Department of Medicine Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 

Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 

I’m a dermatologist interested mainly in cutaneous lymphoma. During my cutaneous oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) between the years 2016-2019, I became a cutaneous lymphoma enthusiast, working at MSK multi-disciplinary cutaneous lymphoma clinic. Under the mentorship of expert faculty in dermatology, oncology, and pathology, I was able to master the art of integrating clinical findings, histopathologic features, clinical laboratory data, and molecular characteristics to reach to the diagnosis and most suitable treatment. After my fellowship I was appointed as an attending physician in the cutaneous lymphoma clinic at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Israel and provided care for patients with cutaneous lymphomas while continuing to pursue research in the field. 

In early 2023 I returned to New York to the cutaneous lymphoma clinic at MSKCC as an associate attending. Other than clinical work and research, I dedicate a large portion of my time and effort to teaching and mentoring students, residents, fellows and visiting physicians. My research projects have been published in the leading dermatology, hematology and oncology journals and I’ve been invited and chosen to present my works in numerous regional, national and international conferences (ASH, USCLC, WCCL, EORTC, SID, AAD, EADV and others). I’m frequently asked to peer-review manuscripts on lymphomas of the skin and I also assist the cutaneous lymphoma foundation (CLF) with the preparation of patients’ education materials and lectures. 

Resource links for this episode available at ⁠Scholars in Medicine⁠.

1. Integrative epidemiology and immunotranscriptomics uncover a risk and potential mechanism for cutaneous lymphoma unmasking or progression with dupilumab therapy
2. Overall and Cause-Specific Mortality Among Patients With Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma in the United States
3. Diagnosis of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma following exposure to biologic agents for atopic dermatitis: A retrospective cohort study from a single tertiary cancer center