Biodynamic Imaging Utility in Predicting Response to Gemcitabine Chemotherapy in Mycosis Fungoides

This is a single-arm, non-randomized feasibility study designed to find out if the laser light-based imaging test called Biodynamic imaging (BDI) can correctly predict the cutaneous T-cell lymphoma mycosis fungoides (MF) cancer response to chemotherapy treatment. The primary objective is to develop phenotypic profiles of response and non-response to gemcitabine, given at a standard-of-care dose and schedule. A secondary objective is to perform a cross-species analysis of phenotypic responses of human and canine mycosis fungoides to gemcitabine using biodynamic imaging. The study will seek to enroll 10 patients with MF who are planning to receive treatment with gemcitabine given at a standard-of-care (SOC) dose and schedule at Indiana University Simon Cancer Center (IUSCC). All subjects will undergo standardized staging tests, with tumor stage defined according to established guidelines. For the study, three 6-mm x 4-mm dermal punch biopsies from one or more target lesions will be collected prior to treatment initiation and sent to Purdue University researchers for BDI. Objective response for tumor samples treated with gemcitabine in the laboratory will be assessed. Patients with an objective response of complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) that persists during the first 2 treatment cycles will be considered to have responsive cancers, while those failing to meet these criteria will be considered to have resistant cancers. All patients will be considered off-study after completing cycle 2. Accrual is expected to last approximately 24 months.