Efficacy and Safety of Benvitimod Cream in Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

Background: CTCL is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that primarily affects the skin, causing red patches, plaques, and severe itching. Currently, topical corticosteroids are commonly used for early-stage disease, but long-term application can cause significant skin side effects such as atrophy. Benvitimod is a novel, non-steroidal aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist. Previous studies suggest it has the potential to inhibit tumor cell proliferation and reduce skin inflammation, providing a promising new targeted therapy for CTCL patients. Study Design: This is a prospective, single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. To ensure a highly accurate comparison and eliminate individual differences, the study uses an intra-patient (left-right) control design. Approximately 35 patients will be enrolled. Participants will have two comparable target lesions selected on opposite sides of their body (e.g., left and right trunk or limbs). They will be randomly assigned to apply benvitimod cream to the lesion on one side and a placebo cream to the matching lesion on the other side. The creams will be applied once daily for up to 24 weeks. Researchers will evaluate the improvement in skin lesions (using the mSWAT score), reduction in itching (using the VAS score), and closely monitor any adverse events at weeks 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 to assess both the effectiveness and safety of the treatment.