BACKGROUND: Spontaneous regression of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is considered to be extremely unusual. Of the 82 patients with ATL who the authors saw between 1981 and 1991, spontaneous regression occurred in 3 (3.7%), 2 of whom were previously untreated and one who had been previously treated. Surgical excisional biopsy triggered the spontaneous regression in these patients. METHODS: In two of these patients with spontaneous regression, gene analysis studies of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) proviral DNA, and T-cell receptor (TCR) were carried out by Southern blot analysis in lymph node cells or peripheral lymphocytes before regression and after recurrence. RESULTS: One patient exhibited monoclonal integration of HTLV-I proviral DNA and the rearranged band of the TCR-beta gene at the same positions both before regression and after recurrence. The other patient showed them at the different positions before regression and after recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' studies indicated heterogeneity in ATL patients with spontaneous regression. Temporary spontaneous regression could occur in typical ATL and might be associated with a longer survival time than that for prototypic ATL.
BACKGROUND: Spontaneous regression of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is considered to be extremely unusual. Of the 82 patients with ATL who the authors saw between 1981 and 1991, spontaneous regression occurred in 3 (3.7%), 2 of whom were previously untreated and one who had been previously treated. Surgical excisional biopsy triggered the spontaneous regression in these patients. METHODS: In two of these patients with spontaneous regression, gene analysis studies of human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) proviral DNA, and T-cell receptor (TCR) were carried out by Southern blot analysis in lymph node cells or peripheral lymphocytes before regression and after recurrence. RESULTS: One patient exhibited monoclonal integration of HTLV-I proviral DNA and the rearranged band of the TCR-beta gene at the same positions both before regression and after recurrence. The other patient showed them at the different positions before regression and after recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' studies indicated heterogeneity in ATL patients with spontaneous regression. Temporary spontaneous regression could occur in typical ATL and might be associated with a longer survival time than that for prototypic ATL.
Authors: I Gakiya; Y Kugai; S Hayashi; S Nimura; O Zaha; A Kouchi; J Oshiro; H Sakugawa; K Kitukawa; F Kinjou; A Saitou; K Araki Journal: J Gastroenterol Date: 1997-08 Impact factor: 6.772