T-cell leukemias

[Guest guest]

This is a subgroup of leukemias, not something that normally comes up in our

posts, some may be interested.

Researchers from Iran and France have reported that a regimen of Trisenox®

(arsenic trioxide), interferon-alfa, and Retrovir® (zidovudine) is highly

effective in patients with adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia (ATL). The details of

this study appeared in an early online publication in Blood on May 1, 2009.[1]

http://www.caring4cancer.com/go/cancer/news?NewsItemId=43523

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T-Cell Leukemias

T cells form part of the body's defense mechanism against disease. T cells

originate in bone marrow and then migrate to the thymus gland, where they

mature. As they leave the thymus to circulate between the blood and lymph, T

cells work to kill specific cells recognized as " foreign, " and to regulate the

activities of other cells in fighting disease and infection.

Leukemias that affect T cells are very rare; thus, there are no standardized

treatments. Various chemotherapy drugs have been tried, both as single agents

and in combination, with varying levels of success. The traditional method of

diagnosing T-cell leukemias is by looking at the cells under a microscope, as

well as by identifying the expression of specific T-cell related molecules on

their surface. More recently, highly sensitive techniques demonstrating the

clonal nature of the cells are being used.

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T-Cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia (T-PLL)

T-PLL affects prolymphocytes, or T-cells in the intermediate stage of

development. Average age of onset is about 63. Symptoms include

higher-than-normal white blood cell count, enlarged spleen and swollen lymph

nodes. Treatment with pentostatin has had limited success. Alemtuzumab, a

monoclonal antibody, is considered the standard treatment for T-PLL, but most

patients tend to relapse after treatment. M. D. researchers are

studying new drugs and combinations of existing drugs to extend disease-free

survival.

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Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (ATLL)

ATLL is caused by the human T-cell leukemia virus Type I, or HTLV-I. An

estimated 20-30 million people worldwide are infected with HTLV-I, particularly

in Japan, the Caribbean, Central and South America and the southeastern United

States. However, only about 2-4% of these " carriers " will develop ATLL. Average

age of onset is 58 years, since

HTLV-I can remain dormant for up to 30 years before progressing.

Because it is a virus, HTLV-I can be transmitted by sexual intercourse, from

mother to child through breast milk, or from a transfusion with infected blood.

There are four subtypes of ATLL:

a.. Acute: The disease progresses quickly. Fifty-seven percent of ATLL patients

have the acute form

a.. Lymphoma: Involves the lymph nodes, with only minor presence in the blood.

Nineteen percent of ATLL patients have this subtype

a.. Chronic: This type progresses slowly and is generally more responsive to

treatment

a.. Smoldering

http://www.mdanderson.org/diseases/adultleukemia/display.cfm?id=fa0ad301-68b4-4e\

ca-84918d7ef4d46051 & method=displayfull

FYI,

Lottie