Adult T-cell leukemia developing during immunosuppressive treatment in a renal transplant recipient

Am J Hematol. 1992 Dec;41(4):292-4. doi: 10.1002/ajh.2830410414.

Abstract

We report a case of a 32-year-old male, an asymptomatic carrier of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), who underwent a renal transplantation and developed adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) during the course of posttransplant immunosuppressive treatment. He was treated with combination chemotherapies consisting of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisolone, cisplatin, cytosine arabinoside, etoposide, and methyl-prednisolone, without any improvement. Bestrabucil (KM2210), a conjugate of chlorambucil and estradiol, was administered as an alternative therapy; this therapy successfully suppressed his leukemic cell growth, and partial remission was achieved. Posttransplant immunosuppressive therapy with prednisolone, mizoribine, and cyclosporin A might have been the predominant cause of the transition from an asymptomatic HTLV-1 infection to overt ATL. A careful approach is required with HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers who need organ transplantation followed by immunosuppressive treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Carrier State
  • Chlorambucil / analogs & derivatives
  • Chlorambucil / therapeutic use
  • Estradiol / analogs & derivatives
  • Estradiol / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Kidney Transplantation*
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / drug therapy
  • Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / etiology*
  • Male

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Chlorambucil
  • Estradiol
  • bestrabucil