An update on the developments in the treatment of adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma: current knowledge and future perspective

Abstract

Abstract Adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma is defined as peripheral T-cell lymphoma caused by the human T-cell leukemia virus type I. Adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma is classified into indolent (favorable chronic or smoldering) or aggressive (acute, lymphoma or unfavorable chronic) types. This review discusses the therapeutic developments for patients with adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma and unmet issues in treating adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma. For indolent adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma, a watchful waiting strategy is recommended until the disease progresses to aggressive adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma. For aggressive adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma, multi-agent chemotherapy with or without allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation has been recommended. However, many patients with adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma relapse, and their prognosis is poor. Recently, novel agents, including mogamulizumab, lenalidomide, brentuximab vedotin, tucidinostat and valemetostat, have been approved for patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma, and the combination of mogamulizumab with multi-agent chemotherapy or brentuximab vedotin with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone has been approved for patients with untreated aggressive adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma in Japan. Importantly, the aging of patients with adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma has recently been reported, and no standard of care for elderly patients with adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma has been established. New evidence must be obtained from prospective clinical trials to improve the prognosis of patients with adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma.