Denileukin diftitox and hyper-CVAD in the treatment of human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1-associated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

We report a case of human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1)-associated adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) in clinical remission > 1 year after therapy with denileukin diftitox and hyper-CVAD (hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/decadron). The patient presented with leukocytosis, anemia, and thrombocytopenia, and bone marrow biopsy demonstrated extensive myelofibrosis and infiltration with leukemic T cells. Initial therapy with 4 cycles of denileukin diftitox resulted in restoration of normal hematopoiesis and a reduction in bone marrow myelofibrosis. After disease progression, 4 cycles of hyper-CVAD were administered and a complete clinical remission was achieved. The patient remains free of disease with normal hematopoiesis and has continued maintenance therapy with denileukin diftitox for 1 year. This case demonstrates clinical improvement of myelofibrosis and acute T-cell leukemia after denileukin diftitox administration, suggesting that denileukin diftitox may affect the paracrine secretion of HTLV-1 -associated clinical manifestations of ATL.