Characteristics of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma Patients with Long Survival: Prognostic Significance of Skin Lesions and Possible Beneficial Role of Valproic Acid.

We describe the clinical and biological features of ten patients with a survival superior to ten years (long survival), out of 175 patients diagnosed with Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (ATL) in Martinique (1983-2013). There were 5 lymphoma and 5 chronic subtypes. Five of them (3 chronic, 2 lymphoma) had been treated with valproic acid (VA) for neurological disorders developed before or after ATL diagnosis, suggesting a beneficial role for VA as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDI) in ATL treatment.

Romiplostim safety and efficacy for immune thrombocytopenia in clinical practice: 2-year results of 72 adults in a romiplostim compassionate-use program.

Romiplostim, a thrombopoietic agent with demonstrated efficacy against immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in prospective controlled studies, was recently licensed for adults with chronic ITP. Only France has allowed romiplostim compassionate use since January 2008. ITP patients could receive romiplostim when they failed to respond to successive corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulins, rituximab, and splenectomy, or when splenectomy was not indicated.

HTLV-1 evades type I interferon antiviral signaling by inducing the suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1).

Human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiologic agent of Adult T cell Leukemia (ATL) and the neurological disorder HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Although the majority of HTLV-1-infected individuals remain asymptomatic carriers (AC) during their lifetime, 2-5% will develop either ATL or HAM/TSP, but never both. To better understand the gene expression changes in HTLV-1-associated diseases, we examined the mRNA profiles of CD4+ T cells isolated from 7 ATL, 12 HAM/TSP, 11 AC and 8 non-infected controls.

Meta-analysis on the use of zidovudine and interferon-alfa in adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma showing improved survival in the leukemic subtypes.

Purpose: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-I-associated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an aggressive, chemotherapy-resistant malignancy. Multiple small studies using zidovudine (AZT) and interferon-alfa (IFN-α) have shown response in patients with ATL. However, the impact of this innovative antiviral treatment strategy on long-term survival remains undetermined.

Analysis of the ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) gene in familial myeloproliferative neoplasms.

The JAK2(V617F) mutation does not elucidate the phenotypic variability observed in myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) families. A putative tumor suppressor gene, TET2, was recently implicated in MPN and myelodysplastic syndromes through the identification of acquired mutations affecting hematopoietic stem cells. The present study analyzed the TET2 gene in 61 MPN cases from 42 families.

Retinal vasculitis caused by adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

Background: To report a case of lymphomatous infiltration and bilateral retinal vasculitis observed among 83 cases of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) treated in the University Hospital Center in Fort-de-France (Martinique, French West Indies) between 1984 and 2003.

Case: A complete clinical ophthalmologic examination was performed in this patient along with fluorescein angiography.

Observations: After being checked for diffuse adenopathies, myodesopsias, and phosphenes, the 35-year-old patient was diagnosed with ATL.

Treatment of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma by CHOP followed by therapy with antinucleosides, alpha interferon and oral etoposide.

Unlabelled: Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATLL) has a very bad prognosis and remains resistant to conventional therapy. Promising results have been reported with the combination of zidovudine (AZT) and alpha-interferon (IFN).

Method: A combination with IFN and antinucleoside [AZT or zalcitabine (ddC)] was applied since 1995 in Martinique (French West Indies).