A Review of New Findings in Adult T-cell Leukemia-Lymphoma: A Focus on Current and Emerging Treatment Strategies

Adult T-cell leukemia–lymphoma (ATL), a rare and aggressive T-cell malignancy caused by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), is associated with a poor prognosis. Evidence-based standard treatment options are lacking and outcomes are generally unsatisfactory, particularly for patients with relapsed or refractory disease. Continued research is contributing to changing treatment landscape as a number of existing and investigational agents are evaluated. We describe the epidemiology of HTLV-1 and ATL, discuss the biology behind the disease, review current treatment practices and guidelines, and provide an overview of emerging therapies in ATL, with a focus on those for relapsed or refractory disease.