Long-term remission of primary gastric T cell lymphoma associated with human T lymphotropic virus type 1: a report of two cases and review of the literature

Intern Med. 2007;46(21):1783-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.46.0323. Epub 2007 Nov 1.

Abstract

Two cases of primary gastric T-cell lymphoma associated with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) are presented. Case 1 was a 54-year-old man who had multiple ulcerating tumors in the lower corpus and gastric antrum. Case 2, a 60-year-old man, showed a large ulcerating tumor in the upper corpus. Both patients were positive for serum anti-HTLV-1 antibody and for the monoclonal integration of HTLV-1 proviral DNA in the tumor cells by Southern blot analysis. The patients were thus diagnosed as having primary gastric T-cell lymphoma associated with HTLV-1 of stage II(1). Case 1 underwent total gastrectomy followed by chemotherapy, while Case 2 was treated by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Both patients have been in complete remission for more than 4 years (96 months in Case 1 and 50 months in Case 2) after the treatments. Although primary gastric T-cell lymphomas associated with HTLV-1 is characterized by an extremely poor prognosis, the present cases suggest that in the early stage, long-term survival can possibly be achieved with appropriate treatments.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • HTLV-I Infections / blood
  • HTLV-I Infections / complications
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / pathology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / therapy*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / virology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Remission Induction
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / virology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral