Molecular remission in adult T cell leukemia after autologous CD34(+) peripheral blood stem cell transplantation

This report describes a patient with acute-type adult T cell leukemia/lymph oma (ATLL) successfully treated by autologous CD34(+) peripheral blood stem cell transplantation after fractionated total body irradiation and high-do se cytarabine and cyclophosphamide, A newly established inverse polymerase chain reaction method was used to demonstrate the disappearance of ATLL clo nal cells. The patient achieved a sustained molecular remission after trans plantation, but died from opportunistic infection 4 months after transplant ation. Thus, autologous CD34(+) peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is promising for this type of malignancy, However, a prudent clinical attit ude toward immunological fragility after transplantation is needed for bett er outcome.