Zidovudine and Interferon Alfa based regimens for the treatment of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

ATLL (Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma) is an aggressive hematological malignancy. This T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, caused by the human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), is challenging to treat. There is no known treatment for ATLL as of yet. However, it is recommended to use Zidovudine and Interferon Alfa-based regimens (AZT/IFN), chemotherapy, and stem cell transplant. This study aims to review the outcome of patients with different subtypes of ATLL treated with Zidovudine and Interferon Alfa-based regimens.

METHODS:

A systematic search was carried out for articles evaluating outcomes of ATLL treatment by AZT/IFN agents on human subjects from January 1, 2004, until July 1, 2022. Researchers assessed all studies regarding the topic, followed by extracting the data. A random-effects model was used in the meta-analyses.

RESULTS:

We obtained fifteen articles on the AZT/IFN treatment of 1101 ATLL patients. The response rate of the AZT/IFN regimen yielded an OR of 67% [95% CI: 0.50; 0.80], a CR of 33% [95% CI: 0.24; 0.44], and a PR of 31% [95% CI: 0.24; 0.39] among individuals who received this regimen at any point during their treatment. Our subgroup analyses' findings demonstrated that patients who received front-line and combined AZT/IFN therapy responded better than those who received AZT/IFN alone. It is significant to note that patients with indolent subtypes of disease had considerably higher response rates than individuals with aggressive disease.

CONCLUSION:

IFN/AZT combined with chemotherapy regimens is an effective treatment for ATLL patients, and its use in the early stages of the disease may result in a greater response rate.

• Authors: Arman Shafiee, Niloofar Seighali, Nooshin Taherzadeh-Ghahfarokhi, Shayan Mardi, Sorour Shojaeian, Shahrzad Shadabi, Mahsa Hasani, Sabahat Haghi, Sayed-Hamidreza Mozhgani
• Journal: Virology journal (Virol J) Vol. 20 Issue 1 Pg. 118 (06 07 2023) ISSN: 1743-422X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 37287047 (Publication Type: Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2023. The Author(s).

Chemical References

• Zidovudine
• Interferon-alpha

Topics

• Adult
• Humans
• Zidovudine (therapeutic use)
• Interferon-alpha (therapeutic use)
• Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell (drug therapy)
• Human T-lymphotropic virus 1
• Lymphoma (drug therapy)