Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) is a peripheral T-cell malignancy caused by the human T-cell lymphotropic virus, type I and it has an extremely poor prognosis. A 66-year-old man with severe hepatic damage, massive pleural effusion and ATL cell infiltration-induced ascites was referred to our department. Reduced-intensity cytotoxic chemotherapy was attempted, but could not continue due to persistent hyperbilirubinemia. Laboratory results also showed elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and serum albumin levels were profoundly decreased. A humanized monoclonal antibody against chemokine receptor type 4 (CCR4), mogamulizumab (Moga), was thereby challenged and it successfully resolved the hepatic damage. Finally, a standard dose of chemotherapy could be administered, and it induced a complete remission. The patient is still in remission more than three years after the final dosage of standard chemotherapy. These results indicate that Moga, whose pharmacokinetics are not significantly influenced by hepatic function or serum albumin, could be a promising treatment option for patients with ATL complicated by severe hepatic damage due to infiltration of ATL cells.
Keywords: ATL; Hyperbilirubinemia; Hypoalbuminemia; Mogamulizumab.