title: How does HTLV-1 cause adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL)?
abstract: A typical person infected with the retrovirus human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) carries tens of thousands of clones of HTLV-1-infected T lymphocytes, each clone distinguished by a unique integration site of the provirus in the host genome. However, only 5% of infected people develop the malignant disease adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma, usually more than 50 years after becoming infected. We review the host and viral factors that cause this aggressive disease.
authors.affiliation: Section of Virology, Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London W2 1PG, UK. Electronic address: c.bangham@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Charles R M
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bangham
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Section, Hematology-Oncology Faculty, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Lee
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ratner
mesh_terms: D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D015368:Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*