The Roles of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase-Related Kinase 5 as a Novel Therapeutic Target of Human T-Cell Leukaemia Virus Type 1-Infected T-Cells

HTLV-1 (human T-cell leukemia virus type 1) is a human retrovirus and the causative agent of ATL (adult T-cell leukemia), which is an aggressive and fatal T cell malignancy character‐ ized by dysregulated proliferation of CD4-positive T cells [1-3]. HTLV-1 causes ATL in 3-5% of infected individuals after a long latent period of 40-60 years [4]. The prognosis of patients with aggressive ATL remains poor with a median survival time of less than 1 year despite advances in both chemotherapy and supportive care [5, 6]. Infiltration of leukemic cells into various organs, such as lymph nodes, liver, spleen, lung, skin and intestinal tract, is a fre‐ quent manifestation of ATL. This type of cell infiltration often poses serious clinical prob‐ lems for ATL patients, affecting the disease profile and prognosis. Because tumor cell survival and growth are maintained by nutrients, especially glucose and oxygen supplied by blood vessels, angiogenesis is considered to be essential for tumor malignancy [7].