HTLV-1 Tax-specific memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes in long-term survivors of aggressive-type adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

These data suggest that Tax-specific memory CTLs probably, together with anticancer agents, eradicate ATLL cells and exhibit long-term preventive effects from relapse ATLL. Thus, the strong activation of cellular immunity, such as herpes virus infection, seems to be necessary to induce such a potent number of Tax-specific CTLs.