Molecular targeted therapy for peripheral T-cell lymphoma

Abstract

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a highly heterogenous disease that accounts for 10 to 15% of malignant lymphomas. It encompasses a wide range of disease types, including nodal, extranodal, and leukemic forms. Recent molecular genetic findings about PTCL have significantly deepened our understanding of the disease, leading to the reclassification of previously distinct subtypes under a unified entity (e.g., T-follicular helper lymphoma). In terms of treatment, CHOP or CHOP-like therapy have been widely adopted as a first-line regimen. However, even in ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, which generally has favorable outcomes, the prognosis of PTCL remains unsatisfactory. The extremely poor outcomes of relapsed and refractory disease have highlighted an urgent need for breakthrough therapies. In recent years, novel therapeutic approaches, including antibody-drug conjugates, epigenetic modifiers, and immune cell therapies, have improved clinical outcomes for some patients with PTCL. However, the optimal use of novel approaches remains unclear, and stratification based on molecular genetic findings is crucial to achieve more effective and precisely targeted treatment.