[Therapy of mantle cell lymphoma]

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) belongs to the so-called peripheral (differentiated) B cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In spite of that, it runs an aggressive course; quick progression and most cases are diagnosed in advanced stages. On the other hand, chemotherapy and immunochemotherapy (in contrast with other aggressive lymphomas) are not able to show any curative potential. However, combined efforts of first line antiCD20 based intensified immunochemotherapy along with high dose therapy (preferably irradiation based conditioning regimens) and autologous transplant consolidation of first complete remission achieves major breakthrough and prolongation of life expectancies of 7-10 years instead of the 2.5-3 years average survival of the traditional chemotherapeutic approach. A lot of new agents (i.e. the FDA approved MCL indication of bortezomib, temsirolimus, thalidomide, etc.) are or should be available for the refractory or relapsed patients. This short review summarizes the most important advances of MCL therapy and provides an updated therapeutic recommendation.