[Lymphomas in children and adolescents]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Hematology-Oncology
• Molecular Pathology
• Cancer Biology

Context:

• Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) in children represent a heterogeneous group of malignancies.
• Significant progress in molecular characterization has been achieved over the last 30 years.
• High-grade lymphomas, including Burkitt lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, constitute over 90% of pediatric cases.

Purpose:

• To review the distinct pathologic, immunologic, and clinical characteristics of pediatric Non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
• To highlight advancements in molecular characterization and their impact on treatment strategies.
• To discuss current treatment outcomes and future therapeutic directions.

Summary:

• Pediatric Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are classified into four major high-grade subtypes, accounting for over 90% of cases.
• Intensive multiagent chemotherapy has led to high cure rates, with event-free survival exceeding 80% for most subtypes.
• Molecular insights into carcinogenesis are enabling the development of novel targeted therapies.

Impact:

• Current treatment regimens achieve high cure rates for most pediatric Non-Hodgkin lymphoma subtypes.
• Identification of specific molecular events facilitates the development of targeted therapies.
• Future therapeutic strategies aim to further improve survival and reduce treatment burden in pediatric lymphoma patients.