Targeting CD30 in anaplastic large cell lymphoma

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a lymphoid neoplasm characterized by strong and uniform expression of the CD30 antigen on the cell surface. Current standard frontline therapy of ALCL is anthracycline-based combination chemotherapy, usually CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) or CHOP-like regimens. Despite aggressive chemotherapy a significant number of patients relapse. Newer agents and strategies are needed in the management of this challenging disease especially in ALK-negative and high-risk ALK-positive patients who tend to have a poor prognosis. In this review we discuss the different approaches to targeting CD30 including naked antibodies, "enhanced antibodies", antibody drug-toxin conjugates, radioimmunoconjugates, CD30-ligand-toxin conjugates, bispecific antibodies and T cell-based immune therapies.