Management of ALCL and other CD30+ peripheral T-cell lymphomas with a focus on Brentuximab vedotin

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are rare lymphoproliferative disorders with poor outcomes and high rates of relapse. Incidence varies although the most common subtypes include PTCL-not-otherwise specified, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is characterized by near-universal CD30 expression and serves as a prototypic model for other CD30-expressing lymphomas. Historically, these neoplasms have been treated with regimens used in the treatment of aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Over the last decade, brentuximab vedotin, an antibody-drug conjugate, has been investigated to treat peripheral T-cell lymphomas expressing CD30. While first studied in the relapsed and refractory setting, it was later studied in the frontline setting in the ECHELON-2 trial with positive results and is now an approved treatment for CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas. Other treatment options in the relapsed and refractory setting include histone deacetylase inhibitors, pralatrexate, and salvage multiagent chemotherapy regimens. Current research is underway regarding combination therapies and the use of other novel agents.