Advances in T-cell lymphomas and risk factors for CNS involvement

T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) are rare heterogenous hematologic neoplasms that exhibit poor response to traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy and have no universally accepted gold standard of treatment. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare and generally associated with poor prognosis and increased morbidity. The identification of clinicopathologic risk factors for CNS relapse has been evaluated in recent years, and the development of predictive multivariable models remains an active area of study. This review summarizes the epidemiology, risk factors and treatment of both primary and relapsed TCL with and without CNS involvement and describes multiple therapeutic strategies that have been explored for the treatment of TCLs including epigenetic modulation, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, and immunotherapy.