Modern Management of Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a biologically and clinically heterogeneous B-cell malignancy with variable prognosis, ranging from indolent, asymptomatic forms to aggressive subtypes with early treatment failure. Contemporary management emphasizes risk-adapted strategies that integrate patient characteristics, clinical disease burden, and tumor biology. Prognostic tools such as the MCL International Prognostic Index (MIPI) and its biologically integrated variant (combined MIPI), alongside assessment of Ki-67 proliferation, TP53 status, and blastoid morphology, help guide treatment selection. In younger, fit patients, first-line therapy traditionally involves dose-intensified chemoimmunotherapy with high-dose cytarabine and autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). The incorporation of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi), such as ibrutinib, into induction regimens has improved survival outcomes, with emerging evidence that may limit the use of ASCT to high-risk subsets. Maintenance therapy, particularly rituximab, remains crucial for durable disease control. In older or transplant-ineligible patients, bendamustine-rituximab remains a backbone therapy, with chemotherapy-free combinations incorporating BTKi, BCL2 inhibitors, and anti-CD20 antibodies offering effective, well-tolerated alternatives. High-risk patients, including those with TP53 mutations, may benefit from targeted triplet regimens or early cellular therapies. Relapsed/refractory MCL is increasingly managed with covalent and noncovalent BTKi, BCL2 inhibitors, and T-cell-redirecting therapies including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies. Ongoing trials are evaluating optimal sequencing and combination strategies to improve outcomes, particularly in high-risk and cBTKi-exposed patients. Overall, modern MCL management emphasizes individualized therapy based on biological risk, functional status, and treatment tolerability, with novel targeted and cellular approaches reshaping the frontline and relapsed treatment landscape.