Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

Abstract

Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) describes a distinct group of T cell lymphomas characterized by cell surface expression of CD30. At least 3 entities of ALCL exist, with similar cellular morphology but varying clinical courses and pathology: systemic ALCL, Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)-positive, systemic ALCL ALK- and primary cutaneous ALCL. A fourth provisional entity associated with breast implants has been proposed, named breast implant-associated (BIA)-ALCL. ALCL have varying clinical outcomes, affect both children and adults, and range from being well-characterised at the genetic level to relatively unknown, predominantly due to the relative rarity of this group of malignancies. Current therapeutic approaches include standard chemotherapeutic agents as well as novel drugs including monoclonal antibodies and kinase inhibitors.