James O. Armitage

From the 2026 National Summit on Hematologic Cancers

Approximately 80% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma achieve a complete response after chemoimmunotherapy as defined by positron emission tomography (PET) scan. However, not all patients who fail to achieve a metabolic complete response are destined to relapse. In a number of these patients, the PET scan is falsely positive (ie, 20%-40% in several large series), particularly when the PET scan has a Deauville score of 4. Reflexively intervening with salvage systemic therapy or radiotherapy in these patients is potentially harmful. It seems that very sensitive measurements of circulating tumor DNA might be able to differentiate between patients who are unlikely to relapse and those with residual lymphoma. It is important to remember that lymphoma is not the only condition that can make a PET scan abnormal and to consider an alternate diagnosis that should be managed differently.

ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma in adults

Introduction: Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL) is largely a curable disease with excellent prognosis. The standard of care in patients with relapsed disease has been to try salvage chemotherapy followed by an autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Managing the patients who relapse after ASCT, is challenging. With the approval of targeted therapies such as PD-1 inhibitors, brentuximab vedotin, the outcomes have improved greatly. Areas covered: This review summarizes the current data available on the newer therapies as well as the present strategies used to treat patients with relapsed HL after an autologous stem cell transplantation. Expert commentary: The approval of brentuximab vedotin and PD-L1 inhibitors has ushered in a new era of targeted therapy in HL. There are currently several targeted therapies under investigation, particularly in the setting of relapsed disease. The current challenges faced are how best to integrate these newer therapies into the existing treatment regimens, finding a right combination with minimal toxicities, role of allogenic transplant in the era of targeted therapy.

Background: T‐cell lymphomas make up approximately 10%‐15% of lymphoid malignancies. The frequency of these lymphomas varies geographically, with the highest incidence in parts of Asia.Diagnosis: The diagnosis of aggressive peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTCL) is usually made using the World Health Organization classification. The ability of hematopathologists to reproducibly diagnose aggressive PTCL is lower than that for aggressive B‐cell lymphomas, with a range of 72%‐97% for the aggressive PTCLs. Risk Stratification: Patients with aggressive PTCL are staged using the Ann Arbor Classification. Although somewhat controversial, positron emission tomography scans seem to be useful as they are in aggressive B‐cell lymphomas. The specific subtype of aggressive PTCL is an important risk factor with the best survival seen in anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma—particularly young patients with the anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive subtype.Risk‐Adapted Therapy: Anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma is the only subgroup to have a good response to a CHOP‐like regimen. Angioimmunoblastic T‐cell lymphoma has a prolonged disease‐free survival in only ∼20% of patients, but younger patients who have an autotransplant in remission seem to do better. PTCL‐not otherwise specified is not one disease. Anthracycline‐containing regimens have disappointing results, and a new approach is needed. Natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma localized to the nose and nasal sinuses seems to be best treated with radiotherapy‐containing regimens and the majority of patients are cured. Enteropathy‐associated PTCL and hepatosplenic PTCL are rare disorders with a generally poor response to therapy although selected patients with enteropathy‐ associated PTCL seem to benefit from intensive therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Concurrent hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is rare; management is inadequately described in the literature. METHODS: Retrospective chart review and clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Five patients are described. The first patient developed synchronous HCL and CLL and was treated with rituximab for 13 months with HCL in remission and stable CLL. The second patient developed HCL and was treated with cladribine. His disease recurred seven years later which was re-treated with cladribine. Seven years later, he developed asymptomatic CLL. The third patient developed CLL, managed expectantly, then developed HCL ten months later and was treated with cladribine. Although his HCL went into remission, there was a slow redevelopment of CLL for which expectant management was done. The fourth patient developed concurrent CLL and HCL, received cladribine, with subsequent development of worsening abdominal lymphadenopathy and was lost to follow-up. The last patient developed concurrent HCL and CLL, and was also diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma; this patient was also lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The development of concurrent HCL and CLL may indicate a common origin. Patients with HCL may subsequently develop CLL, thus mimicking a relapse of HCL. Therapy requires individualized approach including watchful waiting in asymptomatic cases. Rituximab may be useful to treat both disorders simultaneously.