Mantle cell lymphoma in 2022-A comprehensive update on molecular pathogenesis, risk stratification, clinical approach, and current and novel treatments

Am J Hematol. 2022 May;97(5):638-656. doi: 10.1002/ajh.26523.

Abstract

The field of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has witnessed remarkable progress due to relentless advances in molecular pathogenesis, prognostication, and newer treatments. MCL consists of a spectrum of clinical subtypes. Rarely, atypical cyclin D1-negative MCL and in situ MCL neoplasia are identified. Prognostication of MCL is further refined by identifying somatic mutations (such as TP53, NSD2, KMT2D), methylation status, chromatin organization pattern, SOX-11 expression, minimal residual disease (MRD), and genomic clusters. Lymphoid tissue microenvironment studies demonstrated the role of B-cell receptor signaling, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), colony-stimulating factor (CSF)-1, the CD70-SOX-11 axis. Molecular mechanism of resistance, mutation dynamics, and pathogenic pathways (B-cell receptor (BCR), oxidative phosphorylation, and MYC) were identified in mediating resistance to various treatments (bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors [ibrutinib, acalabrutinib]. Treatment options range from conventional chemoimmunotherapy and stem cell transplantation (SCT) to targeted therapies against BTK (covalent and noncovalent), Bcl2, ROR1, cellular therapy such as anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CAR-T), and most recently bispecific antibodies against CD19 and CD20. MCL patients frequently relapse. Complex pathogenesis and the management of patients with progression after treatment with BTK/Bcl2 inhibitors and CAR-T (triple-resistant MCL) remain a challenge. Next-generation clinical trials incorporating newer agents and concurrent translational and molecular investigations are ongoing.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell* / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell* / therapy
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase