Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: Relapsed/Refractory

The term “relapsed” refers to disease that reappears or grows again after a period of remission.

The term “refractory” is used to describe when the lymphoma does not respond to treatment (meaning that the cancer cells continue to grow) or when the response to treatment does not last very long.

Relapsed/refractory ALCL patients have many treatment options. For primary cutaneous ALCL the following treatments have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

• Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris)

For systemic ALCL the following treatments have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) :

• Romidepsin (Istodax)
• Belinostat (Beleodaq)
• Pralatrexate (Folotyn)
• Brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris)

On January 14, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved crizotinib (Xalkori, Pfizer Inc.) for the treatment of pediatric patients 1 year of age and older and young adults with ALK-positive relapsed or refractory, systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).  This is the first biomarker-driven therapy approved for pediatric ALCL.

To learn more about ALCL, and specific indications of approved therapies, contact the Foundation Helpline, download the Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Fact Sheet.

Patients may also want to consider a clinical trial for relapsed/refractory ALCL. See also: Clinical Trials Fact Sheet.