Proposal of a genetic classifier for risk group stratification in pediatric T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma reveals differences from adult T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia
T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) represents the second most common subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in children and adolescents. Current chemotherapy protocols reach event-free survival probabilities (pEFS) of 75–85%,1 and are associated with relevant late effects2, 3 and treatment-related death rates of ~4%.4 Although reduction of treatment-associated toxicities therefore remains an important aim, poor probabilities of survival in relapsed LBL of 10–15%5 leave no room for treatment de-escalation in frontline protocols. For pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), risk assessment and treatment stratification have allowed safe treatment de-escalation for low-risk patients and intensification for high-risk patients.6 Limitations in numbers of newly diagnosed patients have impeded evaluation and validation of potential markers for pediatric LBL.