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Every dated change on the records linked to ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, newest first: approvals and regulatory steps on its medicines, trials that reported, guideline versions, milestones, and when this page itself was checked. Dates come from the records; none is inferred. Orientation, not medical advice.
Brentuximab vedotin with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone, on the strength of ECHELON-2, which randomised 452 people with untreated CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma, three-quarters of them with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma: five-year progression-free survival 51.4 per cent against 43.0 and overall survival 70.1 against 61.0 with chemotherapy alone. Vincristine is left out because brentuximab vedotin is itself a tubulin-directed agent and giving both causes unacceptable nerve damage. Unlike the other nodal T-cell lymphomas, ALK-positive disease does well enough that consolidating a first remission with an autologous transplant is generally not offered. The regimens and the cycle detail are on the peripheral T-cell lymphoma page.
Immunohistochemistry for CD30 and for ALK protein on the biopsy, with fluorescence in situ hybridisation to confirm the rearrangement where the stain is equivocal. The large pleomorphic cells, the frequent expression of epithelial membrane antigen and the loss of several T-cell markers mean that a tumour stained with a short panel can be reported as a carcinoma or a sarcoma; CD30 and ALK are what prevent that. Staging covers the sites this disease reaches outside the lymph nodes: skin, bone, soft tissue, lung and liver.
In 452 patients with CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma, three-quarters of them with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma, five-year progression-free survival was 51.4 per cent with brentuximab vedotin and chemotherapy against 43.0 per cent with chemotherapy alone, and overall survival 70.1 against 61.0 per cent.