Modern Aspects of Diagnosis and Treatment of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in Children (Literature Review)

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) includes different types of the disease that are heterogeneous according to clinical, morphological, immunological, cytogenetic and molecular biological features. The review demonstrates not only main clinical and morphoimmunological characteristics of ALCL, but also presents data about expression and prognostic significance of STAT3, pSTAT3tyr705, and survivin (transcription factor). It demonstrates the value of defining the minimal disseminated disease (the minimal disseminated disease is evaluated using the PCR test before initiation of the treatment, and the minimal residual disease is evaluated during the treatment and after its completion), and clinical and molecular biological prognostic factors are also identified. There is still no a standard therapeutic regimen for pediatric ALCL patients. However, the following therapeutic protocols are considered most effective: NHL-BFM 90/95, CCG5941, SFOP-LM 89/91, UKCCSG, ALCL99-Vinblastine, POG АРО 9315, AIEOP LNH-92/97. Treatment outcomes are presented in this paper. Particular attention is paid to different molecular biological markers that allow further improvement of patients’ stratification in risk groups and possible use of target medications (multikinase inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies) improving the therapy outcomes.