Balancing Survival and Long-Term Wellness in Patients With Lymphoma

Jane N. Winter, MD, professor, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, highlights the remarkable progress made in the treatment of lymphoma, emphasizing the transformative role of immunotherapy. For decades, harnessing the immune system to fight lymphoma remained a challenging goal, with few options beyond allogeneic stem cell transplantation, suitable for only a small subset of patients. Today, therapies such as CAR T-cell treatments, targeted antibodies, and PD-1 inhibitors are changing the landscape, offering effective options even for heavily pretreated patients and increasingly being investigated earlier in the treatment course.

She also addresses the unique demographics of lymphoma, particularly its prevalence among teenagers, young adults, and increasingly among older adults, including octogenarians. While overall survival rates have improved dramatically, often reaching around 90%, the focus remains on preserving long-term quality of life. Experts underscore the importance of optimizing treatment regimens to minimize late effects, such as the cumulative risk of breast cancer associated with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

Emerging research aims to reduce patients’ exposure to traditional chemotherapy while maintaining or improving outcomes, combining immunotherapy with shorter or modified chemotherapy regimens. Early studies with PD-1 inhibitors like pembrolizumab demonstrate promising results in reducing chemotherapy cycles, potentially mitigating long-term risks for young patients and improving tolerability for older patients.

Dr. Winter provides a comprehensive overview of how lymphoma treatment is evolving from initial breakthroughs in immunotherapy to the ongoing efforts to refine therapies for safety, effectiveness, and long-term patient wellness.