Is It Time to Revisit the Role of Allogeneic Transplantation in Lymphoma?

Purpose of Review: A multitude of new drug and cell therapy approvals for lymphoma has prompted questions about the role of allogeneic blood or marrow transplantation (allo-BMT). We sought to review the latest evidence examining the role of allo-BMT for lymphoma in this evolving landscape. Recent Findings: Despite several new drug classes, there remains a large unmet need, particularly in hard to treat subtypes of lymphoma and for patients with relapsed/refractory disease. Allo-BMT can provide an opportunity for cure due to a potent graft vs lymphoma effect in high-risk relapse/refractory follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and aggressive T cell lymphomas. Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy and checkpoint blockers have improved outcomes for patients with relapsed /aggressive B cell lymphomas and Hodgkin lymphoma respectively; the role of allo-BMT consolidation in the treatment algorithm for responders to these therapies is an evolving topic. Summary: Expanded donor availability including haploidentical relatives has improved access to allo-BMT. Non-myeloablative conditioning regimens and post-transplant cyclophosphamide prophylaxis have improved early transplant-related morbidity and rates of graft versus host disease and translated into long-term survival for patients with lymphoid malignancies. Patient selection remains key, but allo-BMT remains the only modality able to deliver durable long-term remissions across different types of lymphoma.