Oncology Nursing Showdown! Aggressive Non–Hodgkin Lymphoma Edition: Module 3 - Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma

In the third segment of this three-part series, Maria Badillo, MSN, RN, OCN®, CCRP, Research Nurse Manager, MD, Anderson Cancer Center, evaluates guideline recommendations for the management of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), assesses emerging data on novel therapies, and applies strategies to optimize treatment experiences for patients. For more expert insights on aggressive non-hodgkin lymphoma, complete modules 2 and 3. Start the activity now!

Each year, 81,560 new cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) are diagnosed, and 20,720 people die of the disease (American Cancer Society, 2021). Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a subset of T-cell lymphomas, which make up 10%-15% of all NHL cases (Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 2020). The diagnosis of PTCL is challenging, and prognosis is poor, with a 5-year overall survival rate of less than 30% when treated with chemotherapy (Zain, 2020). PTCLs are aggressive, heterogeneous, and less responsive to chemotherapy compared with B-cell lymphomas. Treatment options being investigated in clinical trials include phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitor–based strategies, CD30-directed strategies, Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, and spleen-associated tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) (Mehta-Shah, 2019). It is vitally important for oncology nurses to gain up-to-date knowledge of guideline recommendations, clinical research advances, and adverse event management in order to provide optimal care to patients with these conditions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

Evaluate guideline recommendations for the management of individual patients with aggressive peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL)
Assess emerging data on novel therapies for advanced PTCL
Apply strategies to manage adverse events and optimize treatment experiences for patients receiving novel therapies for advanced PTCL