Dismantling relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma

Despite recent therapeutic advancements in the general field of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, effective treatment of relapsed or refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) remains a challenge. The development of Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors has revolutionized the field and these agents are now the mainstay of R/R MCL management. However, BTK inhibitors are not curative, and as they are increasingly being incorporated into frontline regimens, the shifting treatment landscape for R/R disease presents new challenges. Here we review data for commonly employed treatment strategies including BTK inhibitors, the BCL2-inhibitor venetoclax, lenalidomide-based regimens, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. We additionally review data for promising novel agents including antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies before highlighting some emerging targeted agents that continue to bring promise for improved outcomes in R/R MCL.