This protocol covers the management of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) in patients whose disease is anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-negative — a distinct subgroup defined by the absence of ALK gene rearrangement that requires a tailored evidence-based treatment approach.
The defining feature of this protocol is ALK-negative ALCL. ALK status is a principal determinant of both prognosis and therapy selection in ALCL, and ALK-negative disease is addressed through a separate clinical pathway from its ALK-positive counterpart.
Available options for ALK-negative ALCL include antibody-drug conjugate therapy as well as a number of salvage chemotherapy regimens. For patients who are transplant-eligible, consolidation after response may also be an option.
The full regimen, treatment sequencing, eligibility criteria, and evidence-grading for each option are available in the complete structured protocol.
DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2025.07.014