Plasmablastic lymphoma: better refine prognosis

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare and aggressive form of large B-cell lymphoma.There is no standard approach to treatment, and the prognosis of PBL has only been assessed through small case series.In this issue of Blood, Di Ciaccio et al 1 report a unique series of 281 patients, providing more definitive insights into the prognosis of PBL.The authors found that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-negative lymphoma, poor performance status, advanced stage, and bone marrow involvement were risk factors associated with inferior overall survival (OS).Prognosis remained dismal despite intensive regimens and the inclusion of proteasome inhibitors, bringing the authors to conclude that there is a need for new therapeutic strategies, especially for the highest-risk forms.