Editor's Note: Since 2015, the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) has been dedicated to presenting annual reports on the progress of clinical oncology in China, under the theme "International Standards, Chinese Characteristics, Learning and Innovation." At the recent "2024 Annual Progress in Chinese Clinical Oncology Conference (BOC) and Best of ASCO 2024 China," the latest "Annual Advances in Chinese Clinical Oncology 2023" report was officially released. At this conference, Dr. Zhitao Ying from the Cancer Institute & Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences presented a detailed report on the advancements in lymphoma research in China for 2023.

The CSCO Lymphoma Group systematically reviewed domestic and international literature in 2023 and analyzed the top 20 authors and research institutions in the field of lymphoma in China. Here are some highlights of the significant research progress in the field of B-cell lymphoma:

Notable Research in the Field of B-Cell Lymphoma in 2023

1. Polatuzumab Vedotin for Initial Treatment of DLBCL: A Phase III POLARIX Study Subgroup Analysis in Asian Populations

Professor Jun Zhu’s team from Peking University Cancer Hospital published the POLARIX study subgroup analysis results in Blood, demonstrating that the efficacy and safety of the POLA-R-CHP regimen compared to the R-CHOP regimen in the first-line treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients are consistent in both Asian and global populations.

2. PET-CT Adjusted Treatment for Low-Risk DLBCL: Results of a Phase III Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial

Professor Weili Zhao’s team from Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, published in Cancer Communications an open-label, randomized, controlled, non-inferiority phase III clinical trial. The results showed that for low-risk, non-bulky DLBCL patients who achieved complete remission (CR) confirmed by mid-treatment PET-CT, reducing chemotherapy cycles to four can decrease adverse events while maintaining clinical efficacy comparable to the standard six-cycle chemotherapy.

3. Orelabrutinib for Relapsed or Refractory Marginal Zone Lymphoma: An Open-Label, Multicenter Phase II Clinical Study

Professor Jun Zhu’s team from Peking University Cancer Hospital published in the American Journal of Hematology a study indicating that orelabrutinib exhibits high response rates and durable disease control in Chinese patients with relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), with good drug tolerance.

4. Phase II Study of PI3Kδ Inhibitor Linperlisib in Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma

Professor Luguan Qiu’s team from the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, published in Clinical Cancer Research a study confirming that linperlisib shows significant efficacy in treating relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL), with controllable adverse events.

Notable Research in the Field of T and NK Cell Lymphomas, HL in 2023

1. Etoposide, Dexamethasone, and Pegaspargase Combined with Sandwiched Radiotherapy for Early-Stage NK/T-Cell Lymphoma: A Randomized Phase III Clinical Study

Professor Weili Zhao’s team from Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, published in Innovation a prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled phase III clinical trial. The results showed that the ESA regimen with sandwiched radiotherapy is non-inferior to the MESA regimen in first-line treatment of early-stage nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma, offering high efficacy, low toxicity, and convenient administration, which can be completed in day wards or outpatient settings, providing a new anti-metabolic targeted treatment mode for patients.

2. Phase II Study of Sintilimab, Anlotinib, and Pegaspargase Combined with Radiotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma

Professor Zhiming Li’s team from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center published in the American Journal of Hematology a study proving that the combination of sintilimab, anlotinib, and pegaspargase with radiotherapy as first-line treatment for early-stage ENKTL patients shows good efficacy and safety.

3. Current Treatment-Based Evidence of Cure for Extranodal NK/T-Cell Lymphoma: Analysis from the CLCG Database

Professor Shunan Qi’s team from the National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, published in Haematologica a multicenter study retrospectively including 1955 patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma from the CLCG database who received non-anthracycline-based chemotherapy ± radiotherapy. They found an overall cure rate of 71.9% for ENKTCL patients, with post-cure mortality statistically comparable to the general population.

4. Phase II Multicenter Clinical Study of Tislelizumab, Gemcitabine, and Oxaliplatin for Relapsed or Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

Professor Lei Fan from Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital and Professor Kaiyang Ding from Anhui Provincial Hospital published in Haematologica a study finding that the T-Gemox regimen is an efficient, low-toxicity, and economical therapy for relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

Dr. Zhitao Ying

Chief Physician, MD National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Director of the Lymphoma/Head and Neck Tumor Ward Vice Chairman of the Cell Immunotherapy Professional Committee, Chinese Society for the Promotion of Human Health Science and Technology Standing Member of the Youth Expert Committee, Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) Standing Member of the Individualized Treatment Committee for Tumor Heterogeneity, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Youth Member of the Hematologic Oncology Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association Member of the Lymphoma Group, Chinese Society of Geriatric Hematology Member of the Drug Clinical Research and Evaluation Professional Committee, Chinese Association of Geriatric Health Care 11th Youth Committee Member, Chinese Medical Association Oncology Branch Youth Deputy Editor, JCO-Blood Chinese Edition Cell and Immunotherapy Editorial Board Member, Blood and Genomics Specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant lymphomas and cellular immunotherapy