The Clinical Impact of Precisely Defining Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Contributions of Elaine Jaffe

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an aggressive yet incurable B-cell lymphoma that was only first recognized as a distinct subtype in 1992, with early reports suggesting a poor median survival. Elaine Jaffe is a renowned hematopathologist and scientist from the National Cancer Institute who was instrumental in many of the early descriptions of MCL that distinguished it from other B-cell lymphomas. Further, she has led multiple international collaborations that have harmonized the lymphoma classification systems that are currently in use today. The early morphologic descriptions of MCL along with the contributions of immunologic and genetic techniques have confirmed MCL as a distinct entity with unique biology and clinical behavior. Importantly, these scientific discoveries laid the foundation for unprecedented therapeutic breakthroughs that have led to significant improvements in overall survival.