BRIDGE-NK: Immunotherapy Versus Chemotherapy Induction Followed by Autologous HSCT in Advanced NKTCL

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma is an aggressive Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoma with poor outcomes in advanced-stage disease. High-dose methotrexate-containing asparaginase-based chemotherapy can induce responses but is limited by early toxicity, organ dysfunction, infection risk, and incomplete treatment delivery in patients with high tumor burden. PD-1 antibody-based immunotherapy combinations have shown promising activity and tolerability in advanced-stage disease, but randomized evidence comparing immunotherapy induction with chemotherapy induction in a frontline curative-intent strategy remains lacking. This study is designed to evaluate whether immunotherapy induction followed by CNS-directed high-dose methotrexate consolidation and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can improve event-free survival compared with a conventional chemotherapy induction strategy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The comparison focuses on the entire treatment strategy, including induction depth, feasibility of subsequent consolidation, and early strategy failure, rather than isolated response to a single regimen. Strict complete remission is defined as all of the following: complete metabolic remission on PET/CT according to Lugano 2014 criteria, negative plasma EBV-DNA, and negative EBER staining on repeat bone marrow biopsy for participants with baseline bone marrow involvement.