Rare malignancies are defined as malignant tumors that have an occurrence rate of less than 6 cases per 100,000 individuals annually. According to the provided definition, it may be inferred that around 22% of all cancer cases fall under the category of rare cancers. This implies that, as a collective, there are approximately 108 new cases of rare cancer per 100,000 individuals annually. Based on available data, it is projected that over 4,300,000 individuals residing inside the European Union have been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, accounting for approximately 24% of the overall prevalence.

Although a considerable proportion of rare cancers possess clearly defined histopathological and molecular features, individuals diagnosed with these uncommon malignancies face inherent disadvantages in comparison to those diagnosed with more prevalent forms of cancer. The 5-year overall survival rates for rare cancers are found to be 47%, whereas for common cancers, the rates are observed to be 65%. The variation in survival expectancy can be attributed to multiple factors, such as challenges or delays in accurate diagnosis, limited availability of specialized institutes, and insufficient financing for research initiatives.

Particularly, among hematological malignancies, several can be acknowledged as orphan diseases. Due to their rarity, pathobiological studies as well as clinical trials are difficult and therefore scant. In this regard, the relevance of networking is particularly encouraged and lies in its potential to redress disparities and provide research opportunities within a feasible timeframe.

This Research Topic, titled "Rare hematological malignancies" centers its attention on rare cancers arising from the hematolymphoid tissue and including (but not limiting to) stroma-derived neoplasms of lymphoid tissues as well as rarer myeloid and lymphoid tumors. The objective is to offer the most up-to-date understanding of these entities that can be applied in practical settings, in terms of both diagnosis and treatment, or serve as a basis for further research.

We accept different article types including Original Research articles, Mini-Reviews, Brief Research Reports, and Perspectives. A full list of accepted article types, including descriptions, can be found at this link.

Please note: studies consisting solely of bioinformatic investigation of publicly available genomic/transcriptomic/proteomic data do not fall within the scope of the section unless they are expanded and provide significant biological or mechanistic insight into the process being studied.

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