Reference
- LymphomaWhat Is Lymphoma?
Lymphoma is a general term for a group of cancers that begin in the lymphatic system, which consists of the tissues and organs used to make, store, and carry white blood cells for fighting infections and other diseases. This system includes the bone marrow2315, spleen2316, and hundreds of bean-sized lymph nodes throughout the body. Lymphoma results when white blood cells, or lymphocytes (LIM-fo-sites), undergo changes and start to multiply out of control. Eventually, the cells crowd out healthy cells and create tumors, which are abnormal growths of body tissue. Tumors may or may not be cancerous. Lymphoma can occur in a single lymph node, a group of lymph nodes, or in other parts of the lymphatic system. Eventually, it may spread to almost any part of the body.
The different types of lymphoma vary in severity, survivability, and frequency. Some types do not occur often. For instance, hairy cell leukemia2317 (a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma) is diagnosed in only about 2,000 new cases each year in North America and Western Europe. It is slow-growing and very survivable. Hodgkin lymphoma is also very survivable, being one of the most curable types of lymphoma, with a cure rate of more than 90 percent. By contrast, Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare (6 percent of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases) but often aggressive type of lymphoma that has a lowered survivability rate because it is usually not diagnosed until late in the disease process.
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Streaming Media
- Hope for the Future: New Treatments for Non-Hodgkin's LymphomaOur understanding of lymphoma is rapidly developing, with several varieties now identified. Beginning with a brief history of how medical science became aware of lymphatic cancer and providing an outline of the basic concepts involved, this program then distinguishes between Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, illustrates the difference between B-cell and T-cell lymphoma, and explores other topics related to the disease. Typical symptoms and their similarity to those of a flu or cold virus are explored while state-of-the-art treatments and therapies are also illustrated. Clinical commentary comes from Dr. Owen O’Connor of New York University’s Langone Medical Center, Dr. Eric Hsi of the Cleveland Clinic, and other experts.
Online Resources
- LymphomaLymphomas may be broadly divided into non-Hodgkin (90%) and Hodgkin (10%) types. Most lymphomas (90%) are of B cell origin but can also be T cell or natural killer cell. Clinical management of indolent and aggressive lymphomas is different. Aggressive lymphomas are more dangerous if left untreated yet a higher cell proliferation rate also renders them more chemosensitive, so they are managed with curative intent. Indolent lymphomas are, for the most part, incurable, such that quality of life must be balanced against toxicity of treatment in deciding when and how to treat.
- Burkitt's lymphomaBurkitt's lymphoma is a highly aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and is the fastest growing human tumour. The disease is associated with Epstein-Barr virus and was one of the first tumours shown to have a chromosomal translocation that activates an oncogene ( c-MYC ). Burkitt's lymphoma is the most common childhood cancer in areas where malaria is holoendemic. The incidence is very high in immunosuppressed patients in non-endemic areas, especially when associated with HIV infection. Outcome with intensive chemotherapy has improved and is now excellent in children, but the prognosis is poor in elderly adults. The success of intensive treatment relies on good supportive care. The therapy offered in oncology units in low-income countries is not as aggressive as in centres in high-income countries and outcomes are less successful. Adjuvant monoclonal antibody therapy with rituximab shows promise for improved outcomes and reduced toxic effects in the future.
Perspectives
Cancer Virus
The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) was discovered in 1964. At the time, the very idea of a virus underlying a cancer was revolutionary. Cancer is, after all, not catching. Even now, the idea of a virus causing cancer surprises many people. But Epstein-Barr, named after its discoverers, Sir Anthony Epstein and Dr Yvonne Barr, is fascinating for other reasons too. Almost everyone carries it, yet it is only under certain circumstances that it produces disease. It has been associated with different, apparently unrelated, diseases in different populations: Burkitt's Lymphoma, producing tumours in the jaw, in African children; a nasal tumour in China; glandular fever in Europe and the USA; and the majority of cases of Hodgkin's Disease everywhere. This book tells the story of the discovery of the virus, and the recognition of its connection with these various diseases - an account that spans the world and involves some remarkable characters and individual stories.