Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s immune system. It arises from lymphocytes—white blood cells that help fight infections. There are two main categories:

1. Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL): Characterized by the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells. It often starts in lymph nodes and can spread predictably to nearby nodes.

   
   

2. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL): A diverse group of lymphoid cancers, varying widely in aggressiveness and cell origin (B-cell or T-cell lymphomas). It can involve lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, or other organs.

   
   

   Symptoms commonly include painless swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue.

   
   

Current Therapies for Lymphoma

Treatment depends on lymphoma type, stage, and patient factors:

1. Chemotherapy

   • Backbone of treatment for most lymphomas

   • Common regimens include ABVD (Adriamycin, Bleomycin, Vinblastine, Dacarbazine) for Hodgkin lymphoma and CHOP (Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, Vincristine, Prednisone) for many NHL types

   
   

2. Immunotherapy

   • Rituximab: Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody widely used in B-cell NHL

   • Other monoclonal antibodies and checkpoint inhibitors are used in specific subtypes

   
   

3. Radiation Therapy

   • Often combined with chemotherapy for localized disease or bulky tumors

   • Used in early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma and some NHL cases

   
   

4. Targeted Therapy

   • Includes agents like Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors (e.g., Ibrutinib) for certain B-cell lymphomas

   • Other targeted drugs include Lenalidomide and PI3K inhibitors

   
   

5. Stem Cell Transplantation

   • Autologous (patient’s own cells) or allogeneic (donor cells) transplants may be used in relapsed or refractory lymphoma to achieve remission

   
   

6. CAR T-Cell Therapy

   • A form of gene therapy that modifies a patient’s T cells to attack lymphoma cells

   • Approved for certain aggressive or relapsed B-cell lymphomas

   
   

Lymphoma treatment is highly effective for many patients, especially Hodgkin lymphoma, which has a high cure rate. Advances in targeted and cellular therapies continue to improve outcomes for patients with more aggressive or resistant forms.