Lymphoma

Lymphoma refers to a group of cancers that strike the lymphatic system, an essential component of the body’s immune system. Lymphoma originates in a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes.

There are several types of lymphomas, which are characterized by how they develop, respond to treatment and other factors. All lymphomas are broadly classified as either Hodgkins or non-Hodgkins. While some lymphomas are highly curable, others require regular treatment with complex therapies.

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center’s lymphoma program includes nationally prominent clinician researchers who have helped craft the National Comprehensive Cancer Network treatment guidelines for malignant lymphomas. In addition to the Center’s groundbreaking development of bone marrow transplantation as a treatment for lymphoma, leukemia and other cancers, our scientists are developing promising new lymphoma therapies including chemotherapy drugs, biological agents and monoclonal antibodies that can target cancer-specific cells.

Learn more about the Hutchinson Center’s research in the two major types of lymphoma:

• Hodgkin
  Hodgkin lymphoma is marked by the presence of the Reed-Sternberg cell, a large cell that increases in number as the disease advances. Hodgkin lymphoma is highly curable with a survival rate that is considered very high.
  
  
• Non-Hodgkin
  There are several types of Non-Hodgkin lymphomas that are typically characterized as fast or slow-growing and as originating from T-cells or B-cells, both of which are types of lymphocytes. Prognosis and treatment depend on the stage and type of disease.