Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

• There are several types of Non-Hodgkin lymphomas. They are characterized as either aggressive (fast-growing) or indolent (slow-growing) types, and they can be formed from either B-cells or T-cells.
  
• Some Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are caused by infections from viruses including HIV, Hepatitis C and Epstein-Barr. A weakened immune system, either as an inherited or as a result of medication, can also contribute to the development of Non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
  
• The National Cancer Institute estimates that in 2011 there were more than 66,000 new cases of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma reported in the United States.

Burkitt lymphoma – Dr. Corey Casper and colleagues at the UCI/Hutchinson Center Cancer Alliance are developing new ways to prevent and treat Burkitt lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that most often affects children and young adults. Burkitt lymphoma is among the 20 percent of cancers that are caused by infectious diseases and it is particularly prevalent in developing countries. Casper and collaborators are identifying the infectious diseases that cause cancer and understanding how they care acquired; Developing ways to prevent or cure these diseases; cultivating approaches that could slash the cost of treating; and training a new generation of oncologists to care for patients in low-resourced environments. Learn more »

Follicular lymphoma – Dr. Oliver Press and colleagues have also developed a therapy for follicular lymphoma, a slow-growing form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is usually at an advanced, incurable stage when diagnosed. The treatment consists of six cycles of a popular four-drug chemotherapy regimen for lymphoma, followed by treatment with Bexxar, the trade name for a radioactively-tagged antibody, to destroy cancerous cells. Learn more »

Rituximab drug development — Our researchers pioneered use of an antibody to target treatment for some forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Work by Dr. David Maloney was instrumental in the development of Rituximab, the first medication of its kind approved in the United States for the treatment of malignant disease—and the one of the worlds best-selling anticancer drugs. About half of patients treated with this drug, who typically have slow-progressing lymphomas, see their cancers go into remission. Our researchers have been testing combination therapies that mix other chemotherapy agents with Rituximab.

Listen to a webcast with Dr. David Maloney »

Reducing toxicity in treatment — Dr. Ajay Gopal and colleagues have discovered new ways to target treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma that reduces damage in health tissue. Using radioactively tagged proteins that bind to tumors, physicians can deliver very high doses of radiation that minimize damage to surrounding healthy cells. The treatment is a safer and more effective treatment for elder patient populations. Learn more »

Transplant – Led by Nobel Prize recipient Dr. E. Donnall Thomas, Hutchinson Cancer researchers have transformed bone marrow transplantation into standard treatment for leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. The procedure is widely recognized as one of the greatest achievements in cancer treatment that has saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients. Learn more »

Mini-transplant — By minimizing the radiation therapy that patients receive before their bone marrow transplant, Hutchinson Center researchers have helped make this life-saving procedure less toxic and available to more lymphoma patients. Pioneered by Dr. Rainer Storb and colleagues more than a decade ago, this “mini” transplant has been shown in studies to yield similar results as traditional bone marrow transplants. Learn more »

Mental function – Research by Dr. Karen Syrjala shows that the decline in mental skills experienced by many bone marrow and stem cell transplant patients is largely temporary. Patients who experience these symptoms can expect a return to normal cognitive functions with a year of their transplant, according to Syrjalas 2004 study. More recent research shows that mental conditions continue to improve after one year. Learn more »

10-year health – A study by Dr. Syrjala shows that after 10 years survivors of stem cell transplants for blood cancers are nearly as healthy as people who didnt undergo the procedure. Both populations had similar rates of asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and osteoporosis. In addition, they also had similar psychological health, marital satisfaction and employment. Learn more »