What Is Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkins lymphoma is a type of cancer in the lymphatic system.
Non-Hodgkins lymphoma causes the cells in the lymphatic system to
abnormally reproduce, eventually causing tumors to grow. Because
lymph tissue is found throughout the body, adult non-Hodgkins lymphoma
can begin in almost any part of the body. Cancer can spread to the
liver and many other organs and tissues.
Prognosis
People have survived every stage of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. People
with non-Hodgkins lymphoma now have more treatment choices and more
hope for survival than ever before.
Stanford research breakthroughs
Diagnosis & prognosis
Lymphoma Program physicians lead the field in the application of
genetic technology to fight cancer. For example, researchers at the
Cancer Center have identified a set of six genes that may predict
response to treatment in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
(DLBCL), the most common form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
This finding is the first gene-based screen to identify people who
need the most aggressive therapy. Stanford researchers also recently
discovered a simpler yet as accurate 2 gene signature. This test can
be done on a small piece of the tumor obtained at diagnosis.
Patients treated by physicians in the Lymphoma Program have access
to this kind of predictive genetic screening through ongoing clinical
studies in both DLBCL and follicular lymphoma.
Treatments
In 1994, Stanford investigators were the first to treat patients
with rituximab, an antibody developed by Dr. Ronald Levy which targets
the lymphoma cells. Three years later, rituximab was approved by the
FDA and today is the standard therapy for almost all patients with
non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
In 2011, Stanford researchers discovered a second antibody which
boosts the immune response and dramatically increases the ability of
rituximab to kill lymphoma. Patients at Stanford are receiving this
novel combination of antibodies through clinical trials.
Stanford investigators have cured many mice with lymphoma in the
hope of finding a cure for humans. Based on very promising mouse
studies, Stanford investigators recently started a clinical trial
testing a "personalized" vaccine for mantle cell lymphoma.
Patients at Stanford have access to these and other state-of-the-art
therapies.