Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
OVERVIEW ON CURRENT STRATEGY OF THE TREATMENT OF NON-HODGKIN'S LYMPHOMAS
Dev Oncol; 32:441-54 1985. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/87629355 Gaynor ER; Ultmann JE; Section of Hematology/Oncolgy, Dept. of Medicine, Univ. of; Chicago, Chicago, IL
Abstract:
Although tremendous advances in the understanding of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) have been made, therapeutic approaches to some of these diseases have remained relatively stagnant. Advances in the fields of immunology, cytogenetics, molecular biology, and virology are briefly summarized, the current status of therapy for the malignant lymphomas is examined, and future trends in therapeutics are discussed. Monoclonal antibodies have been used extensively to characterize the morphologically diverse malignant lymphomas at various stages of differentiation. Phenotypic analysis has shown that most lymphomas, both of B-cell and T-cell origin, are in fact clonal expansions of lymphocytes at a specific stage of differentiation. The phenotypic description of both the normal cellular elements and the malignant neoplasms of the immune system have made possible a clear definition of clinical syndromes. Future characterization of the various cell populations of the immune system will hopefully facilitate classification of patient populations into more precise subsets, which will have both therapeutic and prognostic impact. Cellular oncogenes have been mapped to human chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17, 20, and 22, and in many instances, have been shown to be involved in specific chromosomal translocations within the malignant clone. Although different transforming onc genes may be activated in different types of tumors, the same gene appears to be activated in tumors of the same type whether they are induced by viruses, radiation, or chemicals. Research efforts in the past several yr have confirmed the long-suspected viral etiology of some human malignancies. What remains to be elucidated are the mechanisms by which viruses can initiate the neoplastic process. The proposed Working Formulation for Clinical Usage separates NHL into three basic categories: favorable histology, intermediate histology, and aggressive histology. Current treatment for each of these subgroups is briefly summarized. Great therapeutic advances have been made in the management of certain groups of the NHL. Paradoxically, the lymphomas which previously were considered 'bad prognosis' are now curable in the majority of cases, while those previously considered 'good prognosis' remain incurable. (45 Refs)
Keywords: Antibodies, Monoclonal/THERAPEUTIC USE Antigens, Neoplasm/IMMUNOLOGY Antigens, Surface/IMMUNOLOGY Chromosome Banding Combined Modality Therapy Genetic Engineering Human HIV/ISOLATION & PURIF Immunotherapy/METHODS Interferons/THERAPEUTIC USE Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's/GENETICS/IMMUNOLOGY/MICROBIOLOGY/*THERAPY Oncogenes Phenotype Radiotherapy, High-Energy MEETING PAPER
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Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1987. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
