Treatments For Lymphoma

Lymphoma treatments include a broad range of approaches, from standard chemotherapy to radioimmunotherapy and more.

'Lymphoma' is an umbrella term that loosely refers to several dozen independent categorical types and subtypes of cancers of the lymphatic system.

Drug treatments for Lymphoma

Among the most commonly used drugs are:

Antibody drug conjugates

• Adcetris
• Chemotherapeutic drugs
• Bleomycin
• Chlorambucil
• Cyclophosphamide
• Dacarbazine
• Doxorubicin
• Etoposide
• Folotyn (pralatrexate)
• Ifosfamide
• Mitoxantrone
• Pixurvi
• Prednisone
• Procarbazine
• Treanda (bendamustine)
• Vinblastine
• Vincristine
• Vorinostat

Histone deacetylase inhibitors

• Istodax (romidepsin)

Monoclonal antibodies

• Rituxan

Therapeutic proteasome inhibitors

• Velcade (bortezomib)

Radioimmunotherapy

When monoclonal antibodies are combined with a radioactive isotope, a radioimmunotherapeutic treatment is born. Two currently two exist:

• Bexxar
• Zevalin

Involved field radiation

Involved field radiation (IFT) is used in some cases of lymphoma, generally when there is evidence of a bulky mass that can be targeted by radiotherapists. This is not uncommon in early-stage cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a somewhat risky procedure that involves the transplanting of stem cells or bone marrow into a patient in order to rebuild their immune system and blood cell production; the patient can receive their own banked marrow (autologous) or they can receive donor marrow (allogenic). HSCT is generally considered the last line of therapy against a lymphoma because of the serious and drastic nature of the procedure and the high levels of chemotherapy and radiation necessary.