ScienceDaily: Lymphoma News

Radioactive nanoparticles target cancer cells

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:22:22 EDT

Researchers have found a way to create radioactive nanoparticles that target lymphoma tumor cells wherever they may be in the body.

Master regulator that drives majority of lymphoma discovered

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:28:28 EDT

A soon-to-be-tested class of drug inhibitors were predicted to help a limited number of patients with B-cell lymphomas with mutations affecting the EZH2 protein. However medical researchers now report that these agents may, in fact, help a much broader cross section of lymphoma patients.

Promising results in treating a lymphoma in young people

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:46:46 EDT

Patients with a type of cancer known as primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma who received infusions of chemotherapy, but who did not have radiation therapy to an area of the thorax known as the mediastinum, had excellent outcomes, according to clinical trial results. Until now, most standard treatment approaches for patients with this type of lymphoma have included radiation therapy to the mediastinum. However, mediastinal radiation is associated with substantial long-term toxic side effects.

Immunotherapy showed promising antileukemia activity in pediatric patients

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:07:07 EDT

Researchers using patients' own immune cells in an immunotherapy approach called "anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy," achieved responses in children whose acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) had returned after a bone marrow transplant, according to preliminary results.

Cell reprogramming to cure leukemia and lymphoma?

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:45:45 EDT

Researchers have reprogrammed lymphoma and leukemia cells to halt their malignancy. Resulting cells remained benign even when no longer subjected to treatment and patients were less likely to develop new tumors.

New type of deadly lymphoma identified; Discovery enables more effective treatment for patients

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 10:10:10 EDT

An international research team has identified a new type of deadly intestinal lymphoma that is particularly common in Asia. The team also developed a new diagnostic test to accurately identify these patients.

New monoclonal antibody developed that can target proteins inside cancer cells

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:07:07 EDT

Scientists have created a unique monoclonal antibody that can effectively reach inside a cancer cell.

Scientists discover how to shutdown cancer's powerful master protein

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 15:49:49 EST

The powerful master regulatory transcription factor called Bcl6 is key to the survival of a majority of aggressive lymphomas, which arise from the B-cells of the immune system. The protein has long been considered too complex to target with a drug since it is also crucial to the healthy functioning of many immune cells in the body, not just B cells gone bad.

New clues to Epstein-Barr virus

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:27:27 EST

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) affects more than 90 percent of the population worldwide and was the first human virus found to be associated with cancer. Now, researchers have broadened the understanding of this widespread infection with their discovery of a second B-cell attachment receptor for EBV.

Experimental drug combination selectively destroys lymphoma cells

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:13:13 EST

Laboratory experiments suggest that a novel combination of the drugs ibrutinib and bortezomib could potentially be an effective new therapy for several forms of blood cancer, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma.

High-dose Vorinostat effective at treating relapsed lymphomas, study suggests

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 11:42:42 EST

Patients whose aggressive lymphomas have relapsed or failed to respond to the current front-line chemotherapy regimen now have an effective second line of attack against their disease.

Lupus drugs carry no significant cancer risk for patients, study suggests

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:40:40 EST

People who take immunosuppressive drugs to treat lupus do not necessarily increase their cancer risk according to new research. This study addresses long-standing fears of a link between lupus medication and cancer.

Discovery of new class of damage-prone DNA regions could lead to better cancer treatments

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:33:33 EST

Cancer is thought to arise from DNA damage at fragile sites in the genome. A new study reveals a new class of fragile sites that contributes to DNA alterations in a type of blood cancer called B cell lymphoma. The findings could lead to the development of more effective treatments for B cell lymphoma and potentially other cancers.

New way to kill lymphoma without chemotherapy: Golden nanoparticle starves cancer cell to death

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:19:19 EST

Scientists annihilated lymphoma by depriving it of a favorite food: HDL cholesterol. Researchers developed a new golden nanoparticle that's a replica of natural HDL. Acting like a secret double agent, the particle appears to the human lymphoma cell like natural HDL. But when the cell engages it, the particle plugs up the cell and blocks cholesterol from entering. The cell dies.

Scientists seek out cancer cells hiding from treatment

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 09:01:01 EST

Funding to improve leukemia treatment will investigate how cancer cells hide to avoid chemotherapy drugs.

Epigenomic abnormalities predict patient survival in non-Hodgkins lymphoma

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 21:23:23 EST

"Not only do we see more abnormal methylation in non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients than in healthy B-cell populations, but there are three distinct subtypes of the disease in the clinic, each more aggressive than the next. These three clinical trajectories of non-Hodgkins lymphoma were distinctly marked by their levels of abnormal methylation," says a CU Cancer Center investigator.

Cellular fuel gauge may hold the key to restricting cancer growth

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 13:03:03 EST

Researchers have discovered that a key regulator of energy metabolism in cancer cells known as the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) may play a crucial role in restricting cancer cell growth. AMPK acts as a "fuel gauge" in cells.

New technique catalogs lymphoma-linked genetic variations

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:30:30 EST

As anyone familiar with the X-Men knows, mutants can be either very good or very bad — or somewhere in between. The same appears true within cancer cells, which may harbor hundreds of mutations that set them apart from other cells in the body; the scientific challenge has been to figure out which mutations are culprits and which are innocent bystanders. Now, researchers have devised a novel approach to sorting them out: they generated random mutations in a gene associated with lymphoma, tested the proteins produced by the genes to see how they performed, and generated a catalog of mutants with cancer-causing potential.

Cancer diagnosis later in life poses significant risk to offspring, study suggests

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 19:57:57 EST

Relatives of family members diagnosed with cancer are still at risk of the disease even if the diagnosis came at an older age, a new paper suggests.

Ibrutinib has 'unprecedented' impact on mantle cell lymphoma

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 19:08:08 EST

An international study of ibrutinib in people with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) continues to show unprecedented and durable results with few side effects.

Hard-to-treat Myc-driven cancers may be susceptible to drug already used in clinic

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 10:22:22 EST

Drugs that are used in the clinic to treat some forms of breast and kidney cancer and that work by inhibiting the signaling molecule mTORC1 might have utility in treating some of the more than 15 percent of human cancers driven by alterations in the Myc gene, according to data from a preclinical study.

Blood levels of immune protein predict risk in Hodgkin disease

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:07:07 EST

Researchers found levels galectin-1, an immunity-related protein, could be the basis of a test and potentially a targeted treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma.

Novel drug therapy targets aggressive form of non-hodgkin's lymphoma

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:51:51 EST

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and the seventh most frequently diagnosed cancer. The most chemotherapy resistant form of DLBCL, called activated B-cell – DLBCL (ABC-DLBCL), remains a major therapeutic challenge. Researchers have now developed a new experimental drug therapy to target this aggressive form of lymphoma.

Pathway identified in human lymphoma points way to new blood cancer treatments

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:09:09 EST

Research, shows for the first time that the "unfolded protein response" is active in patients with human lymphomas and mice genetically bred to develop lymphomas. Importantly, when the UPR is inactivated, lymphoma cells readily undergo cell death.

Can the addition of radiolabeled treatments improve outcomes in advanced metastatic disease?

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 12:18:18 EST

Radiolabeled agents are powerful tools for targeting and killing cancer cells and may help improve outcomes and lengthen survival times of patients with advanced disease that has spread beyond the initial tumor site. Effective therapy for metastatic cancer requires acombination of treatments, and the benefits of adding radionuclide therapy are explored in three studies.

Genome sequencing of Burkitt Lymphoma reveals unique mutation

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:31:31 EST

In the first broad genetic landscape mapped of a Burkitt lymphoma tumor, scientists identified 70 mutations, including several that had not previously been associated with cancer and a new one that was unique to the disease.

New target for lung cancer treatment identified

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:35:35 EDT

Investigators have discovered a protein on the surface of lung cancer cells that could prove to be an important new target for anti-cancer therapy. A series of experiments in mice with lung cancer showed that specific targeting of the protein with monoclonal antibodies reduced the size of tumors, lowered the occurrence of metastases and substantially lengthened survival time.

Scientists harness immune system to prevent lymphoma relapse

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 12:30:30 EDT

Scientists hope that lymphoma patients could benefit from a new drug that triggers the cancer-fighting properties of the body's own immune system, after highly promising early laboratory results.

Development of lymphoma depends on platelet derived growth factor receptor B, mouse model shows

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:50:50 EDT

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is even less attractive in real life than it is on paper. It is a highly aggressive type of lymphoma that generally occurs in children and young adults and that has to date proven extremely difficult to treat. It has long been known that ALCL patients frequently show a genetic alteration (a translocation) that causes expression of nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK), a gene known to be capable of giving rise to cancer. But how the NPM-ALK gene works has to date remained largely a matter of conjecture.

Researchers solve puzzle of B-cell lymphoma development

Sun, 23 Sep 2012 14:51:51 EDT

In germinal centers, immune cells learn to fight pathogens with high specificity. Researchers have now identified subpopulations of B cells at the germinal centers which express the proto-oncogene Myc (red). They showed that Myc is essential for the formation and maintenance of germinal centers. Their findings have implications for the pathogenesis of B-cell lymphomas.

Many options, good outcomes, for early-stage follicular lymphoma

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:25:25 EDT

A new study challenges treatment guidelines for early stage follicular lymphoma, concluding that six different therapies can bring a remission, particularly if the patient is carefully examined and staged at diagnosis.

New key element discovered in pathogenesis of Burkitt lymphoma

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:06:06 EDT

Burkitt lymphoma is a malignant, fast-growing tumor that originates from a subtype of white blood cells of the immune system and often affects internal organs and the central nervous system. Now researchers of the Max Delbrück Center have identified a key element that transforms the immune cells into malignant lymphoma cells. They developed a mouse model that closely resembles Burkitt lymphoma in humans that may help to test new treatment strategies.

Critical tumor suppressor for cancer identified

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:24:24 EDT

Scientists have identified a protein that impairs the development and maintenance of lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes), but is repressed during the initial stages of the disease, allowing for rapid tumor growth.

First genome-wide analysis of peripheral T-cell lymphomas

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:25:25 EDT

Scientists have identified 13 novel alterations in aggressive blood cancer.

Potential key to new treatment for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:27:27 EDT

Researchers have demonstrated that the inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in mouse models of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an aggressive and incurable subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that becomes resistant to treatment, can harness the immune system to eradicate residual malignant cells responsible for disease relapse.

New drug dramatically improves survival in Hodgkin lymphoma patients

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:20:20 EDT

A new cancer drug with remarkably few side effects is dramatically improving survival in Hodgkin lymphoma patients who fail other treatments and are nearly out of options.

Progress in quest to reduce use of radiation in treatment of pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:17:17 EDT

A multicenter trial showed that nearly half of young patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma can be cured without undergoing either irradiation or intensive chemotherapy that would leave them at risk for second cancers, infertility, heart and other problems later.

Type 2 diabetes linked to increased blood cancer risk

Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:16:16 EDT

A new meta-analysis reveals patients with type 2 diabetes have a 20 percent increased risk of developing blood cancers.

Children with cancer have complete responses in a COG phase 1 trial: Pills zero in on abnormal genes that drive specific cancers

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:54:54 EDT

A pill designed to zero in on abnormal genes that drive specific cancers has produced encouraging early results in children with an uncommon but aggressive type of lymphoma, as well as in children with a rare form of neuroblastoma.

Exhaustion renders immune cells less effective in cancer treatment

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:37:37 EDT

Rather than stimulating immune cells to more effectively battle cancerous tumors, treatment with the protein interleukin-12 (IL-12) has the opposite effect, driving these intracellular fighters to exhaustion, a new study has found. The study helps explain the negative results of clinical trials testing the treatment’s ability to ramp up the body’s natural immune response to destroy cancer cells. The study also demonstrates that the same “T cell exhaustion” that plagues specialized immune cells during chronic viral infections also affects cells fighting long bouts of cancer.

Protein may represent a switch to turn off B cell lymphoma

Mon, 07 May 2012 15:11:11 EDT

Researchers studying molecular signals that drive B cell lymphoma have found a key biological pathway leading to this type of cancer. The finding may help to break so-called "oncogene addiction" in treating this cancer.

New compound targets key mechanism behind lymphoma

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:17:17 EDT

Scientists have come one step closer to developing the first treatment to target a key pathway in lymphoma.

New clues to development of blood and other cancers

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:41:41 EDT

Scientists have uncovered more details about how defects in components of the machinery that makes new proteins can lead to blood and other cancers.

Epstein Barr-like virus infects and may cause cancer in dogs

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:02:02 EDT

Best known for causing mononucleosis, or "the kissing disease," the Epstein Barr virus has also been implicated in more serious conditions, including Hodgkin's, non-Hodgkin's and Burkitt's lymphomas. Now a team of researchers has the first evidence that an Epstein Barr-like virus can infect and may also be responsible for causing lymphomas in man's best friend.

A single protein helps the body keep watch over the Epstein-Barr virus

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:56:56 EST

Some 90 percent of people are exposed to the Epstein Barr virus at some point in their life. Even though it is quickly cleared from the body, the virus can linger silently for years in small numbers of infected B cells. According to researchers, the immune system subdues the virus by watching for a single viral protein called LMP1.

A leukemia drug kills cancerous T-cells while sparing normal immunity, study suggests

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:19:19 EST

Researchers report that low-dose Campath (alemtuzumab) not only treats patients with L-CTCL but does so without increasing their risk of infections.

Researchers identify genetic mutation responsible for most cases of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:09:09 EST

Scientists have identified a gene mutation that underlies the vast majority of cases of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia, a rare form of lymphoma that has eluded all previous efforts to find a genetic cause.

Study of two sisters sheds light on lymphoma evolution

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:26:26 EST

A woman received a transplant from her sister to treat leukemia. Both sisters later developed lymphoma, suggesting transfer of a common ancestor. Finding gives scientists new insight into lymphoma development.

Survival rates increase with chemotherapy alone in patients with limited-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma, study suggests

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:46:46 EST

New research demonstrates that patients with limited stage Hodgkin's lymphoma have a better chance of long-term survival if they undergo a standard chemotherapy regimen as opposed to radiation-based treatment.

Scientists outline steps toward Epstein-Barr virus vaccine

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:12:12 EDT

Epstein-Barr virus infects nine out of ten people worldwide at some point during their lifetimes. Infections in early childhood often cause no disease symptoms, but people infected during adolescence or young adulthood may develop infectious mononucleosis, a disease characterized by swollen lymph nodes, fever and severe fatigue.

Recipients of organ transplants at increased risk for broad range of cancers, study finds

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:10:10 EDT

Patients who have received a solid organ transplant, such as kidney, liver, heart or lung, have an overall cancer risk that is double that of the general population, with an increased risk for many different types of malignancies, according to a new study.

Efficacy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma vaccine demonstrated in dogs

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:52:52 EDT

An experimental vaccine is the first veterinary cancer vaccine of its kind that shows an increase in survival time for dogs with spontaneous non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The work shows for the first time the feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of this alternative cell-based vaccine, which could be employed in the treatment of a number of different cancer types.

Biological agents for rheumatoid arthritis associated with increased skin cancer risk, review finds

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:23:23 EDT

Biological agents used to treat rheumatoid arthritis seem to be associated with an increased risk of skin cancer, indicates a systematic review of published research.

Greater impact of chemotherapy on fertility

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:23:23 EDT

Current estimates of the impact of chemotherapy on women's reproductive health are too low, according to a new study. The researchers say their analysis of the age-specific, long-term effects of chemotherapy provides new insights that will help patients and clinicians make more informed decisions about future reproductive options, such as egg harvesting.

IMRT improves outcomes in patients with extranodal lymphoma of the head and neck, study suggests

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 09:50:50 EDT

Lymphoma is a cancer that affects organs of the immune system, including the lymph nodes. In a subtype of the disease called extranodal lymphoma, tumors arise in non-lymphoid organs, such as the tongue and tonsils. Patients with extranodal lymphoma of the head and neck often undergo radiation therapy, but this treatment frequently damages the salivary glands and causes dry mouth, which can lead to problems with eating, speaking and swallowing.

Study on silencing of tumor suppressor gene suggests new target for lymphoma

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:20:20 EDT

Researchers have found that a cancer-causing fusion protein works by silencing the tumor suppressor gene IL-2R common gamma-chain. The results suggest news targets for lymphoma and other types of cancer.

Researchers find way to help donor adult blood stem cells overcome transplant rejection

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 12:46:46 EDT

Findings may suggest new strategies for successful donor adult stem cell transplants in patients with blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Disappearance of genetic material allows tumor cells to grow

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:08:08 EDT

Loss of a gene regulator is crucial for a rare type of skin cancer

Specialized regulatory T cell stifles antibody production centers: Discovery has potential implications for cancer, autoimmune disease

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:26:26 EDT

A regulatory T cell that expresses three specific genes shuts down the mass production of antibodies launched by the immune system to attack invaders, scientists have reported.

Two genetic variations predict second cancers after radiation for children with Hodgkin lymphoma

Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:55:55 EDT

A genome-wide association study found two tiny genetic variations that predict which patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma are likely to develop radiation-induced second cancers years after treatment. This could help physicians reduce the risks for susceptible patients. Younger the patients and those who receive more radiation are most at risk. This late side effect is the second leading cause of death for Hodgkin's survivors.