Lymphoma

The Lymphoma and Myeloma team treats Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, multiple myeloma, and other disorders.

Overview

Lymphomas occur when there is unexplained growth in the lymph system. The lymph system includes lymph vessels—thin tubes that branch into all parts of the body—connected to groups of small, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarm, pelvis, neck, and abdomen. Lymph nodes filter bacteria and other matter from the blood. They may filter out cancer cells but can also become areas of the body to which cancer spreads.

Click links at left for more on Hodgkin Disease (HD) and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) as well as related information.

Incidence

The American Cancer Society estimates that 74,340 new cases of Lymphoma will be diagnosed in 2008.

At Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), a multidisciplinary team uses a multitude of treatment options to treat diseases of the blood and lymphatic systems, including lymphoma, multiple myeloma and aplastic anemia.

The team provides high-dose chemotherapy treatments for lymphoma and multiple myeloma patients. Faculty developed new regimens for both autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for lymphoma, solid tumors and aplastic anemia. Current studies seek to improve BMT outcomes and to reduce BMT-associated toxicity. Treatments include the use of investigational and/or approved hematopoietic growth factors to enhance engraftment; dose-intensive therapies, which support autologous stem cell transplantation; as well as conventional dose and experimental chemotherapies.