mantle cell leukemia | Mantle cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma is a B lymphocyte non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). It originates in the outer edge of a lymph node called the mantle area. Mantle cell lymphoma more often affects man than woman. It is usually diagnosed in the early sixties.

In general, mantle cell lymphoma is diagnosed at stage 3 or 4. It has often spread to other lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen and liver. It is sometimes observed along the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, we can talk about Lymphomateuse polypose.

Mantle cell lymphoma may evolve slowly (indolent), but there are also rapidly evolving (aggressive) variants called Blastoïde variant and polymorphic Variant.

Treatments
The primary treatment of mantle cell lymphoma is chemotherapy. Other treatments such as targeted treatment, biological therapy, radiation and stem cell transplantation may be used.

ChemotherapyChemotherapy is frequently used to treat mantle cell lymphoma. Chemotherapeutic agents are usually associated with sometimes being added to a targeted drug. The following chemotherapeutic associations may be used:

CHOP – Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Procytox), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), vincristine (Oncovin), and prednisone
R-Chop – Chop with rituximab (Rituxan)
CVP – cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone
R-CVP – CVP with rituximab
Hyper-CVAD – cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, Dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexasone), methotrexate and Cytarabine (Cytosar, Ara-C)
R-Hyper-CVAD – Hyper-CVAD with rituximab
EPOCH – Etoposide (Vepesid), vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone
The following medications may be used if mantle cell lymphoma does not respond to treatment, evolves during treatment, or reappears after treatment (recurrence). One can only be administered or associated with others or a targeted drug:

Bendamustine (Treanda)
Cladribine (Leustatin)
Fludarabine (Fludara)
Targeted treatment
Targeted treatment uses drugs to target specific molecules (such as proteins) located on the surface of cancer cells. These molecules contribute to the sending of signals that tell cells to grow or divide. By targeting these molecules, medications interrupt the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to normal cells.

Rituximab (Rituxan) is a targeted drug that is frequently used alone or associated with chemotherapy to treat mantle cell lymphoma.

Bortezomib (Velcade) and ibrutinib (Imbruvica) are targeted medications that are sometimes administered to treat a mantle cell lymphoma that reappears after being treated or stops responding to treatment.

Biological therapyBiological therapy uses natural or artificial substances to modify the behaviour of the cells. Lenalidomide (Revlimid) is the biological drug that can be administered for mantle cell lymphoma that reappears after being treated or stops responding to treatment.

RadiotherapyExternal radiation therapy is sometimes used to treat mantle cell lymphoma. It can be administered to affected ganglion regions when the disease is early or to relieve symptoms (palliative treatment).

Stem cell transplantStem cell transplant may be an option for some people who are in their first remission. It can also be used to treat a mantle cell lymphoma that reappears after being treated or stops responding to treatment.

People with mantle cell lymphoma who cannot receive stem cell transplant, or those whose cancer reappears after a stem cell transplant, may receive targeted treatment, biological therapy, or other Chemotherapy protocol.