From the Guidelines
B-cell lymphoma, also known as B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is a type of cancer that affects B lymphocytes, accounting for approximately 85% of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma cases, with the most common subtypes being follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma 1.
Definition and Subtypes
B-cell lymphoma is a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders originating in B lymphocytes, with various subtypes, including follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which are the most common subtypes of indolent and aggressive NHL, respectively 2.
Treatment and Management
Treatment typically involves chemotherapy, with the R-CHOP regimen being a widely accepted standard of care for first-line therapy, and maintenance and consolidation therapy with rituximab and radioimmunotherapy may also be used to improve progression-free survival 3.
Key Points
- B-cell lymphoma is a chronic disease characterized by multiple recurrences with current therapies 3
- The incorporation of rituximab to chemotherapy regimens has improved outcomes for patients with FL 3
- CAR T-cell therapy has emerged as a novel treatment option for relapsed/refractory DLBCL and transformed follicular lymphoma (TFL) 2
- Regular follow-up with blood tests and imaging is essential to monitor response and prognosis, which varies widely based on the specific subtype, stage at diagnosis, age, and other health factors 2
From the FDA Drug Label
1. 1 Non–Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)RITUXAN is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with: Relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent Previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with first line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to a rituximab product in combination with chemotherapy, as single-agent maintenance therapy Non-progressing (including stable disease), low-grade, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent after first-line cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) chemotherapy. Previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive NHL in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP) or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens
B-cell lymphoma (B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma) is a type of cancer that affects the immune system, specifically B-cells, which are a type of white blood cell. The drug label for rituximab indicates that it is used to treat various types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), including:
- Relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL
- Previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL
- Non-progressing, low-grade, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL
- Previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive NHL 4
From the Research
Definition and Overview of B-cell Lymphoma
- B-cell lymphoma, also known as B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is a type of cancer that affects the immune system, specifically the B cells [ 5, 6 ].
- It is the most prevalent subtype of lymphoma, comprising heterogeneous patient subgroups with distinctive biological and clinical characteristics [ 7 ].
Types and Subtypes of B-cell Lymphoma
- Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a common subtype of B-cell lymphoma [ 5, 6, 8, 9, 7 ].
- Other subtypes include intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) [ 9 ].
Treatment and Management of B-cell Lymphoma
- The standard treatment for DLBCL is R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) [ 5, 6, 8, 9, 7 ].
- For patients with IVLBCL, R-CHOP combined with high-dose methotrexate and intrathecal chemotherapy is a safe and active treatment [ 9 ].
- Novel therapeutic approaches, including small molecules, novel monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, are being explored to improve outcomes [ 7 ].