From the Guidelines
Leukemia and lymphoma are distinct types of blood cancers that affect different components of the blood and lymphatic system, with leukemia primarily involving abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood, and lymphoma affecting the lymphatic system, particularly the lymph nodes. The key difference between the two lies in the cells affected and the locations where the cancer develops. Leukemia is characterized by the rapid multiplication of immature blood cells in the bone marrow, which crowds out healthy cells and interferes with normal blood cell production 1. Common types of leukemia include acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). On the other hand, lymphoma develops when lymphocytes grow abnormally in lymph nodes and lymphatic tissues, with the two main categories being Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma 1.
Some of the key characteristics of leukemia include:
- Abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood
- Rapid multiplication of immature blood cells
- Crowding out of healthy cells in the bone marrow
- Interference with normal blood cell production
- Common types include ALL, AML, CLL, and CML
In contrast, lymphoma is characterized by:
- Abnormal growth of lymphocytes in lymph nodes and lymphatic tissues
- Two main categories: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
- Hodgkin lymphoma is characterized by Reed-Sternberg cells
- Non-Hodgkin lymphoma includes various subtypes
Symptoms of both diseases may include:
- Fatigue
- Frequent infections
- Easy bruising or bleeding
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Painless, enlarged lymph nodes are more common in lymphoma
Treatment approaches for leukemia and lymphoma differ based on the specific type, stage, and individual factors, but may include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Targeted therapy
- Immunotherapy
- Stem cell transplantation
- Early diagnosis through blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, or lymph node biopsies is crucial for effective treatment 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Definition and Characteristics
- Leukemia is a clonal proliferation of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, with four broad subtypes: acute lymphoblastic, acute myelogenous, chronic lymphocytic, and chronic myelogenous 2.
- Lymphoma, on the other hand, is a type of cancer that affects the immune system, with various subtypes, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) 3, 4.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
- Leukemia symptoms are nonspecific and include fever, fatigue, weight loss, bone pain, bruising, or bleeding, with a complete blood count usually revealing leukocytosis and other abnormally elevated or depressed cell lines 2.
- Lymphoma diagnosis involves laboratory studies, including complete blood count and peripheral blood flow cytometry, lymph node sampling, and imaging modalities, with ideal patient monitoring for high-risk clinical syndromes 3.
Treatment and Management
- Leukemia treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation, monoclonal antibodies, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with complications of treatment including tumor lysis syndrome and serious infections from immunosuppression 2, 5.
- Lymphoma treatment has shifted from traditional chemoimmunotherapy to targeted therapies, with multiple new therapies commercially available, and selection of the optimal treatment for each patient being challenging 4.
- CLL/SLL treatment recommendations have been developed, including consensus recommendations for selection and sequencing of therapies, which complement existing guidelines and provide a nuanced discussion relating to real-world practice 4.
Prognosis and Survival
- Leukemia five-year survival rates are highest in younger patients and in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia or chronic lymphocytic leukemia 2.
- CLL/SLL survival rates are approximately 88% at 4 years for acalabrutinib, 94% at 2 years for zanubrutinib, and 78% at 7 years for ibrutinib, with the only potential cure being allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant 6.