"B" Cell or "T" Cell Lymphoma

In order to determine whether the surface marker phenotypes of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas affect the prognosis, we have studied the differences in response rate and duration of survival between T- and B-cell lymphomas. Sixty-four patients who underwent first-line therapy, including combination chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, from February 1979 to August 1985 were evaluated. 

With the aid of standard immunological methods and monoclonal antibodies related to T-cells and B-cells, 21 T-cell lymphomas and 21 B-cell lymphomas were identified. In the other 22 cases phenotypes were not determined mainly because of the inability to obtain fresh samples. The complete remission rate was 100% for B-cell lymphomas and 52.3% for T-cell lymphomas. 

The median survival time for patients with lymphomas of Stage III and IV, excluding those with low-grade histology, was nine months for T-cell lymphomas and 17 months for B-cell lymphomas. T-cell lymphomas were found to have significantly poorer prognosis than B-cell lymphomas. 

One patient with B-cell lymphoma and six patients in an undetermined phenotype group, who were treated with combination chemotherapy, have been alive more than three years without relapse and these patients are considered potentially cured. Our results suggest that the surface marker phenotype study of lymphoma cells as well as histological subtyping is important in prognosis and that more effective therapy is needed to improve the prognosis of T-cell lymphomas.

Types of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

FROM THE CLEVELAND CLINIC:

What are the types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)?

NHL comes in many types, but is often divided into indolent (slow-moving, usually with few symptoms) or aggressive (growing quickly, often causing symptoms). These two forms of NHL behave quite differently and are treated differently. Some types of indolent NHL (i.e., follicular lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic leukemia, and marginal zone lymphomas) can occasionally change or “transform” into more aggressive lymphomas.

NHL is also grouped by types based on whether the cancer has started in the B cells (B lymphocytes) or the T cells (T lymphocytes). The majority of cases begin in the B cells, which are responsible for creating antibodies that are able to stop foreign substances from causing problems in the body. T cells, on the other hand, attack foreign substances directly.

What are types of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)?
Types include:
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL)
Burkitt lymphoma

What are types of indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)?

• Follicular lymphoma
• Marginal zone lymphoma
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphomcytic lymphoma (SLL) are interchangeable terms for an indolent B-cell cancer that is found mostly in the blood or tissues of the body, respectively
• Cutaneous B-cell lymphoma

What are types of T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL)?
These types of T-cell NHL are relatively rare and include:

• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
• Peripheral T-cell lymphoma
• Anaplastic large cell lymphoma. There is a version of this cancer that is associated with breast implants called breast-implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
• Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma
• Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
• Lymphoblastic lymphoma, which more often develops in T-cells but can develop in B-cells