Treatment

Treatment Options for Adult non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Indolent, Stage I and Contiguous Stage II

• Radiation therapy directed at the area where cancer is found.
• Watchful waiting.
• Radiation therapy directed at the area where cancer is found and nearby lymph nodes.
• Chemotherapy with radiation therapy.

Aggressive, Stage I and Contiguous Stage II

• Combination chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy to areas where cancer is found.
• A clinical trial of monoclonal antibody therapy and combination chemotherapy with steroids.
• Radiation therapy may also be given.

Indolent, Noncontiguous Stage II/III/IV

• Watchful waiting for patients who do not have symptoms.
• Chemotherapy with or without steroids.
• Combination chemotherapy with steroids.
• Monoclonal antibody therapy with or without combination chemotherapy.
• Radiolabeled monoclonal antibody therapy.
• Radiation therapy directed at the area where cancer is found and nearby lymph nodes, for patients who have stage III disease.

Aggressive, Noncontiguous Stage II/III/IV

• Combination chemotherapy alone.
• Combination chemotherapy with radiation therapy or monoclonal antibody therapy.
• Combination chemotherapy with CNS prophylaxis [chemotherapy or radiation therapy given to the central nervous system (CNS) as a preventive treatment].

Adult Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

• Combination chemotherapy and CNS prophylaxis.
• A clinical trial of autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplant.

Diffuse Small Noncleaved Cell/Burkitt Lymphoma

• Combination chemotherapy and CNS prophylaxis.
• A clinical trial of autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplant.

Treatment Options for Childhood non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

Stage I and Stage II

• Combination chemotherapy.
• Combination chemotherapy with CNS prophylaxis [chemotherapy or radiation therapy given to the central nervous system (CNS) as a preventive treatment].

Stage III and Stage IV

• Combination chemotherapy with CNS prophylaxis.
• Radiation therapy for any large tumors in the chest that block the blood flow or airway.

Recurrent Childhood Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

• High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant.
• Combination chemotherapy with or without CNS prophylaxis.

Childhood Small Noncleaved Cell Lymphoma (Burkitt's and non-Burkitt's)

Stage I and Stage II

• Combination chemotherapy.
• Combination chemotherapy with CNS prophylaxis.

Stage III and Stage IV

• Combination chemotherapy with CNS prophylaxis.
• Clinical trials of monoclonal antibody therapy combined with chemotherapy.

Recurrent Childhood Small Noncleaved Cell Lymphoma

• High-dose combination chemotherapy with or without CNS prophylaxis.
• High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant.

Childhood Large Cell Lymphoma

Stage I and Stage II

• Combination chemotherapy.
• Combination chemotherapy with CNS prophylaxis.

Stage III and Stage IV

• Combination chemotherapy with CNS prophylaxis.
• Clinical trials of monoclonal antibody therapy combined with chemotherapy.

Recurrent Childhood Large Cell Lymphoma

• Combination chemotherapy with or without CNS prophylaxis.
• High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant.
• Radiation therapy in certain patients.
• Chemotherapy using only one anticancer drug.
• Clinical trials of monoclonal antibody therapy combined with chemotherapy.

Reference:

National Cancer Institute, USA.