AIDS-related Lymphoma Scientific Facts Overview

Lymphoma describes a group of cancers that affect the lymphatic system, which is part of the body's immune defense system. This type of cancer may develop when lymphocytes are not produced properly, causing abnormal cells to accumulate either by duplicating faster or living longer than normal. When these abnormal cells accumulate, they displace normal lymphocytes.

Cancerous lymphocytes, like healthy lymphocytes, are able to grow in many areas of the body, including the spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow or blood. Since lymph tissue is found throughout the body, the cancer cells may spread to other organs and tissues.

AIDS-related lymphoma occurs when cancer cells are present in the lymph system of a patients who has AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

AIDS is caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which attacks and weakens the immune system. HIV and AIDS patients have an increased risk of developing infections, lymphoma and other types of cancer. In most cases, a person with HIV infection who develops lymphoma is subsequently diagnosed with AIDS. Sometimes people are diagnosed with AIDS and AIDS-related lymphoma at the same time.

AIDS patients can develop either of the two types of lymphoma - Hodgkin's disease lymphoma or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is more common among AIDS patients. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma affects about 20% of HIV/AIDS patients.

Patients who have AIDS-related lymphoma respond differently to treatment than lymphoma patients who do not have AIDS. This is because AIDS-related lymphoma usually grows faster and spreads more quickly than non-AIDS-related lymphoma.

Treatment of AIDS-related lymphoma combines cancer treatment (chemotherapy, radiation therapy or high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant) with treatment for AIDS (highly active antiretroviral therapy).

Prognosis and treatment depends on the stage of the cancer, the number of CD4 lymphocytes (type of white blood cell), whether the patient has ever had AIDS-related infections, as well as the patient's ability to perform daily activities of living.

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