Lymphomas are among the most common cancers in people with Ataxia Telangiectasia.
The important role of the ATM gene in the normal process of DNA repair in cells is the explanation.
Treatments exist and can give good results.
- A abnormality (or several) in the multiplication of lymphocytes (white blood cells already specialized)
- Their proliferation in organs of the lymphoid tissue (especially in the lymph glands)
- The potential harm of all organs.
It can develop from one of the two main families of lymphocytes: B lymphocytes or T lymphocytes
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Subtitles:
"Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are the main components of our immune system. They circulate in the blood vessels but also in their own network of blood vessels and lymph nodes. Hence, they can integrate the blood or tissues to respond to the intrusion of bacteria or viruses. lymphomas develop when cells multiply and grow uncontrollably to form tumors and overwhelm the organs and tissues. "
"Lymphoma is a type of cancer that begins in the white blood cells called lymphocytes. Lymphocytes are the main components of our immune system. They circulate in the blood vessels but also in their own network of blood vessels and lymph nodes. Hence, they can integrate the blood or tissues to respond to the intrusion of bacteria or viruses. lymphomas develop when cells multiply and grow uncontrollably to form tumors and overwhelm the organs and tissues. "
Process in AT
In the article "Immunity and AT", it is explained how double-strand breaks occur normally in large numbers in the process of acquired immunity in specific T cells and B cells which produce antibodies .
As people with AT can not manage these breaks and allow the multiplication of imperfect cells, it does not seem abnormal to find a high percentage of lymphomas in cancers that arise.
Nevertheless, the mechanism of lymphoma is not clear yet: the real difficulty comes from the number of abnormalities that may lead to lymphoma, making it equally difficult to classify them. There are however, two main types of cancers of the lymphatic system: Hodgkin lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).
As people with AT can not manage these breaks and allow the multiplication of imperfect cells, it does not seem abnormal to find a high percentage of lymphomas in cancers that arise.
Nevertheless, the mechanism of lymphoma is not clear yet: the real difficulty comes from the number of abnormalities that may lead to lymphoma, making it equally difficult to classify them. There are however, two main types of cancers of the lymphatic system: Hodgkin lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).
Hodgkin lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease)
{flv width="350" height="262"}Lymphomedehodgkin{/flv}</div> <div style="font-size: 1em; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It is characterized by abnormal cell proliferation in one or more lymph nodes and the presence of special transformed cells called Sternberg cells.<br /> The disease may spread and affect other organs or bone marrow. It is suspected some viruses, like Epstein-Barr virus (a herpes virus that infects asymptomatically 95% of the world population and is responsible for infectious mononucleosis), play a role in the disease development.</div>
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<h4 style="clear: both;">Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)
Diagnosis
Treatments
{flv width="350" height="262"}Lymphomenonhodgkinien{/flv}</div> <div style="font-size: 1em; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">All other cancers of the lymphatic system are classified as "non-Hodgkin lymphoma" and include a wide variety of cell degeneration.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of lymphoma is obviously easier when nodes are palpable and the physician may thus request additional tests, and for sure more difficult when the glands are deeper. Symptoms such as:
The speed of diagnosis is not necessarily a determining factor, some lymphomas regressing even spontaneously. But the likelihood of recurrence is high.
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Increasing the size of the spleen
- Effects on viscera
- etc...
The speed of diagnosis is not necessarily a determining factor, some lymphomas regressing even spontaneously. But the likelihood of recurrence is high.
Treatments
Research on lymphoma has made huge progress and treatments are now available with good chances of success (a majority of cases leading to complete cure). Although one of the main manifestations of lymphoma is increasing the size of lymph nodes, surgery does not treat the condition, which relies on chemotherapy with sometimes radiotherapy. Because of the risks of these treatments for patients with AT, they must be fit, but good results can be obtained.
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