A lymphoma occurs when the immunodefense cells, called lymphocytes, start to reproduce without control.
According to Macmillan Cancer Support, there are two kinds of lymphocytes: B-cells and T-cells. A plasmablastic lymphoma involves B-cells, according to the Journal of Hematology & Oncology. These cells develop in the bone marrow, and when mature and mobile, fight infections in our body.
Plasmablastic lymphoma is a rare and new type of cancer, which is often related to HIV-AIDS patients, according to PubMed. Although this tumor normally appears in the oral cavity, it can occur less frequently in the liver.
History
Plasmablastic lymphoma was first characterized by Delecluse et al. in 1997 as one of the most frequent oral cancers in AIDS patients, according to the Journal of Hematology & Oncology. Since their research, plasmablastic lymphomas started to be categorized as a new subtype of "diffuse large B-cell" lymphoma.
According to the Stanford School of Medicine, immunoblastic lymphoma is an alternative and old name for this type of cancer.
Causes
According to Macmillan Cancer Support, the causes of plasmablastic lymphomas and other diffuse large B-cell lymphomas are unknown. Lymphoma, like other cancers, are not infectious, so are not transmitted through human contact .
Signs and Symptoms
In the first stages of the disease, before reaching the liver, the plasmablastic lymphoma is detectable through observations of enlarged lymph nodes, which are in the neck, armpit and groin. Some patients also lose appetite, lose weight and feel tired, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Significance and Diagnosis
According to Macmillan Cancer Support, when a plasmablastic lymphoma spreads to the liver and other organs, such as the bones or lungs, the disease has reached its fourth and final stage.
Plasmablastic lymphoma is a high-grade lymphoma, which means it grows and spreads quickly, therefore requiring immediate treatment. The diagnosis is commonly performed through hepatic biopsy (examination of liver cells with microscope) and computerized tomography scan, according to PubMed.
Treatment
Chemotherapy is the main treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. The drugs vincristine, rituximab, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide are normally used to restrain the replication of cancerous cells, according to Macmillan Cancer Support.
Monoclonal antibody therapy uses drugs that recognize specific proteins on cancer cells and stimulate the body's healthy defense cells to destroy them. Rituximab is normally used to treat plasmablastic lymphomas.
Cases
In Argentina, a case of plasmablastic lymphoma of the liver involving an AIDS patient was reported in 2009, according to PubMed. It consisted of a lesion localized in the left lobe of the liver.
In France, three cases were reported in 1996, according to PubMed. All were related to HIV-infected patients.
Tags: Cancer Support, Macmillan Cancer, Macmillan Cancer Support, according PubMed, diffuse large