Australian Doctor 14th July Issue 14JULY2023 issue | Página 40

40 HOW TO TREAT : LYMPHOMA

40 HOW TO TREAT : LYMPHOMA

14 JULY 2023 ausdoc . com . au
Figure 6 . Macroscopic aspect of the cut surface of a human lymph node replaced by lymphoma . The node was about 6x4cm . The lymphoma is the nodules of pinkish tissue surrounded by yellowish fatty tissue . Upon histological examination , the node contained follicular lymphoma .
Emmanuelm / CC BY / bit . ly / 3soRkH1
A B C D
Figure 7 . Stages and subtypes of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma . A , B and C . The three main stages of mycosis fungoides . D . A patient with Sézary syndrome .
Maria Gluud , et al ; MicroRNAs in the pathogenesis , diagnosis , prognosis and targeted treatment of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas ; Cancers ; CC BY / bit . ly / 3FddDr4
traditional chemotherapy . Many
of these targeted therapies aim at receptors on the surfaces of cells that drive their activation , or cellular pathways inside cells that are downstream mediators of these receptors .
Melvil / CC BY / bit . ly / 3Sr88b2
Samir / bit . ly / 3gDGJWc
However , the majority of cancers
are driven by numerous mutations ,
and simply targeting a single pathway
is not a cure ; the development of
clones that escape the suppression of
individual pathways mean that these
targeted agents generally need to be
taken continuously and may stop working after a period of time . 36 Most of the currently available targeted
therapies are taken orally and do not
have the same toxicities as chemotherapy
, though they do have limitations and their own particular side effect profiles .
B-CELL RECEPTOR SIGNALLING
Figure 8 . Varicella-zoster .
Figure 9 . Anteroposterior chest X-ray of patient with P . jirovecii pneumonia showing reticular interstitial markings in all lung fields .
INHIBITORS
The B-cell receptor is a key signalling
mechanism not just for normal
immune function , but for the growth
and survival of normal and neoplastic
B-cells . Agents that target the enzyme
Bruton ’ s tyrosine kinase , a key component
of this pathway , have become
standard treatments for certain B-cell
malignancies including CLL , mantle
cell lymphoma ( see figure 12 ) and
Waldenstrom ’ s macroglobulinaemia
. Bruton ’ s tyrosine kinase inhibitors
include ibrutinib , acalabrutinib and zanubrutinib . 37 They can produce remissions lasting sometimes years ,
notably in patients who may respond poorly to chemotherapy because of their genomic profile .
Ibrutinib is generally well
Figure 10 . T-cells can be harnessed in multiple ways to attack malignant cells : reprogrammed as CAR T-cells , or endogenous T-cells brought to the cancer with bispecific antibodies .
Shutterstock
A
C
Mariana Righetto de Ré , et al ; Blastoid mantle cell lymphoma : cutaneous infiltration ; An Bras Dermatol / CC BY / bit . ly / 3TOJ5jl
B
Figure 12 . Skin infiltration in a patient with advanced mantle cell lymphoma .
A . Cutaneous mantle cell lymphoma . Infiltrated purplish erythematous papules and plaques , located on the upper thorax .
B . Infiltrated plaque in the scapular region and infiltrated papules and plaque on the breast and sternal regions .
Figure 11 . Photomicrograph of a DLBCL from the testis of an elderly man , showing prominent nucleoli .
C . Cutaneous mantle cell lymphoma . Erythematousbrownish nodules and tumours on the right inguinal crural region .