Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma is an exceedingly rare form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), accounting for approximately 1 in 20 cases of NHL.




Survival rates of this disease have almost doubled in recent years but the condition is still relatively hard to treat.



The causes of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are not understood and whether or not a genetic component plays a role is likewise uncertain. Exposure to environmental and domestic toxins plausibly plays a role in the development of MCL. MCL, like follicular lymphoma, involves translocation of a certain gene. In the case of MCL, this gene causes the division of cells prior to their reaching full cellular maturity. Subsequently, the cells have no disease-fighting capacities. Furthermore, the cells do not undergo regular apoptosis (cell death) and aggregate in abnormal quantities in the body, often involving the lymph nodes and spleen.



For every 4 men affected by mantle cell lymphoma, 1 woman is affected. MCL diagnosis is typically seen in seniors who arrive with symptoms such as night sweats, fever, inexplicable weight loss. As with nearly all lymphomas, the telltale symptoms of swollen, non-painful and/or hardened lymph nodes (in the groin, armpit, etc.) are typically observed. Unfortunately, liver, stomach and bone marrow are often affected by MCL.





Mantle cell lymphoma diagnosis generally involves biopsy of a surgically removed slice of a lymph node. However, there are other, less frequently used methods of MCL diagnosis as well. Due to the high rate of bone marrow and GI tract involvement, appropriate CT scans and bone marrow analysis may be indicated. MCL patients often undergo a colonoscopy to check for MCL related polyps, which are a common occurrence.


Mantle cell lymphoma prognosis is approximately a 1 in 2 survival rate for a advanced stage case over a 5 year period to about a 3 in 4 survival rate for a less developed case.



Mantle cell lymphoma treatment at present involves more speculation than one would like. This is because even after chemotherapy, patients very frequently experience further progression of their MCL. MCL relapse is a very common occurrence and patients generally experience several relapses. In some cases, heavy chemotherapy is combined with total body irradiation (TBI) in the hopes of eradicating the disease completely from the body. This, however, destroys the patient's immune system and requires either autologous stem cell transplantation (using one's own stem cells) or a transplant from a compatible donor.



Mantle cell lymphoma is essentially a difficult cancer to treat, but new therapies such as monoclonal antibody radioimmunotherapy present huge hope in curbing the effects of this disease.