|  | Leukaemia Research currently has more than £10 million invested into almost fifty projects aimed at improving diagnosis, developing treatments and finding a cure for patients with lymphoma. Here are just a few examples of our current lymphoma research.
 | Hodgkin’s lymphoma |
| Paving the way for milder treatments |
Teenagers and young adults with Hodgkin’s lymphoma now have an excellent chance of being cured, but sadly the chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment that these young patients have to undergo can have long-term negative effects on their health.
Professor John Radford at the University of Manchester has developed a new test for patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, using a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan. The test, which is currently at clinical trial stage, helps doctors to identify which patients who require more treatment and which patients can be spared the most aggressive drugs. This will ensure that patients receive only the treatment they require thus minimising the long-term side effects.
| Examining the causes of Hodgkin’s lymphoma |
Evidence suggests that as many as half of all cases of Hodgkin’s lymphoma may be linked to a common herpes virus known as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). However, scientists still do not know what role the virus plays in the development of the disease.
Professor Paul Murray and fellow researchers at the University of Birmingham have recently discovered that the Epstein-Barr virus causes the emergence of two proteins that are known to play a role in the development of certain cancers. Using cells from tonsils donated by volunteers, they are studying how these proteins cause healthy blood cells to become cancerous. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the causes of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other forms of blood cancer so that scientists can develop new ways of diagnosing and treating these diseases.
| Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma |
| Existing drugs for other conditions effective in treating lymphoma |
Researchers in Birmingham have discovered that drugs developed for totally different diseases or treatments have potent effects on lymphoma cells.
Professor John Gordon has shown that drugs such as Prozac, a drug developed to treat patients with depression, and Levadopa, a drug to treat Parkinson's disease, have the ability to kill lymphoma cells in the test tube. Although these drugs have not yet been tested on lymphoma patients, Professor Gordon hopes that they will soon be included in a clinical trial.
Also in Birmingham Dr Chris Bunce and Dr Mark Drayson have discovered that the combination of a female contraceptive and a drug used to lower cholesterol can be used to treat certain leukaemias and lymphomas. The advantages of using these existing drugs are that they are relatively cheap and have already gone through all the relevant safety checks so they can be made available to patients much sooner. The drugs are currently being tested in patients and the outcome of the trials is eagerly awaited.
| Investigating the causes of MALT lymphoma |
Most cases of lymphoma occur in the lymph nodes, for example in the neck, armpit or groin, but in some cases lymphomas can develop in other organs like the stomach, skin or lungs. These diseases, collectively known as MALT lymphomas, are the third most common form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Around ten years ago, scientists discovered that lymphoma in the stomach is caused by a bacterial infection and that in most cases it can be cured with antibiotics. The causes of lymphomas in other organs are not yet known and these patients are therefore mostly treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Professor Ming-Qing Du at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge leads a team who are examining the causes of unusual lymphomas that occur in sites such as in the skin, lungs or eye sockets.
Professor Du and his team hope to find out the causes of other rare lymphomas in order to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and determine the most effective treatment for these patients.
With your donation or support we can continue investing in research that will make a real difference to the lives of those affected by blood cancers.
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"I was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma when I was pregnant and Hannah was born by Caesarean seven weeks early but she was fit and well. Only then did I start my treatment, receiving a new method of bone marrow transplant – without it I wouldn't be here.
I am one of the lucky ones and I am so grateful. Hannah is brilliant and together we fundraise for Leukaemia Research so that others can get the treatment they need too."
Helen Stocks,
Trowell, Nottingham
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