Lymphoma: present and future challenges

Abstract

Greater understanding of the basic biology of the cancer cell has provided new avenues for research in malignant lymphomas. Despite these advances, however, several challenges remain. First, what is the standard of care for patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma? To date, no single treatment strategy has emerged as superior in these patients. With respect to aggressive lymphomas, is anything better than the CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) regimen? For patients with Hodgkin's disease, is there a regimen superior to ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine)? Finally, what is the optimal role of radiation therapy in patients with Hodgkin's disease? Clearly, the management of lymphoma remains a challenge, and research efforts aimed at developing new therapeutic agents should ultimately improve patient outcomes.