Introduction

Systemic Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that primarily affects the lymph nodes. It is characterized by the abnormal growth of T-cells, a type of white blood cell. The disease can be aggressive, but it often responds well to treatment. The choice of treatment depends on various factors, including the stage of the disease, the patient's overall health, and the presence of ALK protein in the cancer cells. The main treatments for systemic ALCL include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplant.

1. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the primary treatment for systemic ALCL. It involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells or stop them from growing. The specific drugs used may vary, but a common regimen for ALCL is CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). Another regimen is CHOEP, which adds etoposide to the CHOP regimen. Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles, with each period of treatment followed by a recovery period.

2. Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is a treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific cancer cells without harming normal cells. For ALCL, the targeted therapy drug used is often crizotinib, especially for patients whose cancer cells express the ALK protein. Crizotinib works by blocking the action of the abnormal protein that signals cancer cells to multiply.

3. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the patient's immune system to fight cancer. For systemic ALCL, the immunotherapy drug used is brentuximab vedotin. This drug is an antibody-drug conjugate that targets a protein called CD30, which is found on the surface of ALCL cells. Once the drug attaches to CD30, it delivers a toxic substance directly to the cancer cells, causing them to die.

4. Stem Cell Transplant

Stem cell transplant, also known as bone marrow transplant, is a procedure that replaces damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells. This treatment may be considered for patients with systemic ALCL who have not responded to other treatments or whose disease has relapsed. The transplant can be autologous (using the patient's own stem cells) or allogeneic (using stem cells from a donor).

Want to Learn More About Systemic Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma?

Keep reading HealthTree for Systemic Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma's 101 pages!

• What Is Systemic Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma?
• How Is Systemic Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma Diagnosed?
• How Long Will I Live With Systemic Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma?
• What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Systemic Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma?
• How Is Systemic Anaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma Staged And Classified?