Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma (PTCL)
What is peripheral T-cell lymphoma?
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a group of aggressive lymphomas that form from T-cells and natural killer cells. It falls under non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Peripheral refers to where the cancer begins, as these cancers form in the lymphoid tissue outside of the bone marrow.
What are the symptoms of peripheral T-cell lymphoma?
Signs and symptoms of these cancers differ based on which subtype one has. However, there are common effects. These include:
- Enlarged and painless lymph nodes in the armpits, neck, or groin
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Night sweats
- Rash
What causes peripheral T-cell lymphoma?
Medical professionals do not yet fully understand PTCL. While they are aware that T-cells and natural killer cells turn into malignant cancer cells, they do not know why or how this happens.
How is peripheral T-cell lymphoma diagnosed?
The most common way to diagnose these cancers is through a biopsy of a lymph node. Other tests are often used in the diagnostic process as well, including MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, blood tests, and bone marrow biopsies.
What are the treatments for peripheral T-cell lymphoma?
The treatment plan can differ based on the subtype one has, the patient’s health and age, and the stage of the cancer. For cancer in its early stages or newly diagnosed cancer, chemotherapy is the main treatment used.
In terms of refractory or relapsed cancer, no one has defined the current standard of care. Doctors will make an individualized treatment plan for each patient. Options include chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, or any of the FDA approved treatments for PTCL (belinostat, romidepsin, and pralatrexate). Investigational treatments may be another choice.
Where can I find out more about peripheral T-cell lymphoma?
Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma Articles
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