Lymphoma - Non-Hodgkin - Childhood: Latest Research

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 11/2022

ON THIS PAGE: You will read about the scientific research being done to learn more about childhood non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and how to treat it. Use the menu to see other pages.

Doctors are working to learn more about childhood NHL, ways to prevent it, how to best treat it, and how to provide the best care to people diagnosed with this disease. The following areas of research may include new options for patients through clinical trials. Always talk with your child’s doctor about the best diagnostic and treatment options for your child.

  • Genetics. One of the most important areas of research involves learning more about the genetic traits that may increase the risk of developing childhood NHL and about how well treatments will work against specific genetic subtypes of NHL. Learn more about genetics and cancer.

  • Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy uses the body's natural defenses to fight cancer by improving the immune system’s ability to attack cancer cells. Researchers are studying the use of monoclonal antibodies designed to destroy lymphoma cells that make a specific protein but do not harm normal cells. Another type of immunotherapy, called adoptive cell immunotherapy, is chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. In CAR T-cell therapy, a patient's immune cells, called T cells, are "reprogrammed" to attack their specific cancer.

  • Targeted therapy. As explained in the Types of Treatment section, targeted therapy is a treatment that targets the cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that contributes to cancer growth and survival. For NHL, researchers are studying specific drugs that affect lymphoma cells and limit damage to normal cells.

  • Expanded use of bone marrow/stem cell transplantation. Researchers are studying using reduced intensity conditioning therapy followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation for children with recurrent NHL. In reduced intensity conditioning therapy, lower doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy are given, with the goal of reducing side effects after the transplant.

  • Palliative and supportive care. Clinical trials are underway to find better ways of reducing symptoms and side effects of current NHL treatments to improve comfort and quality of life for patients.

Looking for More About Latest Research?

If you would like more information about the latest areas of research in NHL, explore these related items that take you outside of this guide:

The next section in this guide is Coping with Treatment. It offers some guidance on how to cope with the physical, emotional, social, and financial changes that NHL and its treatment can bring. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.