Current Research

Research for childhood NHL is ongoing. The following advances may still be under investigation in clinical trials and may not be approved or available at this time. Always discuss all diagnostic and treatment options with your doctor. There are numerous areas of new research in childhood NHL.

Genetics. One of the most important areas of research involves learning more about the genetic predisposition to developing childhood NHL, and how well genetic subtypes will respond to different treatment.

Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy (also called biologic therapy) is designed to boost the body’s natural defenses to fight the cancer. It uses materials either made by the body or in a laboratory to bolster, target, or restore immune system function. Research for NHL involves the use of monoclonal antibodies designed to kill lymphoma cells that make a specific protein and spare normal cells from the toxic effects of chemotherapy.

Targeted therapy. Targeted therapy is a treatment that targets faulty genes or proteins that contribute to cancer growth and development. For NHL, researchers are investigating specific drugs that affect the normal regulation of the lymphoma cell, while having little effect on normal cells.

Expanded use of transplantation. Other research involves reduced intensity conditioning therapy (lower doses of chemotherapy and radiation therapy in order to reduce complications following a transplantation) followed by allogeneic stem cell transplantation for patients with recurrent childhood NHL.