NHL occurs when B-cells, the cells that produce antibodies, begin to grow abnormally.
Tumors result when too much tissue is formed.
Because the lymphatic system is distributed throughout the body, the cancer cells may spread to other organs including the liver, spleen or the bone marrow. About half of the patients saw their tumors shrink by at least half, while six percent had a complete remission of disease. Although it is not a cure, we finally have a cancer agent that can be effective with less serious side effects than with conventional chemotherapy. This is exciting news, especially for elderly patients and relapsed patients who have failed at least one standard treatment regimen. Rituxan will initially be used to treat patients with low-grade NHL who have failed conventional chemotherapy and radiation treatments.