ABSTRACT
This chapter describes advances in the biology, genetics, diagnosis, staging and response evaluation, and discusses the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). NHLs are a remarkably heterogeneous group of diseases which commonly arise from mature B lymphocytes, and less commonly from mature T or Natural killer (NK) lymphocytes. They usually develop in the lymph nodes, but can arise in any organ, including those devoid of lymphoid tissue, when they are referred to as extranodal. The clinical features and presentation is dependent on the subtype of NHL, the anatomical site of disease, the extent of involvement and the presence or absence of systemic 'B' symptoms. A meta-analysis in 1993 confirmed cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone's (CHOP) credentials and a decade later, with the addition of the CD20 antibody, rituximab, became the preferred treatment for all aggressive NHLs. It accords complete remission to about 70% of patients, with about 40% achieving long-term remission.
