Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a type of blood cancer that starts in the white blood cells, known as lymphocytes, which are a key component of the immune system.¹ There are over 60 different types of NHL,² which can also be classified as indolent (slow growing) or aggressive (fast growing), depending on how quickly the cancer grows.³ Two of the most common types, follicular lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), are very different in how, when and where they develop and how they are managed.
References
Lymphoma research foundation. [Internet; cited April 2022]. Available at:
Swerdlow SH, et al. WHO classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. In: World Health Organization Classification of Tumours. Lyon, France: IARC; 2017.
American Cancer Society. What is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. [Internet; cited April 2022]. Available at:
Cancer.Net. Leukemia – Lymphoma –Non-Hodgkin: Subtype. [Internet; cited April 2022]. Available from:
Globocan 2020. World fact sheet. [Internet; cited April 2022]. Available at:
Rare Diseases. [Internet; cited April 2022] Available at:
Lymphoma Action. [Internet; cited April 2022]. Available at:
Lymphoma Research Foundation. [Internet; cited April 2022]. Available at:
UpToDate. Patient education: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma in adults (Beyond the Basics). [Internet ; cited April 2022]. Available at:
Rovira J et al. Prognosis of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma not reaching complete response or relapsing after frontline chemotherapy or immunochemotherapy. Ann Hematol. 2015; 94: 803–812.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Review of TA 110:rituximab for the first-line treatment of stage III-IV follicular lymphoma. [Internet; cited April 2022]. Available at:
Lymphoma Research Foundation. [Internet; cited April 2022]. Available at:
Maurer, MJ et al. Event-free survival at 24 months is a robust end point for disease-related outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with immunochemotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2014; 32: 1066-73.
Maurer MJ, Habermann TM, Shi Q, et al. Progression-free survival at 24 months (PFS24) and subsequent outcome for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) enrolled on randomized clinical trials. Ann Oncol. 2018;29:1822-1827.
Fowler N. Role of Maintenance Rituximab (Rituxan) Therapy In the Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma. Pharmacy and Therapeutics; 2011; 36:590-598
Lymphoma Action. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. [Internet; cited April 2022]. Available at: