increase in lymphoma for long term HIV+

[Guest guest]

I have witnessed an increase in lymphoma in long term HIV+ survivors.

I've heard that statistics don't support that there is an increase in

lymphoma w/ long term survivors vs other HIV+ persons. My anecdotal

observations conflict w/ that statisic.

Also are the lymphomas generally non-hodgkins in nature?

If anyone knew Don P. from this group...he died from his 3rd bout w/

lymphoma this weekend.

Thanks,

Tripp

[Guest guest]

Lymphoma is strongly associated with immune suppression. It is also associated with Epstein-Barr virus and those co-infected with either HTLV-1 or HIV.

http://www.lymphoma-net.org/causes-and-factors.cfm

While the risk of lymphoma remains constant for those with immune supression, remaining immune suppressed for longer periods of time gives you additional opportunity to develop lymphoma.

http://www.aegis.com/topics/oi/

I had a friend who first developed lymphoma 14 years ago and died from lymphoma 9 years ago. His history is instructive. He first developed High-Grade Lymphoma which was put into complete remission in less than a month with Rituxan, a monoclonal antibody which targets lymphoma cells for immune destruction. The side-effects of Rituxan are so minimal that my friend went to the gym to work out after each infusion.

http://www.lymphomainfo.net/therapy/immunotherapy/mab.html

Although Rituxan has now been an approved drug for lymphoma for a number of years, it is still greatly under-used by oncologists, who are suspicious of the immune system and still favor their four drug CHOP therapy which can kill people with HIV, even if they don't have lymphoma. Newer forms of Rituxan are Zevalin and Bexxar which combine Rituxan with a short-lived radioactive molecule.

Another therapy uses Interleukin-2, either in the body or on glass plates outside the body, to grow up specific T cells which target Lymphoma.

http://www.lymphomainfo.net/therapy/immunotherapy/t-cell.html

Several years later he developed Low-Grade lymphoma, which at the time was not believed to respond to Rituxan. He was treated with radiation which eventually failed to control the lymphoma. The newer types of Rituxan antibody Zevalin and Bexxar combine radiation with the antibody and are more effective in treating Low-Grade lymphoma.

If I were to ever develop non-Hodgkins lymphoma I would use Interleukin-2 with either Rituxan, Zevalin or Bexxar. I would never use CHOP as this therapy destroys the immune system and prevent therapy with Interleukin-2, Rituxan, Zevalin or Bexxar from working - since these assist the immune system in destroying lymphoma. You cannot successfully assist the immune system and destroy it at the same time.

As a note: Hodgkins lymphoma is an entirely different beast. Hodgkins is strongly associated with people who hold in anger and stress. Chemotherapy is often couple with meetings with a psychologist to help people prone to Hodgkins express their emotions.

>> I have witnessed an increase in lymphoma in long term HIV+ survivors. > I've heard that statistics don't support that there is an increase in > lymphoma w/ long term survivors vs other HIV+ persons. My anecdotal > observations conflict w/ that statisic.> Also are the lymphomas generally non-hodgkins in nature?> If anyone knew Don P. from this group...he died from his 3rd bout w/ > lymphoma this weekend. > Thanks,> Tripp>

[Guest guest]

Tripp,

Before protease, people like myself, with no OI's, but zero t-cells were expected to either die from wasting (which I was), or get non-Hodgekins lymphoma or die of a a heart attack within 1 1/2 to 2 years. My observation has been that there has been a decrease in lymphoma, but again this is anecdotal. I'm sure someone out there has the stats. Jules? ?

Larry

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I have witnessed an increase in lymphoma in long term HIV+ survivors. I've heard that statistics don't support that there is an increase in lymphoma w/ long term survivors vs other HIV+ persons. My anecdotal observations conflict w/ that statisic.Also are the lymphomas generally non-hodgkins in nature?If anyone knew Don P. from this group...he died from his 3rd bout w/ lymphoma this weekend. Thanks,Tripp