Lymphoma/Leukemia & Hematology Lymphoma

California Hematology & Oncology Cancer Treatment Center

According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society approximately every 3 minutes one person in the US is diagnosed with a blood cancer. In 2019 it was estimated that a combined total of 176,200 people in the US alone would be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. This is estimated to be around 10% of all cancer diagnoses in the US for the same year.

The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute is committed to the fight against cancer and reducing this level of incidence. Our team, led by Lawrence Piro, MD is involved in this fight and recognized globally for their expertise in diseases of the blood as well as blood cancer, dedicated to providing our patients with the latest treatment options that are individualized and tailored to their own clinical picture.

The field of medicine and lymphoma research is constantly evolving, and new advancements may have emerged after my knowledge cutoff date. It is always best to consult with a qualified medical professional for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, a part of the immune system. There are various types of lymphomas, including Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and the state of the art in lymphoma treatment can vary depending on the specific type, stage, and individual patient characteristics. Our team specializes in tailored therapy including the use of :

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment option for lymphoma. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, have shown significant efficacy in certain types of lymphomas, particularly in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma and some subtypes of NHL. CAR-T cell therapy, which involves modifying a patient's own immune cells to target cancer cells, has also shown remarkable success in treating certain types of NHL, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma.
Targeted therapies: Targeted therapies are drugs that specifically target cancer cells with minimal impact on healthy cells. Several targeted therapies have been approved for lymphoma, including inhibitors of specific pathways or proteins that play a role in lymphoma cell growth and survival. For example, Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors like ibrutinib and acalabrutinib have shown efficacy in treating certain types of NHL, such as mantle cell lymphoma and Waldenström macroglobulinemia.
Precision medicine: Precision medicine, also known as personalized medicine, involves tailoring treatment based on a patient's individual characteristics, such as genetic mutations or other biomarkers. Advances in genetic sequencing technologies have enabled better understanding of the genetic mutations and alterations that drive lymphoma, leading to the development of targeted therapies and personalized treatment approaches.
Combination therapies: Combinations of different treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapies, are often used in lymphoma treatment to improve outcomes. Different combination regimens are being studied in clinical trials, and some have shown promising results, particularly in relapsed or refractory lymphomas.
Minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment: MRD refers to the small number of cancer cells that may remain in the body after treatment, even when the patient is in remission. MRD assessment using sensitive techniques like flow cytometry or next-generation sequencing can help identify patients at higher risk of relapse and guide treatment decisions, such as maintenance therapy or stem cell transplantation.
Supportive care: Supportive care measures, such as anti-nausea medications, growth factor support, and infection prophylaxis, play a crucial role in managing the side effects of lymphoma treatment and improving patients' quality of life.

It's important to note that the optimal treatment approach for lymphoma depends on multiple factors, including the specific type, stage, and other individual patient characteristics. Treatment decisions should be made in consultation with a qualified medical professional who can consider the most current and relevant information to provide the best care for each individual patient.

Anemia

Anemia is commonly associated with low iron levels in the blood, but it is actually a disorder caused by a lower than normal amount of red blood cells or the protein within them known as hemoglobin. If the overall red blood cell count or hemoglobin level is low, anemia results and this makes the job of getting oxygen around the body challenging. Sometimes these levels are low due to diet, metabolism or blood loss, there are many causes of anemia related to both acute and chronic health conditions, meaning it can be either a symptom or a disease on its own.

Signs and symptoms of anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath or a pale complexion, sometimes there may be no symptoms at all. The treatment depends on the cause of the anemia but if left untreated, serious medical complications can result up to and including death.

Coagulation Disorders

Coagulation Disorders also known as clotting disorders change how the blood thickens in response to certain circumstances such as a cut or a skin tear. In some instances the blood may be unable to form a clot and allow the body to heal an affected area. This can also be reversed depending on the disorder and the blood may form clots when it does not need to thus impairing the delivery of blood across the body. These disorders can be due to nutritional deficiencies such as a lack of vitamin K in the body, caused by medications such as Coumadin or Plavix, they can also be of genetic origin such as with Factor V Leiden or hemophilia.

Leukemias

Leukemia is a type of cancer that involves white blood cells which are also known as leukocytes. Like other diseases of the blood leukemia has many forms and can be of an acute or chronic nature involving the lymphatic system, bone marrow and organs. Unfortunately, leukemia is common in children but this disease is well researched and there are treatment options available for adults and children who are diagnosed. Because leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells, which normally fight off disease, therapy can be complicated because it requires much of the body’s white blood cells to be destroyed.

Lymphomas

Lymphoma is a cancer within the lymph system of the body which serves as fluid based filtration for the immune system. There are two types of lymphoma: Hodgkin’s and Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The difference between these two is that Hodgkin's lymphoma originates within the lymph nodes with the potential to then spread to other parts of the body. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is less specific and there are many different types of this form of lymphoma. Lymphoma is generally considered one of the more treatable forms of cancer though like the others early diagnosis is the most effective way to impact cure rates.

Plasma Cell Disorders

Plasma cells are a component of the blood produced by white blood cells that serve to signal the body to clot and to help fight infections. Sometimes these cells are produced abnormally and the result can be harmful to the body.

Some examples of plasma cell disorders include: Multiple Myeloma, Amyloidosis, Waldentrom’s Macroglobulinemia, Heavy chain disease and MGUS.