Non-Chemotherapy Treatment of Lymphoma Through HDL Cholesterol Deprivation and Nanoparticles

Lymphatic System

Researchers have discovered a new treatment for lymphoma that does not include drugs or chemotherapy. Researchers at Northwestern Medicine® found that by depriving the lymphoma cell its source of food, which is HDL cholesterol, it will end up starving to death.

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic or lymph system.

The lymphatic system, a major part of the immune system, is a network of organs, lymph nodes, lymph ducts, and lymph vessels in the body. It moves lymph from tissues to the bloodstream. It filters the blood and help form immunity in children.

Lymph is a clear watery fluid that carries oxygen and other nutrients to cellular tissues in the body. It also contains white blood cells that attack harmful bacteria and fight infections.

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells). Lymphocytes become abnormal start behaving erratically. These affected lymphocytes may start to multiply faster or live longer than usual (lymphocytes die after an infection has been eradicated).

Because the lymph system circulates around the whole body, lymphoma happens in multiple locations in the body unlike other cancers where it is isolated in one location or organ.

Typically, lymphoma presents as a solid tumor of lymphoid cells. Treatment might involve chemotherapy and in some cases radiotherapy and/or bone marrow transplantation, and can be curable depending on the histology, type, and stage of the disease

There are two major types of lymphoma; Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's. These 2 types of lymphomas behave, spread, and respond to treatment differently.

Treating Cancer With Killer T Cells Produced From Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS)

Japanese researchers at Riken have successfully created cells that will specifically attack cancer cells. These Killer T cells or lymphocytes were developed from induced pluripotent stem cells.

Stem Cells

Stem cells are cells that can differentiate (transform) into other type of cells, usually a higher form such as tissues and organs. There are specialized stem cells such as heart stem cells or blood stem cells that differentiates into specific type of cells.

Stem cells that can differentiate into other type of cells are called pluripotent stem cells. These are usually found in human embryos and what is generally known to the public as stem cells.

Scientists have recently discovered a method to convert an adult stem cell (whose differentiation is limited to certain types of tissues/organs) into a pluripotent stem cell. These are called Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPS). iPS cells are special in that it circumvents the controversy on harvesting stem cells from human embryos.

Killer T Cells

White blood cells or leukocytes are cells used by the immune system in attacking foreign and harmful cells. A subgroup of leukocytes are lymphocytes or killer t-cells.

Killer T cells are responsible for identifying and attacking infected cells. But when it comes to cancer cells, killer t-cells are not as efficient in weeding out these harmful cells. For one, some cancer cells have a property that prevents if from being attacked by killer t-cells. Another is that, lymphocytes have a short life span that proves ineffective in a prolonged fight.