Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, new media coverage: if living with cancer is like playing chess |

Between expectations, shocks and reboots, patients and doctors explain daily life and new treatment options for these blood cancers

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, a new awareness campaign: if living with cancer is like playing a game of chess.

Between expectations, failures and new starts, patients and doctors describe everyday life and new treatment options for this blood cancer.

No more fighting cancer.Because armed conflict (unfortunately) is a reality almost as close to our national borders as war brings with it the concept of winners and losers, there are no more wars against disease.In the case of cancer, patients and families do not necessarily win if they recover, because the long and difficult journey has serious consequences.If the patient succumbs to the struggle, they are not among the losers.From this introduction, the chess metaphor A new information and awareness campaign is born at the center, to represent the experience of those living with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and those studying it, as a game of hope, setbacks and restarts, where every choice counts.A new piece, the bridge, symbolizes the near future as scientific research paves the way for new therapeutic options, such as bispecific antibodies, capable of improving treatment and quality of life for patients with lymphoma.A game-changing.Initiative "Check lymphoma. A new bridge between research and treatment, in collaboration with AIL (Italian Association against Leukemia, Lymphoma and Myeloma), FIL (Italian Lymphoma Federation) and GFIL (Italian Lymphoma Nurse)" is promoted by ABV

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are indolent and aggressive

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas include more than 50 different types, divided into two main groups according to the treatment behavior: weak, slow progress (about 45% of patients), in which patients can live for many years, and severe, growing rapidly, but often responding to treatment, so much so that more than half of patients can be cured.Of the aggressive lymphomas, the most subtype is diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. It manifests itself with large and rapidly growing lymph nodes in many areas and can also involve organs: about 150,000 new cases per year in the world and 4,400 in Italy.Among the indolent lymphomas, the most common is follicular lymphoma: the evaluation is evaluated by the FLIPI Index and the disease is characterized by the risk of relapse and growth not favorable to traditional treatments, with each new line of treatment reducing survival without progression.Marco Ladetto, professor of hematology at the University of Eastern Piedmont and director of hematology at the University Hospital Santi Antonio e Biagio and Cesare Arrigo in Alessandria says "They are two pathologies with different conditions," explains Marco Ladetto.When we talk about relapse, we mean that the lymphoma comes back even after getting a good response.On the other hand, refractory lymphoma is a disease in which the patient, despite good treatment, does not achieve a response.In diffuse large B-cell lymphomas relapse, if it occurs, occurs early, almost always in months or several years of remission;In follicular lymphoma, quiescent cells can survive for a long time and come back years later."

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Although today, initially, long-term responses and a good cure rate can be achieved in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma becomes more complex after each relapse.An appropriate treatment path is essential, based on a support network that follows the patient from a physical, nutritional and emotional point of view and helps him in organizing treatment and practical controls. "Patients' expectations change a lot, for many it is possible to recover or maintain the quality of life even with the national president of AIL emphasizing that lymphomas are not always easy to treat, but the impact on the patient's quality of life is also important. to always be with them in a wayconcrete, first by supporting scientific research, then with AIL houses, transfer services, psychological support for the patient and caregiver, financial support and for all the bureaucratic problems that hinder the patient's life and add stress and suffering.

“Today, thanks to the advent of CAR-T cell therapy and bispecific antibodies, the outlook for patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma has improved – says Caterina Patti, director of oncohematology at “Villa Sofia-Comcom-Villa” hospital.standardized and planned diagnostic-therapeutic."

Important support from nurses and patient groups

From the moment of diagnosis, the personality of the caregiver and nurse is central to the clinical pathway of treatment for a lymphoma patient."The nurse, in addition to the technical role of the medical worker, plays the role of a communication "bridge", reminds Giuliana Nepoti, Head of the GIFIL Commission - Italian Lymphoma Foundation Nursing Group, Hematological Research Nurse, Polyclinic Sant'Orsolo di Bologna -. To turn fear into awareness, to teach the patient to recognize dangerous symptoms and to normalize the treatment process. The management is complete, starting from the moment of diagnosis and ending when the patient is trusted for observation.goes."The type of lymphoma affects not only the choice of treatment, but also the patient's quality of life and, indirectly, his quality of life.There are many problems, both physical and emotional, that have to be faced."The shock of the diagnosis, the feeling of loneliness and isolation, the sense of loss of normality and the expression of daily difficulties in maintaining normal work and family rhythm - Giuseppe Gioffre, FIL National Representative for the Lymphoma AIL-FIL Patient Group - In this sense, the patient group offers new hope for treatment to patients and their families. Patients and caregivers adjust to changes. Family dynamics and the difficult journey of treatment.

How bispecific antibodies are used today

Today, thanks to research, new treatment options are available to hematologists."Currently, a series of innovations has appeared in the context of immunotherapy - explains Enrico Derenzini, Associate Professor of Hematology at the University of Milan and Director of the Department of Oncohematology and Stem Cell Transplantation at the European Institute of Oncology (Ieo) in Milan. The first is represented by CAR-T cell therapy, which has the potential to be curative of cases, but about 40% of cases, but which can be curative of cases, but about 40%. 50-60% of patients who do not respond or relapse, and timethe production of a long product, which is not immediately available (CD3), immune system effector cells, on the other hand, binds to neoplastic cells (CD20) and directs T lymphocytes to lymphoma cells.In the main clinical trials in both pathologies, this class of drugs showed complete remission in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in about 40% of cases, with a significant curative potentialdiffuse large B-cell lymphoma Now, the indication of this drug is monotherapy In the future, experts concluded, a rapid evolution towards the beginning and the combined use of this treatment method is expected, combining them with other drugs, such as immunolides agents, such as chemoimmune. immunoconjugated antibodies.