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Apparent chemotherapeutic cure of malignant lymphoma
Author(s) -
Greally John F.,
Theologides Athanasios,
Kennedy B. J.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197104)27:4<887::aid-cncr2820270419>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - medicine , lymphoma , malignant lymphoma , chemotherapy , malignant disease , malignant cells , pathology , disease , lymphatic system , cancer
Two patients with disseminated malignant lymphoma responded to limited chemotherapy and have remained free of disease for 11 and 8 years, respectively, after discontinuing chemotherapy. Both cases had initial clinical and histologic features for a grave prognosis. In view of the accumulating evidence of the presence of malignant lymphoid cells in the circulation when the disease appears still localized, the hypothesis is made that the “cure” of lymphoma is not due to a destruction of all tumor cells but rather to biological alteration in large numbers of lymphoma cells. These alterations induce immunologic reactions by the host that eliminate or contain the remaining tumor cells.