Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Samples

Bay Biosciences provides high-quality, fresh frozen matched serum (sera), plasma and PBMC samples from unique Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients and age matched normal healthy donors for research.

The matched (from the same unique patients) K2EDTA plasma, sera (serum) and PBMC bio-fluid specimens are processed from Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient’s whole blood using customized sample collection and processing protocols. Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient’s matched bio-fluid samples are used for research, development and drug discovery.

Overview of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Hodgkin’s lymphoma, also called Hodgkin’s disease, is a type of lymphoma. Hence, lymphomas are a group of blood cancers that start in the lymphatic system. Thus, this system consists of a network of organs, nodes, and vessels throughout your body.
In addition, under normal circumstances, your lymphatic system helps your immune system get rid of waste and fight infections. Also, white blood cells within the lymphatic system, called lymphocytes, help protect you from germs and infections.
In fact, Hodgkin’s lymphoma originates in these lymphocytes. Moreover, it tends to develop into a type of cell called B lymphocytes, which produce proteins called antibodies that latch on to foreign invaders and tell your immune system to destroy them.
Also, in patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, these lymphocytes grow abnormally and crowd out healthy white blood cells. Therefore, as the disease progresses, it becomes more difficult for your body to fight infections.

What is a Lymphatic System?

Your lymphatic system covers most of your body and consists of lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and various organs. Here’s an overview of these structures:
  • Lymphatic fluid. Also known as lymph, this fluid consists of the extra fluid that drains from your cells, blood vessels, and tissues, as well as other substances such as fats, protein, damaged cells, minerals, viruses, bacteria, and other germs. Also, Your lymphatic fluid is also used to transport lymphocytes. In fact, there are two main types of lymphocytes: B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphpcytes (T cells). These lymphocytes work together to fight infections.
  • Lymph nodes. These bean-shaped structures contain white blood cells and other immune cells. You have hundreds of lymph nodes throughout your body, particularly in your abdomen, chest, and groin and under your arms.
  • Lymph vessels. Your lymph vessels are a series of vein-like structures that connect your lymph nodes. They help transport lymph and infection-fighting lymphocytes throughout your body.
  • Spleen. Situated on the left side of your body, near your stomach, your spleen stores blood cells, filters out damaged cells, and helps maintain the right fluid balance. It also produces lymphocytes.
  • Tonsils and adenoids. Your tonsils are collections of lymph tissue in your throat that help protect you from foreign invaders. Adenoids are lumps of lymph tissue near your nasal passage.
  • Thymus. Your thymus is an organ in your chest that plays an important role in the development of T lymphocytes.
  • Bone marrow. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside your bones where blood cells are produced.
  • Peyer’s patches. Found in the mucous membrane that lines your small intestine, these small masses of lymphatic tissue help destroy bacteria in your intestines.

Develops in Upper Body

According to the American Cancer Society, Hodgkin’s lymphoma typically develops in B lymphocytes in your upper body, most commonly in your chest, in your neck, or under your arms. However, it typically spreads to other lymph nodes through your lymph vessels.
As a result, in the late stages, it can reach your bloodstream and spread to other organs, such as your bone marrow, lungs, or liver.

Types of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

In fact, Hodgkin’s lymphoma makes up about 10 percent of lymphoma cases. But the other 90 percent are classified as Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
While, the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells, large cells that may contain more than one nucleus, is the defining feature of Hodgkin’s lymphoma as compared to non-Hodgkin’s.
In addition, Hodgkin’s lymphoma is further divided into classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma and nodular lymphocytic predominant Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NLPHL).
Moreover, the classification depends on the types of cells involved and their behavior. Hence, healthcare professionals can identify the type of Hodgkin’s lymphoma by looking at a sample of the enlarged lymph tissue under a microscope.

Classic Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

In fact, about 95 percent of Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases are the classic type. In addition, the lymph nodes of patients with classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma generally contain a small number of Reed-Sternberg cells surrounded by normal-looking immune cells.
Also, this type of lymphoma is broken down further into four main subtypes:
  • Nodular sclerosis Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This type tends to occur in lymph nodes in the chest or neck. Although anyone can get it, it tends to be more prevalent in teens and young adults. It accounts for about 70 percent of classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases.
  • Mixed cellularity Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This is the second most common type of classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma. It tends to be most prevalent in people with HIV and typically develops in the lymph nodes of the upper body.
  • Lymphocyte-rich classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This type is rarer, making up about 5 percent of classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases. 
  • Lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This is the rarest type and is most often found in the lymph nodes in the belly, spleen, liver, and bone marrow. It occurs mainly in older adults and people with HIV.

Nodular Lymphocytic Predominant Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NLPHL)

This type of Hodgkin’s lymphoma tends to grow more slowly and is rarer than the classic type. In fact, it makes up about 5 percent of Hodgkin’s lymphoma cases and affects males about three times more often than females.
Also, abnormal cells in this type are called popcorn cells, they’re large and look like popcorn under a microscope. They’re variants of the Reed-Sternberg cells seen in classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Hence, NLPHL may be treated differently than classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Stages of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

In fact, the staging system used for Hodgkin’s lymphoma is called the Lugano classification. It has four stages: I, II, III, and IV.
  • Stage I. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is stage I if:
    • The disease is found in only one lymph node area or lymphoid organ such as the spleen (stage I) or
    • Cancer is found only in one part of an organ that is outside the lymph system (stage IE).
  • Stage II. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is stage II if:
    • The disease is found in two or more lymph node areas, either both above or both below the diaphragm (stage II) or
    • Cancer extends locally from one lymph node area into a nearby organ (stage IIE).
  • Stage III. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is stage III if:
    • The lymphoma is found in lymph node areas above and below the diaphragm or
    • Cancer is found in lymph nodes above the diaphragm and in the spleen.
  • Stage IV. Hodgkin’s lymphoma is stage IV if the cancer has spread into at least one organ outside of the lymph system, such as the liver or the lungs.

Resistant or Recurrent Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

  • Resistant disease refers to lymphoma that does not respond to treatment or progresses and grows while you are in treatment.
  • Recurrent or relapsed disease refers to Hodgkin’s lymphoma that responded to treatment but later comes back. When the lymphoma returns, it may be in the same place that it started or in another part of the body. This can happen shortly after treatment or years later.

Signs and Symptoms of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

The most common symptom of Hodgkin’s lymphoma is swelling of the lymph nodes, which can cause a lump to form under your skin. This lump usually isn’t painful. It often develops in one of the following areas:
  • Around your groin
  • In your armpit
  • On the side of your neck
Other symptoms of Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:

Causes of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

The exact cause of Hodgkin’s lymphoma isn’t known, but the disease develops when changes in the DNA of lymphocytes cause them to replicate uncontrollably. Therefore, more research is needed to understand why it develops in some people but not others.
Also, some factors thought to contribute to the development of classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma include the following:
It’s thought that genetics may also play a role in the development of NLPHL due to certain genes such as SGK1, DUSP2, and JUNB.

Risk Factors of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Known risk factors for Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:
  • Age. Most people who develop Hodgkin’s lymphoma are between ages 20 and 40 or over 55.
  • Being male. The risk is higher for males than for females. In children, about 85 percent of cases occur in boys.
  • Epstein-Barr virus. Therefore, having been infected with the virus that causes mononucleosis, also called mono, is thought to increase your risk of developing Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
  • Family history. People with siblings who have Hodgkin’s lymphoma are at higher risk of developing it, too, and identical twins have a very high risk. However, most people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma don’t have a family history of it.
  • Weakened immune system immune system. People who have HIV are at a higher risk of developing Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Also, patients who take immunosuppressant medications after receiving organ transplants are also at an elevated risk.

Diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

To diagnose Hodgkin’s lymphoma, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you about your medical history. In addition your doctor will also order certain tests to help them make an accurate diagnosis.
The following tests may be part of the diagnosis process:
  • Imaging tests. Imaging tests such as X-rays, PET scans, , or computerized tomography (CT) scans can help your doctor see inside your body to look for enlarged lymph nodes and help determine the stage of the disease.
  • Lymph node biopsy. A biopsy involves removing a piece of lymph node tissue to test for the presence of abnormal cells.
  • Blood tests. Your doctor may order blood tests such as a complete blood count or an erythrocyte sedimentation rate test to measure levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Also, these tests may also help your doctor understand how advanced the cancer is and how well you’ll respond to treatments. Your doctor may also order blood tests that measure the levels of lactic acid dehydrogenase and uric acid in your blood.
  • Immunophenotyping. Doctors will use lab tests to analyze biopsy samples to determine whether lymphoma cells are present and what type they are.
  • Lung and heart function tests. Lung function tests and an ultrasound of your heart called an echocardiogram can help determine how well your lungs and heart are working
  • Bone marrow biopsy. A bone marrow biopsy involves the removal and examination of marrow inside your bones to see if the cancer has spread.

Treatment of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma typically depends on the stage of the disease. However, the main treatment options are chemotherapy and radiation.
Hence after treatment, your doctor will want to follow up with you on a regular basis. Therefore be sure to keep all your medical appointments and to carefully follow all your doctor’s instructions.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high energy beams of radiation to destroy cancer cells in specific areas of the body. Therefore, radiation therapy generally does well at killing cancer cells in people with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Also, it’s sometimes administered:
  • After chemotherapy for classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • By itself in some cases of NLPHL, which tends to spread more slowly than classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma
In fact, doctors tend to use radiation at the lowest effective dose to minimize potential side effects.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of medications that can kill cancer cells. However, chemotherapy drugs may be taken by mouth or injected through a vein, depending on the specific medication.
Hence, the most common chemotherapy regimen for classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma and NLPHL is called ABVD. It’s a mixture of the following drugs:
  • Adriamycin (doxorubicin)
  • Bleomycin
  • Dacarbazine (DTIC)
  • Vinblastine
  biospecimens  

Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Human biospecimens are available including cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors for controls, available in all formats and types.

In fact, our biobank procures and stores fully consented, de-identified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples, human biofluids such as serum samples, plasma samples from various diseases and matched controls.

Also, all our human tissue collections, human biospecimens and human biofluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

In fact, this critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Additionally, patient’s data associated with the human biospecimens is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and human biological samples, including fresh frozen human biospecimens cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

For example fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as human serum, human plasma and human PBMCs.

Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Types of Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) and human biofluids from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

Moreover, we can also procure most human biospecimens and human biofluids, special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples and human biofluids are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human biofluids such as  human plasma, human serum, and human PBMCs bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols; you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.

Bay Biosciences also provides human biospecimens from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, Contact us Now.