Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade, FFPE tumor tissue blocks and matched sera (serum), plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) samples from patients diagnosed with follicular lymphoma.

Moreover, detailed clinical information associated with follicular lymphoma specimens is provided to a valued customer for research, development and drug discovery.

Follicular Lymphoma Overview

Follicular lymphoma is a slow-growing cancer that spreads through a person’s lymphatic system. Consequently, doctors may treat follicular lymphoma as they would a chronic condition, and the outlook is generally positive.

Specifically, follicular lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a blood cancer diagnosed in around 2.4 per 100,000 people each year, based on 2018 to 2022 data. Furthermore, it is the second most common lymphoma diagnosed in the United States. In contrast, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the second most common diagnosed.

Although it is rarely considered curable, follicular lymphoma is often manageable over many years.

To Clarify, What is Follicular Lymphoma?

Follicular lymphoma is a type of indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In other words, “indolent” means that the cancer grows slowly instead of being “aggressive,” which is when cells grow at a faster rate.

Moreover, follicular lymphoma spreads through a person’s lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. In this case, white blood cells start multiplying abnormally. These cells, known as B cells or B lymphocytes, then collect in lymph nodes and elsewhere in the person’s body.

Ultimately, follicular lymphoma is usually incurable but responds well to treatment. As a result, a person can live with follicular lymphoma for years, even decades, after diagnosis.

Types of Follicular Lymphoma 

Researchers have identified several subtypes of follicular lymphoma.

Nodal Follicular Lymphoma

This subtype is the most common and originates in the lymph nodes. **Furthermore**, it can spread to other lymphatic tissues and sometimes bone marrow.

In nodal follicular lymphoma, researchers typically observe a t(14;18) translocation and BCL2 overexpression. Specifically, this means part of the body’s DNA rearranges, placing the BCL2 gene next to a highly active region in B cells.

As a result, BCL2 goes into overdrive, preventing old or damaged B cells from dying. Consequently, instead of clearing out, these cells remain and build up, which can eventually lead to lymphoma.

Extra-nodal Follicular Lymphoma

In contrast, in this subtype of lymphoma, doctors observe development in areas outside the typical lymph node system. For instance, it might arise in organs like the gastrointestinal tract, skin, or testes.

Moreover, primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma is a type of extranodal follicular lymphoma. Notably, this rare form usually has a very good outlook.

Pediatric-type follicular lymphoma

Pediatric-type follicular lymphoma is a rare form of follicular lymphoma that arises in the head and neck lymph nodes. Primarily, it mostly affects children, although it can also affect young adults.

Research shows that the clinical features of pediatric-type follicular lymphoma are unique and distinct from standard follicular lymphoma. In fact, it behaves in a localized, nonaggressive way and does not spread from the area where it developed.

Consequently, surgery alone is often curative, and recurrence is uncommon. Moreover, chemotherapy or radiation is generally not needed.

Duodenal-type follicular lymphoma

Similarly, duodenal-type follicular lymphoma is a rare type of follicular lymphoma that accounts for about  4%  of primary gastrointestinal lymphomas.

Specifically, it is a slow-growing follicular lymphoma that starts in the small intestine, usually in a part of the duodenum. Some people with this subtype experience abdominal pain and heartburn, whereas others experience no symptoms at all.

Furthermore, duodenal-type follicular lymphoma rarely spreads to other areas of the lymphatic system. Additionally, doctors can sometimes diagnose this type at an early stage, unlike most other follicular lymphomas.

Symptoms of Follicular Lymphoma

People with follicular lymphoma often have no symptoms at the time they receive a diagnosis. This is because, in general, the disease tends to grow slowly.

However, the most common symptom of follicular lymphoma is swelling in a person’s neck, armpit, groin, or stomach, according to Cancer Research UK. Notably, this inflammation is often painless and occurs due to white blood cells collecting in the lymph nodes.

In addition, other symptoms of follicular lymphoma can include:

Furthermore, pain or discomfort in the chest, abdomen, or bones can occur if swollen lymph nodes or organs press on surrounding tissues.

Additional Symptoms

Moreover, doctors may refer to the combination of drenching night sweats, fever, and unexplained weight loss as B symptoms. Consequently, these are the primary symptoms of follicular lymphoma.

Additionally, other signs and symptoms may occur depending on the location and size of the cancer, as well as how fast it is spreading. For instance, these can include:

  • Anemia: This can happen due to the low number of red blood cells in a person’s blood.
  • Easily bruising or bleeding: A low number of blood-clotting cells, or platelets, in a person’s blood can cause them to bruise or bleed more easily.

Causes and Risk Factors of Follicular Lymphoma

Doctors do not yet fully understand the causes of follicular lymphoma. In fact, researchers believe it may involve a combination of environmental exposures (like pesticides), immune system factors (such as past immunosuppressive treatments), and genetic influences.

Furthermore, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders, about 85% of people with follicular lymphoma have a specific genetic abnormality in their cancer cells. Nevertheless, the exact cause of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, including follicular lymphoma, is unknown.

However, certain factors may increase a person’s risk, such as older age, being male, and having a weakened immune system.

Now, Let’s Explore Risk Factors

Possible risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma include:

  • Firstly, being over 75 years old
  • Secondly, having a weakened immune system, possibly due to conditions such as HIV, or due to immunosuppressant drugs, which weaken the immune system
  • Thirdly, having an autoimmune disease, such as celiac disease, Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
  • Moreover, having a family history of the condition
  • Furthermore, exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation
  • In addition, exposure to certain ingredients in herbicides and pesticides
  • Likewise, having certain viral infections, including human T-cell lymphotropic virus and Epstein-Barr virus
  • Finally, having an inherited immune disorder, such as hypogammaglobulinemia or Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome
  • Lastly, having Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection.

Diagnosis of Follicular Lymphoma

If doctors suspect follicular lymphoma, they’ll order tests to examine the lymph system and check for cancer in other parts of the body. These may include:

  • Firstly, Physical exam: This can check general health and signs of disease. Additionally, a doctor will also ask about a person’s medical history.
  • Secondly, Complete blood count: This test measures the number of red and white blood cells, hemoglobin levels, and platelets to detect possible irregularities.
  • Moreover, Blood chemistry studies: This blood test can check the amounts of certain substances in the blood that may suggest how well organs are functioning or whether disease is present.
  • Next, CT scan: A CT scan produces detailed cross-sectional images of areas inside the body to help identify swollen lymph nodes or organ involvement.
  • Finally, PET scan: Before a PET scan, doctors inject a small amount of radioactive glucose into a person’s vein. Subsequently, the PET scanner rotates around the body to detect where glucose is most readily in use. Consequently, malignant cells appear brighter as they use glucose more than regular cells.
  • Lastly, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: Using a long needle, doctors remove small amounts of blood, bone marrow, and bone, usually from the hip. Subsequently, the pathologist examines the sample under a microscope for signs of cancer. On the other hand, lymph node biopsy: This involves removing all or part of a lymph node for examination.

Staging of Follicular Lymphoma

Once a doctor diagnoses follicular lymphoma, they will determine how advanced the cancer is. This is also known as its “stage.” Consequently, staging the cancer can help doctors plan a person’s treatment.

To determine the stage, healthcare professionals typically use a combination of imaging and tests, including:

  • PET/CT scans
  • blood tests
  • bone marrow biopsy
  • lumbar puncture (in select cases)
  • MRI or ultrasound, depending on symptoms or location

For instance, a healthcare professional may perform a lumbar puncture if there are neurological symptoms.

Moreover, the stages of follicular lymphoma range from stage I, which is the least advanced, to stage IV, the most advanced.

In fact, doctors may diagnose most types of follicular lymphoma when the cancer is already quite advanced.

Specifically, the stages are as follows:

  • Stage I: Affecting a single lymph node region or a single organ.
  • Stage II: Affecting two or more lymph node regions on the same side of the diaphragm.
  • Stage III: Affecting two or more lymph node regions above and below the diaphragm.
  • Stage IV: Ultimately, with stage IV, the cancer has spread to one or more organs, such as the liver, lungs, or bone marrow.

Overall, follicular lymphoma grows slowly and often causes few symptoms. As a result, many people receive a diagnosis at stage III or IV. However, by working with a healthcare team, people may even manage advanced stage follicular lymphoma effectively over time.

In addition, doctors categorize the cancer further as follows:

  • E for extranodal: This means the lymphoma has spread to an area outside the lymphatic system.
  • S for spleen: This means the lymphoma is present in the spleen.
  • X: This indicates “bulky disease,” which describes a nodal mass of more than 10 centimeters or more than one-third of the chest diameter.

Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma is a slow-growing cancer. Consequently, if the condition is at stage I or II, a person may not need treatment until symptoms show. On the other hand, for stages III and IV, particularly when organs are affected, they might need treatment as soon as they receive a diagnosis.

Specifically, treatment for Stage I and II follicular lymphoma might involve:

  • Watchful waiting, monitoring progression through periodic examinations and imaging tests
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy, often combined with a targeted drug called rituximab

In contrast, treatment for people with transformed or later stage follicular lymphoma can be the same as those above, but might also include:

  • Stem cell transplant
  • Targeted therapies (beyond rituximab)
  • Surgery, in particular cases where tumors are localized and deemed operable.

Outlook

Follicular lymphoma is usually incurable. However, doctors often treat it as they would a chronic condition. Consequently, people can live for many years with the disease, often experiencing long periods without symptoms.

Furthermore, data from the U.S. SEER program indicates that the 5-year relative survival rate for follicular lymphoma is approximately 89%, with stage-specific rates ranging from 97.3% (localized) to 83.1% (distant disease).

This means that, on average, 89% of people diagnosed with follicular lymphoma remain alive 5 years later, particularly with better outcomes when the disease is found early.

Following treatment, many people will lead a full and active life. Nevertheless, mental health challenges related to managing the condition may be ongoing. Therefore, it is important that a person seeks help from family and friends or a medical professional to assist them in managing the situation.

Additionally, some  side effects of cancer treatment can last for several months. As a result, a person might need regular checkups and further treatment to address any lingering side effects.

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, researchers find the patient’s data associated with the human biospecimens extremely valuable and use it to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, as well as in 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.