About Burkitt Lymphoma
Burkitt lymphoma is a very fast-growing type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system, a part of the body’s immune system that helps fight infections. It is treatable and often curable, especially when diagnosed early. This cancer often starts in other body tissues outside the lymph nodes, or sometimes in the blood, acting like a blood cancer.
Burkitt lymphoma is made up of medium-sized B cells, a type of white blood cell that helps fight infection. These cells can grow quickly and can form dark purple or blue spots when looked at under a microscope. Some cases of Burkitt lymphoma are linked to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a common virus that can cause infections like mononucleosis (“mono”). EBV is more common in certain parts of the world. Although Burkitt lymphoma grows quickly, it often responds well to treatments like chemotherapy, especially when found early.
Burkitt lymphoma is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that starts in the immune system’s lymphatic system. Burkitt lymphoma causes unusual growth of B cells, a type of white blood cell. While exact cause of Burkitt lymphoma is unknown, several risk factors have been identified.
Possible causes of Burkitt lymphoma:
- Genetic mutations: Changes in the DNA of B cells can lead to uncontrolled cell growth, which may result in Burkitt lymphoma. When there are changes (mutations) in the DNA, it can cause cells to grow out of control, leading to cancer.
Some risk factors identified that increases the chances of getting the disease include:
- Age: Burkitt lymphoma is more common in children, with the average age of diagnosis at 6 years old.
- Gender: Males are three to four times more likely to develop Burkitt lymphoma than females.
- Geographic location: Burkitt lymphoma is more common in certain areas, especially parts of Central Africa and Papua New Guinea. This is likely due to higher rates of Epstein-Barr virus infections and malaria (a disease spread by mosquitos) in these regions.
- Weakened immune system: People with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, have a higher chance of developing Burkitt lymphoma.
It's important to know these risk factors increase the chance of developing Burkitt lymphoma but they do not mean someone will get it. If you have concerns about your risk or symptoms, talk with your healthcare professional for advice.
The most common early symptoms of Burkitt lymphoma include:
- Abdominal swelling (a noticeable increase in the size of the belly area)
- Changes in facial bones: Swelling or distortion in the bones of the face
- Night sweats: Excessive sweating during the night
- Enlarged lymph nodes: Lymph nodes (small, bean-shaped glands in the neck, armpits, and other areas) that are larger than usual
- Intestinal obstruction: A blockage in the intestines that can cause pain and discomfort
- Enlarged thyroid: The thyroid (a gland in the neck) becomes larger than normal
- Enlarged tonsils: Tonsils (tissue at the back of the throat) are larger than normal
Additional symptoms as Burkitt lymphoma progresses or becomes more severe:
- Swelling and changes in facial bones: Swelling or changes in the bones of the face may worsen
- Rapid growth of lymph nodes (non-tender): Lymph nodes may grow quickly
- Fever
- Losing weight without trying Fatigue (feeling very tired)
- Weakness
- Ovarian or breast involvement: The cancer may affect the ovaries or breasts
- Gastrointestinal tract involvement: The cancer may affect the stomach or intestines
- Central nervous system involvement: The cancer may spread to the brain or spinal cord, possibly causing headaches, seizures, or changes in behavior.
It's important to know these symptoms can vary depending on the type of Burkitt lymphoma and which parts of the body are affected. If you notice any new or worsening symptoms, it is best to talk with a healthcare professional to get checked and find out what’s causing them.
To diagnose Burkitt lymphoma, several exams, tests, and procedures are commonly performed:
- Physical exam: The healthcare provider will do a physical exam to look for signs such as lymph nodes that are larger than normal.
- Biopsy: A sample of a lymph node that is larger than normal may be taken to look at the cells under a microscope. This helps confirm whether cancer is present.
- Blood tests: Blood tests can be done to check how well organs are working and to look for anything unusual that might suggest Burkitt lymphoma.
- Imaging studies: X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scan can show areas of the body affected by the cancer and reveal any damage.
- Genetic tests: Samples of blood, saliva, or tissues can be tested to check for changes in genes, chromosomes (the parts of cells that carry genetic information), or in proteins that may be linked to Burkitt lymphoma.
To determine the stage (how far the cancer has spread) or severity (how serious it is and how quickly it’s likely to grow) of Burkitt lymphoma, additional exams, tests, and procedures may include:
- Bone marrow biopsy: This test checks if cancer cells have spread to the bone marrow (a soft, spongy tissue inside bones that makes blood cells).
- Examination of spinal fluid: A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) may be done to see if the cancer has reached the central nervous system. In this test, a small amount of fluid from around the spinal cord is removed and checked for cancer cells.
- CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans: These imaging studies can show which organs and lymph nodes are affected by the cancer.
It's important to discuss these tests with your healthcare professionals for diagnosis advice that’s right for your situation.
The main goals of treating Burkitt lymphoma are to manage and reduce symptoms, help the body work better, prevent serious health issues, and improve daily well-being. The following treatments may be recommended:
- Chemotherapy combination: This treatment uses a mix of chemotherapy drugs to kill cancer cells. Common drugs include cytarabine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, methotrexate, and etoposide. Chemotherapy works by targeting and destroying cells that grow and divide quickly, like cancer cells.
- Monoclonal antibody therapy: Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system that help protect the body by finding and attacking harmful cells. Monoclonal antibody therapy uses specifically made antibodies like rituximab, to target cancer cells. These antibodies attach to cancer cells to help destroy them, and they are often mixed with chemotherapy to make treatment stronger.
- Radiation therapy: In some cases, radiation therapy is used along with chemotherapy. It uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
- Central nervous system (CNS) prevention: This involves giving chemotherapy drugs directly into the fluid around the spine and brain to stop the cancer from spreading to the brain or spinal cord, which are part of the central nervous system.
- Surgery: In certain cases, surgery may be done to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
- High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplant: For cases where Burkitt lymphoma comes back (recurrent) or doesn’t respond to treatment (refractory), doctors may recommend high doses of chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant. A stem cell transplant replaces damaged or destroyed cells with healthy ones. Stem cells are special cells that can grow into different types of blood cells the body needs.
- Targeted therapies: Other treatments for recurrent cases may include:
- Bispecific antibodies: These are lab-made proteins that can bind to both cancer cells and immune cells, bringing them together to help the immune system attack the cancer.
- CAR T-cell therapy: This treatment involves taking a person’s T-cells (a type of white blood cell), changing them to target cancer, and then putting them back into the body to help fight the cancer.
- Healthy habits: Practicing good hygiene and taking care of the skin are important to prevent issues like lymphedema (swelling caused by a buildup of lymph fluid).
It’s important to talk with a healthcare professional for treatment options that fit your needs. Medication dosing may be affected by many factors. Check with your health care professional about dosing for your individual situation. Other side effects can occur. Check with your health care professional or read the information provided with your medication for additional sides effect information.