A key focus area of BeiGene’s research is lymphoma. Lymphoma is a broad term for blood cancers that originate in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system’s vast network of vessels, organs, and tissues help the body fight disease and infection. Parts of the lymphatic system can be found in many places in the body and consist mostly of a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes.
There are two main types of lymphocytes in the lymphatic system: B-cells and T-cells.
When B-cells and T-cells behave abnormally, it impacts the body’s ability to fight infection and the resulting diseases are categorized as lymphoma. The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Hodgkin lymphoma can often be cured when found and treated early.
Meanwhile, there are several types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas which vary in outcome.
Opportunities for Treatment
Many procedures and drugs are available for the treatment of lymphoma, with many more being studied. Treatment options for lymphomas can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and stem cell or bone marrow transplant.
At BeiGene, we have focused our research on non-Hodgkin lymphomas, where we see opportunities to pursue better outcomes by targeting B-cells. Targeted therapies, such as Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, can treat non-Hodgkin lymphomas by targeting receptors on B-cells and affecting the way they signal, or communicate response.
What are CLL & SLL?
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are a very common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. They are slow-growing blood cancers that are caused by an excess of dysfunctional B-cells. Since both CLL and SLL start the same way, they are considered the same disease, but they occur in different parts of the body. In CLL, the abnormal B-cells are found mostly in the blood and bone marrow. In SLL, the abnormal B-cells are found mostly in the lymph nodes.
Signs & Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Anemia (decreased red blood cell count)
- Lymph node enlargement
- Thrombocytopenia (decreased platelet count)
- Low-grade fever
- Unexplained weight loss
- Night sweats
- Feeling of fullness (due to an enlarged spleen or liver)
- Infection of skin, lungs, kidneys, or other organs as a result of low immunoglobulin levels and decreased neutrophil counts
Prevalence
CLL is a very common type of lymphoma, accounting for between 25-30% of all leukemia in Western countries with over 100,000 cases reported globally in 2019.
What is WM?
Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is a slow-growing blood cancer that starts in the B-cells. When a person has WM, their B-cells produce an abnormal lymphocyte-plasma hybrid cell, called a lymphoplasmacytic cell. These abnormal cells make excess amounts of a specific antibody, called IgM, which has a large and bulky structure. This causes blood to become very thick, impacting its flow through the body. As the abnormal cells multiply, it can overwhelm the bone marrow, leading to a shortage of healthy blood cells.
Signs & Symptoms
- Feeling weak
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Sweats
- Numbness or “pins and needles”
Prevalence
The incidence of WM is approximately 5 per 1,000,000 people over the age of 50.
[NOTE: stats extrapolated from US data]
What is MCL?
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is a blood cancer that develops in the parts of a lymph node called the mantle zone, which are surrounded by the parts of a lymph node called the marginal zone. When a person has MCL, abnormal B-cells start to collect in their lymph nodes or body organs. This can then form tumours, causing problems within the lymphatic system or the organ where they are growing.
Signs & Symptoms
- Enlarged (swollen) lymph nodes in the throat, liver or gastrointestinal tract
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Bloating or a feeling of “fullness”
Prevalence
MCL accounts for approximately 5% of all B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas globally. It is estimated that the annual incidence of MCL is about one case per 200,000 people.
What is MZL?
Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) refers to a group of rare non-Hodgkin lymphomas. These types of slow-growing blood cancers develop in the parts of a lymph node called the marginal zone, which wrap around the parts of a lymph node called the mantle zone. When a person has MZL, the B-cells in the marginal zone change or mutate, causing them to behave abnormally and multiply excessively. There are three types of MZL:
- Extranodal MZL of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT): the most common type of MZL, it develops in the stomach lining (gastric MALT) or in the lungs, skin, thyroid, salivary gland, bowels or near your eye (non-gastric MALT)
- Nodal MZL: affects the lymph nodes but can appear in the bone marrow
- Splenic MZL: affects the spleen, blood and bone marrow
Signs & Symptoms
- Fever without infection
- Night sweats
- Unexplained weight loss
- Skin rash
- Chest or abdominal pain
- Tiredness
Prevalence
MZL accounts for 6% of all B-cell lymphomas globally. The incidence of MZL varies between 0.5 and 2.5 per 100,000 people depending on geographic location.
What is FL?
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It is a slow-growing blood cancer that originates in B-cells. It is called “follicular” lymphoma because abnormal B-cells group together in clusters called “follicles” inside lymph nodes or other tissues. It often spreads to the bone marrow and spleen, but it usually doesn’t affect organs and tissues other than the lymph nodes. That’s why, although FL is not really curable, it’s categorized more like a chronic disease. People can live for many years with this form of lymphoma.
Signs & Symptoms
Often, patients with FL will have no obvious symptoms when diagnosed, but common symptoms may include:
- Enlarged (swollen) lymph nodes in the neck, underarms, abdomen, groin or spleen
- Fever or chills
- Night sweats
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Bloating or a feeling of “fullness”
- Chest pain or pressure
- Severe or frequent infections
- Easy bruising or bleeding
Prevalence
The global incidence of FL is not straightforward due to variations in data collection and reporting methods across countries. However, based on available data from specific regions, we can offer a perspective on its incidence. The rate of new cases of FL is 2.5 per 100,000 people per year in the U.S. This data gives us an approximation of FL’s impact and its status as a significant subtype of NHL worldwide.