Condition group
Types of lymphoma
Cancers of lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. There are many subtypes with different treatments.
Start with the name you were given
Some diagnoses cover several subtypes. These guides explain how they fit together.
Conditions in this group
Grouped by the part transplant usually plays. Treatment depends on the exact diagnosis, disease stage, prior treatment and the person’s health.
Donor transplant option 4
A transplant using a donor’s blood-forming cells is an established option for selected patients. A team may consider relatives, unrelated registry donors or cord blood, depending on the circumstances.
- In-depth guide
Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL)
Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma is an Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoma that often affects the nose and nearby tissues. Treatment depends strongly on its extent; selected advanced or relapsed cases may benefit from a donor transplant.
Donor transplant option - In-depth guide
Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL)
Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma is a rare, aggressive lymphoma that mainly involves the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Early specialist treatment and donor-transplant assessment are important because ordinary lymphoma chemotherapy alone often gives short-lived control.
Donor transplant option - In-depth guide
Richter transformation (Richter syndrome)
Richter transformation is when chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) turns into a fast-growing lymphoma, most often diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and less often Hodgkin lymphoma. It needs prompt treatment, and doctors check whether the new lymphoma grew from the same cells as the CLL.
Donor transplant option - In-depth guide
Sézary syndrome
Sézary syndrome is a mature T-cell lymphoma involving the blood and usually causing widespread inflamed, itchy skin. Systemic treatment is central; a donor stem cell transplant can offer lasting remission for selected eligible patients.
Donor transplant option
Cell or gene therapy options 5
Cell or gene therapies may be options for eligible patients in some countries. They do not all work the same way, use the same cells or replace the same type of transplant.
- In-depth guide
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive cancer of mature B cells. Many people are cured with initial treatment. At relapse, the choice among CAR-T therapy, autologous transplantation and other treatments depends on timing and response.
Cell or gene therapy options - In-depth guide
Double-hit lymphoma (MYC and BCL2 rearranged)
Double-hit lymphoma is a fast-growing B-cell lymphoma in which the MYC and BCL2 genes are both rearranged. The World Health Organization now calls it diffuse large B-cell lymphoma/high-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements. It is found by a lab test on the biopsy and is different from “double-expressor” lymphoma.
Cell or gene therapy options - In-depth guide
Follicular lymphoma
Follicular lymphoma is usually a slow-growing B-cell cancer. Treatment ranges from monitoring to radiotherapy, medicines and cellular therapy; transplantation is considered for selected higher-risk or relapsed disease.
Cell or gene therapy options - In-depth guide
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a mature B-cell cancer with a variable pace. Targeted medicines and immunotherapy are changing treatment, including when autologous transplant is useful; donor transplantation is reserved for selected situations.
Cell or gene therapy options - In-depth guide
Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL)
Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is an aggressive lymphoma that usually begins in the chest between the lungs. Initial treatment can be curative; transplantation and CAR-T therapy are mainly considered for resistant or relapsed disease.
Cell or gene therapy options
Usually the person’s own cells 5
When transplant is used, it usually returns the person’s own cells after intensive treatment. This is called an autologous transplant; no donor is involved in that procedure.
- In-depth guide
ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)
ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a CD30-positive T-cell lymphoma without an ALK rearrangement. Treatment commonly uses drug combinations, with autologous or donor transplantation considered in selected situations.
Usually the person’s own cells - In-depth guide
Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL)
The World Health Organization’s 2022 classification calls angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma “nodal T-follicular helper cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic-type.” It can disrupt immune function as well as cause lymphoma growth, and treatment may include selected stem cell transplant approaches.
Usually the person’s own cells - In-depth guide
Classic Hodgkin lymphoma
Classic Hodgkin lymphoma is a B-cell cancer identified by characteristic Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg cells. Many people are cured with initial drug treatment, sometimes with radiotherapy; transplant is mainly used when the lymphoma returns or resists treatment.
Usually the person’s own cells - In-depth guide
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL-NOS)
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS), is a cancer of mature T cells that does not fit another defined subtype. Treatment often uses combination chemotherapy; selected patients may receive an autologous or donor transplant.
Usually the person’s own cells - In-depth guide
Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL)
Primary central nervous system lymphoma starts in the brain, spinal cord, eyes or nearby coverings without lymphoma elsewhere at diagnosis. Treatment must reach these sites; eligible patients may receive high-dose chemotherapy followed by their own stem cells.
Usually the person’s own cells
Limited transplant role 5
Other treatments are usual. Transplant may be considered in selected circumstances or research settings, as described on the condition page.
- In-depth guide
ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL)
ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a CD30-positive T-cell lymphoma driven by an ALK rearrangement. Many patients respond well to initial drug treatment; transplantation is mainly considered for selected higher-risk or relapsed disease.
Limited transplant role - In-depth guide
Burkitt lymphoma
Burkitt lymphoma is a rapidly growing mature B-cell cancer associated with abnormal MYC activity. Prompt, specialized drug treatment can cure many patients; stem cell transplantation is not the usual first-line treatment.
Limited transplant role - In-depth guide
Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL)
Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is a group of slow-growing B-cell lymphomas. The main types are extranodal (MALT) lymphoma, which often starts in the stomach or other organs, nodal MZL and splenic MZL.
Limited transplant role - In-depth guide
Mycosis fungoides
Mycosis fungoides is a T-cell lymphoma that usually begins in the skin. Early disease is often treated with skin-directed therapies; a donor stem cell transplant is an option for selected advanced or difficult-to-treat cases.
Limited transplant role - In-depth guide
Waldenström macroglobulinemia
Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma that produces an IgM antibody protein. Some people need only monitoring; medicines are the usual treatment, with transplantation reserved for selected relapsed disease.
Limited transplant role
Other condition groups
Understanding transplant
Understanding can become action.
Some patients need a blood stem cell donor. Others receive different treatment. Wherever your interest began, you can help more people find the donor they need.
Join the registry
JBF points you to the official registry that serves your country. It explains who can join and what donation involves.
Help someone you love find a donor
If someone you love needs a donor, our family guide explains practical ways to help. A registration drive can add many potential donors at once, for them and for others.
Support this work
Gifts to the Jada Bascom Foundation support donor-awareness education like this page, community outreach, drive planning and referrals to official registries.
