5 Things an Oncologist Wants You to Know About T-cell Lymphoma

By Katrina Fu | Reviewed by Salvia Jain, MD

5 Things an Oncologist Wants You to Know About T-cell Lymphoma

T-cell lymphoma is an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma–cancer of the lymphocytes (white blood cells). It helps the immune system detect and destroy cancerous cells

T cells are a type of lymphocyte that normally helps the immune system detect and destroy cancerous cells. “T-cell lymphoma is essentially cancer of the cancer-fighting cells,” says Salvia Jain, MD,  board-certified hematologist and oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and principal investigator of PETAL Consortium.

5 Things About T- cell Lymphoma

  1. T-cell lymphoma is not caused by lifestyle choices


“Many patients ask me, ‘Oh, was my cancer caused by something I did?’” says Dr. Jain.

Although certain lifestyle habits—like smoking, heavy alcohol use, drug use, and diets high in processed meats, red meat, ultra-processed foods, or sugar—have been linked to increased risk of developing certain cancers, there is currently no evidence that these behaviors cause T-cell lymphoma.

  1. T-cell lymphoma is not caused by lifestyle choices

“Many patients ask me, ‘Oh, was my cancer caused by something I did?’” says Dr.

Jain. Although certain lifestyle habits—like smoking, heavy

alcohol use, drug use, and diets high in processed meats,

red meat, ultra-processed foods, or sugar—have been linked to

increased risk of developing certain cancers, there is currently no evidence that

these behaviors cause T-cell lymphoma.

  1. T-cell lymphoma is not caused by lifestyle choices

“Many patients ask me, ‘Oh, was my cancer caused by something I did?’” says Dr.

Jain. Although certain lifestyle habits—like smoking, heavy

alcohol use, drug use, and diets high in processed meats,

red meat, ultra-processed foods, or sugar—have been linked to

increased risk of developing certain cancers, there is currently no evidence that

these behaviors cause T-cell lymphoma.

  1. T-cell lymphoma is not caused by environmental factors


While exposure to environmental factors like radiation, air and water pollution, and carcinogens such as asbestos are known to increase the risk of certain cancers, there is currently no concrete evidence linking them to T-cell lymphoma.

“However, autoimmune conditions and immunosuppressive drugs like tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors can increase the risk of developing T-cell lymphomas,” says Dr. Jain.

 

2. T-cell lymphoma is not caused by environmental factors

While exposure to environmental factors like radiation, air and water pollution,

carcinogens such as asbestos are known to increase the risk of certain cancers,

there is currently no concrete evidence linking them to T-cell lymphoma.

“However, autoimmune conditions and immunosuppressive drugs like tumor

necrosis factor alpha inhibitors can increase the risk of developing

T-cell lymphomas,” says Dr. Jain.

 

2. T-cell lymphoma is not caused by environmental factors

While exposure to environmental factors like radiation, air and water pollution,

carcinogens such as asbestos are known to increase the risk of certain cancers,

there is currently no concrete evidence linking them to T-cell lymphoma.

“However, autoimmune conditions and immunosuppressive drugs like tumor

necrosis factor alpha inhibitors can increase the risk of developing

T-cell lymphomas,” says Dr. Jain.

 

  1. T-cell lymphoma is not hereditary

    T-cell lymphoma is not hereditary, meaning it is not passed down from parents to children. Patients with T-cell lymphoma did not inherit it from their parents, and similarly, they do not pass it on to their children.

    Notably, although the words hereditary and genetic are often used interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing. As mentioned before, hereditary means the passing of traits from parents to offspring. Genetics is a broader term that includes all gene variations and mutations, including those that are inherited from parents or spontaneously develop during one’s life. Therefore, all hereditary diseases are genetic, but not all genetic diseases are hereditary.

    In this case, T-cell lymphoma, is a genetic condition, since the cancer is caused by structural changes, mutations, and rearrangements of genes–specific segments of DNA. These gene abnormalities associated with T-cell lymphoma develop spontaneously during a person’s life and are not present at birth.

  1. T-cell lymphoma is not hereditary

    T-cell lymphoma is not hereditary, meaning it is not passed down from

    parents to children. Patients with T-cell lymphoma did not inherit it

    from their parents, and similarly, they do not pass it on to their children.

    Notably, although the words hereditary and genetic

    are often used interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing.

    As mentioned before, hereditary means the passing of traits from parents

    to offspring. Genetics is a broader term that includes all gene

    variations and mutations, including those that are inherited from

    parents or spontaneously develop during one’s life. Therefore,

    all hereditary diseases are genetic, but not all genetic diseases are hereditary.

    In this case, T-cell lymphoma, is a genetic condition,

    since the cancer is caused by structural changes,

    mutations, and rearrangements of genes–specific segments of DNA.

    These gene abnormalities associated with T-cell lymphoma

    develop spontaneously during a person’s life and are not present at birth.

  1. T-cell lymphoma is not hereditary

    T-cell lymphoma is not hereditary, meaning it is not passed down from

    parents to children. Patients with T-cell lymphoma did not inherit it

    from their parents, and similarly, they do not pass it on to their children.

    Notably, although the words hereditary and genetic

    are often used interchangeably, they do not mean the same thing.

    As mentioned before, hereditary means the passing of traits from parents

    to offspring. Genetics is a broader term that includes all gene

    variations and mutations, including those that are inherited from

    parents or spontaneously develop during one’s life. Therefore,

    all hereditary diseases are genetic, but not all genetic diseases are hereditary.

    In this case, T-cell lymphoma, is a genetic condition,

    since the cancer is caused by structural changes,

    mutations, and rearrangements of genes–specific segments of DNA.

    These gene abnormalities associated with T-cell lymphoma

    develop spontaneously during a person’s life and are not present at birth.

  1. T-cell lymphoma is heterogeneous


T-cell lymphoma is a heterogeneous disease meaning that it is a diverse condition with close to 30 different subtypes. Each subtype is defined by the specific type of T cell the cancer arises from. Since T cells travel through the bloodstream and are present in many parts of the body, T-cell lymphoma can develop in a range of tissues and organs such as the skin, digestive tract, nasal passages, throat, lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, and liver.

“T-cell lymphomas are diverse,” says Dr. Jain. “Knowing the precise subtype is critical as the treatments are distinct and so are the outcomes to different treatments. Therefore, it is crucial to see a lymphoma specialist when dealing with this disease to get personalized treatment.”

 

 

  1. T-cell lymphoma is heterogeneous


T-cell lymphoma is a heterogeneous disease meaning that it is a diverse

condition with close to 30 different subtypes. Each subtype is defined

by the specific type of T cell the cancer arises from. Since T cells travel

through the bloodstream and are present in many parts of the body,

T-cell lymphoma can develop in a range of tissues and organs

such as the skin, digestive tract, nasal passages, throat, lymph nodes,

bone marrow, spleen, and liver.

“T-cell lymphomas are diverse,” says Dr. Jain. “Knowing the precise subtype is critical as the treatments are distinct and so are the outcomes to different treatments.

Therefore, it is crucial to see a lymphoma specialist when dealing with this disease to get personalized treatment.”

 

 

  1. T-cell lymphoma is heterogeneous


T-cell lymphoma is a heterogeneous disease meaning that it is a diverse

condition with close to 30 different subtypes. Each subtype is defined

by the specific type of T cell the cancer arises from. Since T cells travel

through the bloodstream and are present in many parts of the body,

T-cell lymphoma can develop in a range of tissues and organs

such as the skin, digestive tract, nasal passages, throat, lymph nodes,

bone marrow, spleen, and liver.

“T-cell lymphomas are diverse,” says Dr. Jain. “Knowing the precise subtype is critical as the treatments are distinct and so are the outcomes to different treatments.

Therefore, it is crucial to see a lymphoma specialist when dealing with this disease to get personalized treatment.”

 

 

  1. T-cell lymphoma is rare


T-cell lymphomas make up only about 10% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas, while the remaining 90% are lymphomas of the B-cell–another type of white blood cell.

“Because T-cell lymphomas are so rare, it’s critical to see a specialist if diagnosed,” says Dr. Jain. “Early access to expert care can significantly improve outcomes.”

 

 

 

See a lymphoma specialist

Dr. Jain and her team at Massachusetts General Hospital and PETAL Consortium are
 highly specialized in improving the lives of patients with T-cell lymphoma by researching
 better ways to diagnose, treat, and predict outcomes.

Call (617) 724-4000 for an appointment!

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