| IntroductionLymphomas are immune system malignant neoplasm of cells native to lymphoid tissue. Along with the widely use of immunosuppressant for AIDS, organ transplant, and chemotherapy for tumors, the occurrences of lymphomas have drastically increased in the recent years. Among all the research efforts in lymphomas, what have evoked great public interests are the unique histopathological characteristics of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Although both arise in the lymphoid tissue, Hodgkin's lymphoma is set apart from non Hodgkin's lymphomas by the following four distinctive areas in the lesions:1. HL cells are made of a small number, less than < 1%, of H/RS cells, in a background with great majority of lymphocytes or background cells.2. As the tumor progresses, the numbers of H/RS cells increase, while the background cells decrease.3. H/RS cells not only co-exist with background cells in the primary location, but also appears in the destination where tumor metastases.4. Prognosis of the tumor is negative correlated to the quantity of H/RS cells existing in the tumor and positive correlated to the background cells.Apparently, this small amount of H/RS cells has directly impact on the degree of malignancy and prognosis. It is not very clear how this small quantity of H/RS cells can "survive" in the mass of background cells. They have lost their immunoglobulin presenting ability, but are capable of escaping apoptosis and continue growing. How... |
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