Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Treatment

Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LLy or LBL) is a type of cancer called non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which affects white blood cells called lymphocytes. These cells are important for fighting infections and are made from cells in the bone marrow called lymphoblasts. 

Changes in these cells may affect their function, and they can become cancerous. These cancerous cells can spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes and the thymus gland, which lies in the upper part of the chest.

There are 2 types of lymphoblastic lymphoma:

• T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL) develops in the mediastinum, the space between the lungs. If it spreads to the blood and bone marrow, it becomes T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL).
• B-lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LL) starts in B cells and grows more slowly, often in the skin, bones, or lymph nodes. If it spreads to the blood and 25% or more of the bone marrow, it becomes B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

Learn more about lymphoblastic lymphoma on the Together by St. Jude™ online resource.

Treatment of lymphoblastic lymphoma

The treatment plan for lymphoblastic lymphoma depends on: 

• The type of lymphoma and any gene (DNA) changes
• How well it responds to treatment
• Available treatments 
• Age and health of patient
• The patient’s risk of relapse

Treatment may include:

• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy
• Stem cell (bone marrow) transplant (may be used for relapsed disease)
• Radiation therapy (used mainly for relapsed disease)

Your child’s oncologist will discuss treatment options with you.  

Lymphoblastic lymphoma clinical trials

St. Jude offers clinical trials and cancer research studies for children, teens, and young adults for lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Learn more about clinical research at St. Jude.

Lymphoblastic lymphoma care at St. Jude

St. Jude provides the highest quality of care for patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma.

• At St. Jude, we have created an environment where children can be children and families can be together.  
• We are consistently ranked among the best childhood cancer centers in the nation by US News & World Report.
• St. Jude offers a dedicated team of specialists to meet the needs of children with cancer, including:
  • Doctors and nurses who treat this cancer 
  • Pathologists (doctors who specialize in making a diagnosis by looking at tumor tissue under the microscope)
  • Experts in diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine
  • Genetic counselors
  • Clinical dietitians 
  • Child life specialists
  • Psychologists
  • Researchers and scientists
• We lead more clinical trials for childhood cancer than any other hospital in the U.S.
• St. Jude is the only National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Center just for children. A Comprehensive Cancer Center meets rigorous standards for research to develop new and better approaches to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer. 
• The nurse-to-patient ratio at St. Jude is about 1:3 in hematology and oncology and 1:1 in the Intensive Care Unit. 
• Patients may be able to get expert, compassionate care and treatment closer to their homes through the St. Jude Affiliate Program. 

Learn More