Mantle cell lymphoma is a type of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. It is a cancer that forms in the cells of the lymph system. Mantle cell lymphoma is considered to be a low-grade and slow growing lymphoma.

The standard of care treatment is usually the chemotherapy combination called MCP, mitoxantrone, chlorambucil, and prednisolone.

The Journal of Clinical Oncology says that the addition of Rituxan (rituximab) to the chemo combination of MCP as initial therapy can improve long term survival rates.

Since Rituxan has proved to have anti-cancer responses in other forms of NHL, researchers continue to evaluate how it can work in the treatment of various types of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

I love a good cancer comeback story -- like the story of Phil Kessel and his courageous return to the NHL.

Kessel, 19-year-old Bruins forward and fifth overall draft pick for 2006, was diagnosed with testicular cancer last month. He underwent surgery and has been recovering off the ice until just recently -- when he was recalled to Boston from its farm team in Providence.

It's back to life and back to work for Kessel -- who is winning his match against cancer.

Kessel, a Wisconsin native, was the second Boston athlete this year diagnosed with cancer. Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester was diagnosed in August with lymphoma.

A clinical trial in now enrolling patients to evaluate the effectiveness of Rituxan (rituximab) plus the addition of Leukine (sargramostim) for patients with follicular B-cell lymphoma that has recurred. This type of lymphoma is categorized as a low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) that comprises 30 percent of all cases.

Rituxan is commonly used in the treatment of various forms of NHL. Researchers are continuing to evaluate ways to improve the anti-cancer responses to Rituxan. One such drug called Leukine is a growth factor which can stimulate the immune system to help fight disease. Leukine is also thought to have properties that improve Rituxan's cancer-killing effects based on previous clinical trials.

One group of patients in the study will be treated with Leukine plus Rituxan, and the other group will be treated with Rituxan alone. Patients will be assessed according to how their cancer responds to treatment.

For more information on enrollment for this clinical trial, go to

www.eCancerTrials.com

A type of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) called mantle cell lymphoma accounts for about five to ten percent of all lymphomas. According to an article recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Velcade (bortezobib) is an effective treatment option for patients with mantle cell lymphoma that has stopped responding to prior treatments.

Velcade is an agent known as a proteasome inhibitor. Proteasome inhibitors are drugs that block the action of proteasomes, proteins found in virtually all cells that regulate several aspects of cellular activity. By blocking the activity of proteasomes it can lead to the death of cancer cells. Bortezobib is the first therapeutic proteasome inhibitor to be approved for use in the United States.

Researchers conducted a clinical trial to evaluate Velcade in the treatment of fifteen patients with mantle cell lymphoma that has recurred or progressed following prior therapies. Anticancer responses occurred in 33 percent of patients and after over 13 months follow up, over half the patients were still surviving.

Follicular lymphoma is considered to be a low grade lymphoma. It is a kind of non-Hodgkins lymphoma that is considered slow growing. At this time advanced follicular NHL cannot be cured by standard treatment.

The Journal of Clinical Oncology published results that showed treatment with the chemotherapy regimen CHOP ( cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) followed by Bexxar, a radio immunotherapeutic agent, that can provided long-term anticancer responses in patients with advanced follicular lymphoma.

According to the article - Radio immunotherapy involves treatment with a radioactive substance linked to an antibody. The antibody attaches to cancer cells when injected into the body. By delivering the radiation directly to the cancer, more normal tissue is spared from radiation, and there are fewer side effects.

Researchers conducted a clinical trial to evaluate 90 patients with advanced follicular NHL. Patients were treated with CHOP followed by Bexxar.

The study showed that overall anticancer response was 90 percent when receiving Bexxar after CHOP regime. At five years the overall survival was 87 percent and at five years, the progression-free survival rate was 68 percent.

A Phase III trial is now underway and is going to compare CHOP plus Bexxar to CHOP plus Rituxan.

To honor Wayne Gretzky's mother, Phyllis, who died of cancer, and all hockey moms, NHL hockey players will be using pink hockey sticks during games to raise money for breast cancer awareness. TPS Hockey, hockey equipment manufacturer, will supply more than 400 pink sticks for the weekend games. Brad Janson, TPS director of pro hockey, said the deaths of Phyllis Gretzky to lung cancer, and TPS new owner Paul Walker's sister to breast cancer, motivated the charitable effort. 

Each player, and goalie, will have his name inscribed on the stick, which will later be autographed and auctioned to raise money for breast cancer research. A few of the players who will be using pink sticks, are former London Knights stars Rick Nash, Dan Fritsche of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tie Domi, Mats Sundin, Steve Yzerman, Sidney Crosby and Ed Belfour.