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Burkitt and Burkitt-Like Lymphomas: a Systematic Review

  • Lymphomas (MR Smith, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Oncology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Burkitt’s lymphoma and its leukemic form (Burkitt cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia) are a highly aggressive disease. We review the classification, clinical presentation, histology, cytogenetics, and the treatment of the disease.

Recent Findings

Burkitt’s lymphoma might be associated with tumor lysis syndrome which is a potentially fatal complication that occurs spontaneously or upon initiation of chemotherapy. Major improvements were made in the treatment of pediatric and adults population using short-course dose-intensive chemotherapy regimens, usually 1 week after a prephase induction. Addition of Rituximab to chemotherapy has become a standard of care. Relapsed/refractory disease has a very poor prognosis and the benefit from autologous/allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant remains uncertain.

Summary

Rituximab-based short-course dose-intensive chemotherapy is the standard of care of Burkitt’s lymphoma even in the immunodeficiency-related form.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département d’Hématologie, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, 114 Rue Edouard Vaillant, 94810, Villejuif, France

    Khalil Saleh & Vincent Ribrag

  2. DITEP, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France

    Jean-Marie Michot & Vincent Ribrag

  3. Plateforme AMMICA, Recherche Translationnelle Hématologie, INSERM US23/CNRS UMS3655, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris Sud, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France

    Valérie Camara-Clayette

  4. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 9018, Université Paris Sud, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France

    Yegor Vassetsky

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  1. Khalil Saleh
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  2. Jean-Marie Michot
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  3. Valérie Camara-Clayette
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  4. Yegor Vassetsky
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  5. Vincent Ribrag
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Correspondence to Vincent Ribrag.

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Conflict of Interest

Khalil Saleh declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Jean-Marie Michot has served as an investigator of clinical studies funded by Celgene and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Valérie Camara-Clayette declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Yegor Vassetsky declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Vincent Ribrag has received research funding from argenx, has received compensation from Gilead, Infinity, MSD, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Epizyme, NanoString, Incyte, Roche, and AstraZeneca for participation on advisory boards, and has received compensation from Servier for service as a consultant.

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Saleh, K., Michot, JM., Camara-Clayette, V. et al. Burkitt and Burkitt-Like Lymphomas: a Systematic Review. Curr Oncol Rep 22, 33 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-020-0898-8

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