NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS IN CHILDHOOD - REA LITIES AND PROSPECTS IN 1994

Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas include an eterogenous group of disorders char acterized by a malignant proliferation of lymphoid tissues. Althoug mo re frequent ill the adults, non-Hogkin's lymphomas represent the third most frequent malignancy in chilren, in whom they show some very pecu liar clinical and biological features. During the last few years the p rogress of biology and molecular genetics, along with an improvement o f the diagnostic and therapeutic tools, enabled os to identify new Sub groups of non-Hodgink's Hodgink's lymphomas and to double the survival rate of patients, which is now close to 70%. Nevertheless, some quest ions remain open: the differences between leukemia and lymphoma are no t always clear and the role of bone marrow transplantation has not bee n completely defined yet. Furthermore, many attempts are being made to iind the best therapy for anaplastic large-cell lymphomas and to prev ent long-term side-effects of treatment. Many studies, which may shed some light oil those issues, are being conducted worldwide.