Burkitt lymphoma

Burkitt lymphoma is an aggressive (fast-growing) type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that starts in B cells. It can develop in lymph nodes, but also in organs or tissues other than the lymph nodes (called extranodal sites). It may spread to the brain or spinal cord (called the central nervous system, or CNS).

Burkitt lymphoma can happen in adults, but it is more common in children and young adults. Find out more about non-Hodgkin lymphoma in children, including Burkitt lymphoma.

Burkitt lymphoma is classified into 3 subtypes.

Endemic Burkitt lymphoma is linked with Epstein-Barr virus infection and mainly develops in children. It is mostly found in Africa and is rare on other continents.

Sporadic Burkitt lymphoma can develop in both adults and children. It usually starts in the abdomen. It is the subtype of Burkitt lymphoma most commonly seen in Canada.

Immunodeficiency-associated Burkitt lymphoma mostly develops in people with weakened immune systems. This includes people with HIV infection or people who take immunosuppressive drugs after an organ transplant.

The following are treatment options for Burkitt lymphoma. Your healthcare team will suggest treatments based on your needs and work with you to develop a treatment plan.

Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. It is the main treatment for Burkitt lymphoma. A combination of chemotherapy drugs is given, which may include the targeted therapy drug rituximab (Rituxan and biosimilars).

Chemotherapy combinations that may be used to treat Burkitt lymphoma include:

• R-CODOX-M/R-IVAC – rituximab, cyclophosphamide (Procytox), cytarabine (Cytosar), vincristine, doxorubicin, leucovorin and high-dose methotrexate alternated with rituximab, ifosfamide (Ifex), etoposide (Vepesid) and high-dose cytarabine
• DA-EPOCH-R – dose adjusted etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and rituximab
• hyper-CVAD – hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone alternated with high-dose methotrexate and cytarabine

Chemotherapy may be used to try to prevent lymphoma cells from spreading to the brain and spinal cord (called the central nervous system, or CNS). This is called CNS prophylaxis. It may be given as intrathecal chemotherapy. This means that the chemotherapy drugs are injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The most common drug used for intrathecal chemotherapy is methotrexate.

Find out more about chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Targeted therapy uses drugs to target specific molecules (such as proteins) on cancer cells or inside them. These molecules help send signals that tell cells to grow or divide. By targeting these molecules, the drugs stop the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting harm to normal cells. Targeted therapy may also be called molecular targeted therapy.

Rituximab is the most common targeted therapy used to treat Burkitt lymphoma. It is often added to chemotherapy treatments.

Find out more about targeted therapy for NHL.

A stem cell transplant replaces stem cells. You may be offered an autologous stem cell transplant for Burkitt lymphoma that comes back after treatment or stops responding to treatment.

Find out more about stem cell transplant for NHL.

Talk to your doctor about clinical trials open to people with NHL in Canada. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, find and treat cancer. Find out more about clinical trials.