GoingToMeet

This workshop on Biomarkers and prognosis in malignant lymphomas is based on developments in exploring the role of a variety of biological markers related to different types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (follicular-, diffuse large B-cell, mantle cell- and Burkitt's lymphoma) as well as Hodgkin's lyphoma.
The final goal of this clinical research is to develop new biological prognostic indices for these major subtypes of lymphoma. In recent years, various prognostic indices, mainly based on clinical characteristics of the patient at diagnosis, have served to determine the prognostic profile and to develop prognostic factor-based treatment strategies.

However, it is now time to reconsider this based on the wealth of new biological information directly related to the lymphoma cells and the surrounding cells. In this workshop, exerts in the field will review the latest developments on molecular pathogenesis, new biomarkers and their relation to prognosis.

Sessions will deal with:

Current classification of NHL
Current IPI and FLIPI: advantages/limitations
New insights in the biology of both follicular and diffuse large B-cell NHL (genetics, molecular biology, immunology)
How new biological prognostic indices are (being) constructed
Relation between the new prognostic indices and type of treatment (Rituximab, radio-immunotherapy, etc.)
Additional topics to be discussed with the participating faculty