Lymphoma is a disease of the lymphatic system, causing an overproduction of dysfunctional cells, which eventually outnumber their healthy counterparts. There are many forms of lymphoma, according to the type of cells involved and the affected regions of the body. There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin's Lymphoma, also referred to as Hodgkin's Disease, and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. These major forms of lymphoma can be further divided into various subtypes. Mantle cell lymphoma is a type of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma that affects the body's B lymphocytes. Mantle cell lymphoma usually occurs in the lymph nodes or tonsils, but the disease can progress and affect different other lymphatic tissues and organs (spleen, thymus). Mantle cell lymphoma is characterized by an overproduction of replica B lymphocytes at the level of the lymphatic system. Although these cells may resemble normal cells, they can't fulfill their actual role inside the body.

Mantle cell lymphoma is a very rare form of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, accounting for less than 6 percent of cases of lymphatic disease in the United States. Mantle cell lymphoma predominantly affects men, although it can also occur in women. The disease is rarely seen in children and young adults, and has the highest incidence in people with ages over 50.

Mantle cell lymphoma has an unpredictable evolution, and it can alternate between periods of remission and periods of relapse. For most patients with this form of lymphoma, the progression of the disease is slow and the generated symptoms are experienced at mild or moderate intensity. By contrast, some patients can experience a rapid evolution of the disease, which can lead to serious complications. Although mantle cell lymphoma originates at the level of the lymph nodes (mantle zone), the disease can spread to many different regions of the body. In time, mantle cell lymphoma can affect the brain, the spinal cord, the liver and the organs of the lymphatic system (tonsils, spleen, thymus).

The main causes of mantle cell lymphoma are genetic dysfunctions. The disease occurs due to translocation of chromosomes 11 and 14. Parts of the genetic material that belongs to chromosome 11 are transferred to chromosome 14, or parts of the genetic material of chromosome 14 are transferred to chromosome 11. This switch determines the overproduction of a protein called cyclin D1, which further causes multiplication of dysfunctional B lymphocytes at an abnormally fast rate.

In many cases, medical treatments and therapies available today can overcome mantle cell lymphoma if the disease is discovered in time. At early stages of development, medical treatments can control the progression of the disease, preventing the occurrence of complications.

Most patients diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma don't respond well to traditional chemotherapy, experiencing a relapse soon after this form of therapy. Combination treatments with rituxan and CHOP-R seem to be the most effective means of overcoming mantle cell lymphoma in present. If they are prescribed in the early stages of the disease, combination treatments can delay the periods of relapse and in some cases, they can even overcome mantle cell lymphoma completely.