What is the Difference Between B Cell and T Cell Lymphoma?

B cell and T cell lymphomas are both types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but they arise from different types of lymphocytes and have distinct functions in the immune system. The main differences between B cell and T cell lymphomas include:

1. Origin and Function: B cells produce antibodies to fight bacteria and viruses, while T cells directly destroy bacteria or cells infected with viruses.
2. Mutation and Cancer Risk: B cells are more likely than T cells to mutate into a liquid cancer such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or B cell lymphoma.
3. Prognosis: T cell lymphomas generally have a poorer prognosis than B cell lymphomas. In one study, the complete remission rate was 100% for B cell lymphomas and 52.3% for T cell lymphomas. The median survival time for patients with Stage III and IV T cell lymphomas was nine months, while it was 17 months for B cell lymphomas.
4. Subtypes: There are many types of B cell lymphomas, and they can be slow-growing or aggressive. T cell lymphomas include T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia and peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), which are aggressive lymphomas that frequently affect the lymph nodes.

Both B cell and T cell lymphomas are critical to the body's defense against disease and infection, but they employ different natural defenses in helping the body fight cancer. Researchers are currently exploring ways to use T cells and B cells in immunotherapy treatments, such as CAR T-cell therapy and checkpoint inhibitors.

Comparative Table: B Cell vs T Cell Lymphoma

B-cell and T-cell lymphomas are both types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that arise from different types of lymphocytes, B lymphocytes (B-cell) and T lymphocytes (T-cell). Here is a table outlining the differences between B-cell and T-cell lymphomas:

While both B-cell and T-cell lymphomas are types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, they have distinct differences in their origins, types, roles in the immune system, and treatments.