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Updated: Feb 23, 2026
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A Revised Method for Inducing Secondary Lymphedema in the Hindlimb of Mice
Published on: November 2, 2019
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Lymphedema: Pathogenesis and Novel Therapies
Joseph H Dayan1,2, Catherine L Ly1, Raghu P Kataru1
1Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065; email: dayanj@mskcc.org , lyc@mskcc.org , katarur@mskcc.org , mehrarab@mskcc.org.
Annual Review of Medicine
|September 7, 2017
Summary
Lymphedema, a common side effect of cancer treatment, is an immune-related condition. Emerging therapies offer new hope for managing this challenging disease beyond traditional compression methods.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Lymphedema affects up to 1 in 6 patients undergoing solid tumor treatment in the US.
- Increased cancer survival rates have led to a rise in lymphedema prevalence.
- Currently, no definitive cure exists for lymphedema.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent findings on lymphedema pathogenesis.
- To provide an overview of novel emerging therapies for lymphedema.
- To discuss the potential of these therapies to alter the standard of care.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent scientific literature on lymphedema.
- Analysis of the immunologic basis of lymphedema.
- Evaluation of new medical and surgical treatment modalities.
Main Results:
- Lymphedema is fundamentally an immunologic process.
- Pathogenesis involves inflammation, fibroadipose deposition, impaired lymphangiogenesis, and lymphatic dysfunction.
- Novel therapies are emerging based on these immunologic insights.
Conclusions:
- Emerging therapies show potential to significantly improve lymphedema management.
- These new treatments may offer alternatives to conventional compression therapy.
- Further research and clinical application of these therapies are warranted.
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