Chemotherapeutic palliative approaches in the treatment of lymphoma

A number of diverse therapies can be used to treat relapsed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with the most common treatment modality being conventional salvage chemotherapy using agents different from those used initially. Alternative therapies that may be palliative in certain clinical situations include localized radiation therapy, novel chemotherapeutic agents (like chlorodeoxyadenosine, fludarabine, or idarubicin), or conjugated monoclonal antibody therapy. The use of high-dose chemotherapy and bone marrow or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can be a successful treatment option for patients with relapsed lymphoma; however, this should be considered as a therapy of curative intent and not only for palliative therapy.