Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, illustration 插畫檔

Illustration of a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell (centre) surrounded by healthy red and white blood cells. This is a common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or cancer of the lymphatic system. DLBCL affects B lymphocytes, a white blood cell that produces antibodies to fight against infection. DLBCL normally develops in the lymph nodes causing uncontrollable growth of the B lymphocytes. It is typically fast-growing, and requires combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are proteins secreted by a cloned line of cells which have been engineered to respond to a particular antigen (foreign substance), in this case cancer cells. They can be effective as the body's own immune system will not always recognise cancer cells as foreign