What happens when B cells become "rogue" or cancerous?
B cells are white blood cells that normally help your immune system fight infections by making antibodies. When genetic mutations occur in B cells, they can become cancerous and start growing and dividing uncontrollably instead of dying off naturally after fighting Show Full Answer
What happens when B cells become "rogue" or cancerous?
B cells are white blood cells that normally help your immune system fight infections by making antibodies. When genetic mutations occur in B cells, they can become cancerous and start growing and dividing uncontrollably instead of dying off naturally after fighting infection.
These rogue B cells are the foundation of B-cell lymphomas, which make up about 85% of all lymphomas in the U.S. The cancerous cells outnumber healthy B cells and can build up in your lymph nodes, bone marrow, and other organs.
Different types of B-cell lymphomas develop depending on:
- Where the B cells become cancerous (lymph nodes, spleen, bone marrow, or other tissues)
- How quickly they grow (aggressive vs. indolent/slow-growing)
- What specific genetic changes occur in the cells
Common examples include diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (the most common type), mantle cell lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.
While we don't fully understand why B cells turn rogue, factors like viral infections (such as Epstein-Barr virus), chronic inflammation, and immune system problems can contribute to these genetic changes.
April 2
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