Burkitt Lymphoma and Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma in Children

Every year, around 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer, with leukemia, brain tumors and lymphomas being the most common. Lymphomas in children are divided into Hodgkin's lymphomas and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, including Burkitt's lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Burkitt's lymphoma is most common in sub-Saharan Africa and in industrialized countries, while diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is more common in adolescents, with the incidence increasing with age. The diagnosis of Burkitt's lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is based on a lymph node biopsy and histologic analysis, which shows medium-sized cells with a “starry sky” and a high mitotic index. Staging is based on the International Pediatric Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Staging System, and risk stratification takes into account disease stage, tumor resectability, lactate dehydrogenase level and TP53 mutations. Most cases of Burkitt's lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are successfully treated with standard chemotherapy, with low-risk patients achieving a survival rate of up to 97%. Patients in higher stages or with elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels benefit from chemotherapy plus rituximab, resulting in an event-free 1-year survival rate of over 90%. However, relapses have a poorer prognosis and despite aggressive treatments such as CAR-T cell therapy and stem cell transplantation, cure rates remain low (27–36%). Advances in molecular diagnostics and targeted therapies offer the opportunity to personalize treatment and reduce toxicity while achieving high cure rates. Future protocols will be more precise, effective and patient-centered, which will improve the survival rate and quality of life of patients with Burkitt's lymphoma. In addition to these advances, it is also important to raise awareness of the disease among the general public and promote interdisciplinary approaches in research and clinical work.