Treating primary lymphoma of the brain in AIDS patients via multifunctional oral nanoparticulate systems

Primary lymphoma of the brain is also known as primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), in which cancer cells are formed in the lymph system. Elderly patients and patients with AIDS or other immune system disorders are at high risk of suffering from this type of cancer. Both non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma may occur in AIDS patients; however, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is common and termed AIDS-related PCNSL. Usually, AIDS-related PCNSL is considered a last-stage manifestation of HIV and is correlated with CD4+ counts of less than 50 cells/mm3; the median survival of patients hardly exceeds more than 3 months. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in AIDS patients is thought to lessen the damage to the immune system and is proven to be highly efficacious, resulting in a rapid decline in newer diagnosis or AIDS-related death. Therefore, HAART has contributed to a decline in AIDS-related non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.