Effective use of small-interfering RNA to characterize residual B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma cells following chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Children diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) respond well to therapy resulting in relatively good prognosis. The exceptions are those who continue to have minimal residual disease (MRD). MRD NHL cells have been characterized as having increased mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy numbers with increased expression of citrate synthase and isocitrate dehydrogenase.