11 Jan 2019 Research
Lymphoma: Understanding relapse and treatment resistance
What is this research looking at?
Our immune system is remarkable. It is made up of many different types of immune cells that work together to protect the body from infection by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites.
We are investigating what happens when a certain type of cell in the immune system, known as B cells, starts growing out of control and develops into blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.
We want to know what happens when B cells mature normally from precursor cells in the bone marrow and discover what has gone wrong when they turn into cancer cells instead.
Considerable success has been achieved in the treatment of lymphoma. However, a significant unmet need remains: roughly 40% of patients either do not respond to treatment or the condition recurs after treatment. Currently, our ability to predict which patients will fail treatment is poor.
By taking a detailed look at B cells as they develop and specialise, we can spot small groups of dangerous cells that are particularly likely to turn into cancer and identify the genetic faults that drive B cells to grow out of control.
We are using our knowledge to create new models for the development of B cells and blood cancers in the lab, so we can find new ways to treat or even prevent these deadly diseases.
Our research uses a model of lymphoma to test the response to treatments and development of resistance. A main advantage of the model is that we can interrogate these questions on a well-defined scenario and can perform iterative tests and predictions. Further, the model generated in this project will allow initial testing of novel treatments.
What could this mean for people with leukaemia?
This research could inform the medical decision of when to use combination and novel therapies for patients with a higher probability of developing resistance to standard treatment, alongside bringing safer treatments to patients.
Official project title: Development of a model system to study diffuse large B cell lymphoma clonal evolution
Related posts
25 August 2022
Leukaemia Care and Leukaemia UK join forces with funky feathered friend to make disease symptoms more memorable
The two leading UK leukaemia charities have launched a collaboration today with a difference. They’ve joined forces with a blue and gold Macaw parrot called Henry to create an original…
15 February 2024
Parents join Leukaemia UK in calling for more donations to fund research to stop blood cancer ‘destroying childhoods’
Parents of children whose lives have been devastated by leukaemia have joined Leukaemia UK on International Childhood Cancer Day (February 15th) in calling for more research into the blood cancer. …
20 October 2023
Emerging leaders accolade for former Leukaemia UK John Goldman Fellows
Former Leukaemia UK John Goldman Fellows, Dr Matthew Blunt, University of Southampton and Dr Konstantinos Tzelepis, University of Cambridge have been recognised as ‘Emerging Leaders in Leukaemia’ by the major…
12 June 2021
First Medical Research Council and Leukaemia UK Clinical Research Training Fellow shares project highlights
Dr Sandeep Potluri’s findings will contribute towards a better understanding, cure and treatments of leukaemia and blood cancers