New tools against lymphoma
Similar to all cancers, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells undergo a series of changes, which result in severe and marked alterations in the ways the cell cycle is regulated and managed. Identifying the genetic loci involved in these alterations and hence the deregulation of the cell cycle could be important steps towards discovering new therapies. A University of Barcelona research team, working alongside other project partners, shed light on a number of cell cycle regulators involved in the onset of MCL. Studies showed that mutations in specific genetic loci were involved in highly proliferative MCL. In particular overexpression of BMI-1 and CDK-4 in MCL serve to inactivate specific genes involved in cell cycle regulation, thus paving the way for uncontrolled cell replication. This newly acquired knowledge can assist initially in the development of novel diagnostic tests and can also aid patient prognosis in the long-term. Genetic information from MCL patients can thus be used to better guide therapeutic regimens within clinical trial settings. Given the potential of these new observations, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies could be particularly interested in furthering this research.