BEAT B-cell Lymphoma: Biomarkers of Effective CART19 Assessed in the Tissue Microenvironment

Descripción del proyecto

Biomarcadores predictivos de la respuesta a la inmunoterapia en los linfomas de linfocitos B

Los linfomas de linfocitos B son neoplasias hemáticas que se originan en los linfocitos B. Recientemente se ha desarrollado una terapia con linfocitos T genomodificados con receptor quimérico para el antígeno (CAR, por sus siglas en inglés) que actúan sobre el antígeno CD19 de los linfocitos B. Esta redirige el sistema inmunitario para atacar a las células cancerosas. El proyecto BEAT B-cell Lymphoma, financiado por las acciones Marie Skłodowska-Curie, se centra en la interacción entre los linfocitos T CAR y las células cancerosas del microentorno tumoral. Su objetivo principal es descubrir nuevos biomarcadores para obtener información en tiempo real sobre la respuesta a la terapia con linfocitos T CAR. Esos biomarcadores ayudarán a predecir los resultados y a refinar la selección de pacientes para los ensayos clínicos, lo cual mejorará a la larga la eficacia de la terapia con linfocitos T CAR y sus efectos en los tejidos de los pacientes.

Objetivo

"Project Title: BEAT B-cell Lymphoma: Biomarkers of Effective CART19 Assessed in Tissue microenvironment

B-cell lymphomas, encompassing Follicular Lymphoma (FL) and Large B-cell Lymphoma (LBCL), pose significant health concerns. While the use of T-cells modified with a chimeric antigen receptor targeting CD19 (CART19) offers a potential breakthrough in treating these malignancies, it is imperative to unravel the intricate dynamics between the CART19 and the tumor B-cells within their unique tissue microenvironment (TME).

The ""BEAT B-cell Lymphoma"" initiative is poised to transform lymphoma therapeutic strategies. More than just advancing the status quo, this project is geared towards unveiling novel biomarkers that facilitate immediate feedback on therapeutic outcomes. These newfound markers will empower clinicians and patients with predictive tools for CART19 interventions and serve as cornerstones for redefining inclusion criteria in subsequent clinical trials. But the ambition of this endeavor goes beyond mere biomarker discovery. It promises in-depth revelations on how CART19 impacts actual patient-derived tissues, deepening our knowledge and inspiring fresh treatment avenues. The short term concrete vision? Fine-tuning CART19's performance and honing the initial patient selection process.

As a medical doctor with a specialization in hematopathology, I've offered numerous diagnoses of B-cell lymphomas, grounded in histological and molecular markers predominantly sourced from tumor B-cells. My foundational training as an immunologist has sharpened my curiosity, drawing my attention to the often underemphasized tissue microenvironment. My affinity for bioinformatics further equips me to navigate and interpret vast datasets efficiently. To ensure the success of this project and to further my journey towards becoming an independent researcher, I partnered with the renowned Alizadeh Lab at Stanford, USA and will later join the de Miranda lab in the Netherlands."