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Haematologic_Malignancies

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Haematologic Malignancies

Why we focus on Haematologic Malignancies

Leukaemia and lymphoma represent the most common cancers that occur in younger patients, with lymphoma their most common cause of cancer death, and, therefore, these malignancies have a major impact in society. Even in adults, collectively they are the 4th most common form of cancer. Although there has been significant progress, such that some are now curable, the outcome can be dismal for those patients who fail to respond to standard therapy.  Work remains to be done to understand the molecular basis for lymphoma, leukaemia and myeloma, to identify targets for novel targeted therapies and to identify biomarkers of prognosis and response to treatment.

What we do

  • We have groups of investigators working on acute and chronic leukaemias, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
  • We are investigating the genetic mutations involved in development of leukaemias and lymphomas and their progression and transformation to more aggressive types.
  • We are focusing on the identification of the cancer-initiating or stem cell that gives rise to these cancers.
  • We are investigating the mechanism of action of novel agents to identify and optimise new treatment approaches, including immunotherapy and novel targeted treatment approaches in clinical trials.
  • We are investigating the role of the cancer cell in the development of unique microenvironments that support tumour growth.
  • We are investigating the role of stem cell transplantation to improve outcome in patients with high risk disease.
  • We have access to a large biobank of patients’ leukaemia and lymphoma cells and biopsies that is linked to the clinical outcome of these patients.

Key Publications

  • Wrench et al. SNP rs6457327 in the HLA region on chromosome 6p is predictive of the transformation of FL. Blood 2011; 117: 3147-50.
  • Taussig et al. Leukemia-initiating cells from some AML patients with mutated nucleophosmin reside in the CD34(-) fraction. Blood 2010; 115: 1976-84.
  • Le Dieu et al. Peripheral blood T cells in AML patients at diagnosis have abnormal phenotype and genotype and form defective immune synapses with AML blasts. Blood 2009; 114: 3909-16.
  • Gorgun et al. E(mu)-TCL1 mice represent a model for immunotherapeutic reversal of CLL-induced T-cell dysfunction. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2009; 106: 6250-5.
  • Carlotti et al. Transformation of FL to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma may occur by divergent evolution from a common progenitor cell or by direct evolution from the FL clone. Blood 2009; 113: 3553-57.

Who does the research

→ Click here for BCI senior researchers working on haematologic malignancies.

Major Funders

  • Cancer Research UK
  • Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Fund
  • Kay Kendall Leukaemia Fund
  • MRC
  • US NIH