Protein Mutations Identified in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

The most recent issue of the NCI Cancer Bulletin, put out by the National Cancer Institute suggests insight into the development of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL), the most common type of lymphoma among adults.

Entitled, "Mutant Protein Implicated in Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma", the article points to two very recent studies from Columbia University and the University of Tokyo. Each study looked at DLBCL tumors and lesions and how a mutation in a necessary cell protein, A20, permitted it to be de-activited on the NF-κB pathway, allowing cancer cells to continue to grow.

The NF-κB (nuclear factor-kappa B) signaling pathway is "a cell-signaling pathway that plays an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival."

Earlier studies, dating back to 2006, found that mutations in another gene, this one called CARD11, contribute to the survival of cancer cells. These most recent studies suggest it's not the only gene mutation to blame for the survival of those cancer cells.

The end result is that drugs are now being developed that target the NF-κB pathway. Let's hope they're developed much sooner rather than later.

One study, published in the May 3, 2009 issue of Nature and conducted by the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University, can be found HERE.

The other study, published in the same issue of Nature and conducted by the University of Tokyo, can be found HERE.