Key New Findings for B-Cell Lymphoma Treatment

A new interaction between two proteins that are typically involved in regulating cell growth has been found by researchers at the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine. Utilizing these findings, scientists can perhaps now provide new drug targets in efforts to treat large B-cell lymphoma – the most common and widespread form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

As per the research, a new complex molecular and functional connection has been noted between ERK (which regulates cell survival) and CHK2 (protein involved with cellular DNA damage response). This, coupled with the finding that elevated levels of both of the aforementioned proteins could be vital in treating B-cell lymphoma means big things for future analysis on the topic.

According to Ronald B. Gartenhaus, who is an associate professor of medicine at Maryland and a senior author,
"The two proteins physically interact, which was not known before, and we may be able to use this interaction for therapeutic advantage. We found that treating human B-cell lymphoma cells with both an ERK inhibitor and a CHK2 inhibitor killed substantially more cancer cells than treating the cells with either drug alone," he says.

"Based on our findings, we believe that a combination therapy targeting both ERK and CHK2 could offer a potential new approach to treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma," says Gartenhaus, who is co-leader of the Program in Molecular and Structural Biology at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center.

Despite these findings, more tests have to be conducted before a definitive proclamation in regards to these conclusions can be made.

The study appeared published online in Nature Communications.