Therapeutic implication of concomitant chromosomal aberrations in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas.

TitleTherapeutic implication of concomitant chromosomal aberrations in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsMarullo R, Rutherford SC, Leonard JP, Cerchietti L
JournalCell Cycle
Volume15
Issue17
Pagination2241-7
Date Published2016 Sep
ISSN1551-4005
Abstract

A subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) harbors concomitant rearrangements of MYC, BCL2 and BCL6 and is characterized by clinical aggressiveness and intrinsic refractoriness to standard chemo-immunotherapy. Commonly identified as "double or triple hit" lymphomas, these diseases represent a therapeutic challenge to chemotherapy-based regimens and likely require a more targeted approach. Herein we summarize the unique biological behavior of double and triple hit lymphomas focusing on the coordinated network of pathways that enable cancer cells to tolerate the oncogenic stress imposed by the co-expression of MYC, BCL2 and BCL6. We discuss how these enabling pathways contribute to the chemo-refractoriness of these tumors. We propose to exploit lymphoma cells' addiction to these oncogenic networks to design combinatorial treatments for this aggressive disease based on the modulation of epigenetically-silenced pathways and decreasing expression and activity of these oncogenic drivers.

DOI10.1080/15384101.2016.1207839
Alternate JournalCell Cycle
PubMed ID27419806