Project Details
Projekt
Defining the molecular determinants of tissue manifestation in B-Cell Precursor lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia
Applicant
Professor Dr. Wolfram Klapper
Subject Area
Hematology, Oncology
Term
since 2022
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 444949889
B-cell precursor (BCP) lymphoblastic malignancies are neoplasms of immature B cells with manifestation either in bone marrow/blood (BCP acute lymphoblastic leukemia, B-ALL) or less common in extramedullary tissue (BCP lymphoblastic lymphoma, B-LBL). Both conditions are considered part of the spectrum of one disease by the WHO classification with B-LBL showing a more favorable outcome. In the preceding funding phase, we have published the first molecular characterization of the do far understudied B-LBL. Surprisingly, all molecular subtypes known from B-ALL were also found in B-LBL too and thus do not explain the clinical differences. However, our data point towards epigenetic and microenvironmental differences between lymphoma and leukemia. We aim to understand why what molecular mechanisms lead to manifestation of BCP neoplasms in the tissue and why these neoplasias mostly avoid their potential natural habitat, the bone marrow. We believe that insight into this fundamental mechanisms may pave the way for a novel classification and therapeutic stratification of BCP-neoplasias.
DFG Programme
Clinical Research Units
