Lymphoma is the most common blood cancer, but according to Duke University researchers, little about the genetic foundation of the disease is understood. In a new study published yesterday in Cell, researchers from Duke University and their collaborators uncover the genetic drivers of the disease and how they might be playing a role in a patients' response to therapies.
Using whole exome sequencing on tumor samples from 1,001 patients who had been diagnosed with diffuse large B cell lymphoma over the past decade, the researchers were able to identify 150 genetic drivers of the disease. The researchers then tested to see if there were any correlations between the genes and how patients responded to standard treatments. Then the team used CRISPR to knock out each of the 20,000 genes in lymphoma cells to identify those that are critical for lymphoma cells to grow. By using genetic, CRISPR, and clinical data, they were able to find critical genetic links that could help guide treatments.
"This work provides a comprehensive road map in terms of research and clinical priorities," said Sandeep Davé, M.D., professor of medicine at Duke. "We have very good data now to pursue new and existing therapies that might target the genetic mutations we identified. Additionally, this data could also be used to develop genetic markers that steer patients to therapies that would be most effective."