| 1. |
- Agathangelidis, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Stereotyped B-cell receptors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- 2014
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Ingår i: Leukemia and Lymphoma. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1042-8194 .- 1029-2403. ; 55:10, s. 2252-2261
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over the last decade, immunogenetic analysis of B-cell receptor immunoglobulins (BcR IGs) has proved to be a particularly fruitful field in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), not only for understanding disease pathogenesis but also for discriminating clinical subgroups with markedly distinct course and outcome. Of utmost importance was the identification of quasi-identical BcR IGs among unrelated patients with CLL, fittingly coined as "stereotypy," that set the wheels in motion for unraveling the role of antigen(s) in the selection and expansion of the leukemic clones. The categorization of CLL clones into "subsets" according to shared BcR IG structural characteristics provided a compartmentalized view of this otherwise heterogeneous disease, which eventually led to defining strikingly homogeneous groups of patients in terms of: (i) functional properties of the clonal BcR IGs, e. g. BcR reactivity and signaling; (ii) clonal genetic landscape, e. g. genomic aberrations, gene expression/methylation profiles, microRNA signatures; and (iii) clinical course and outcome. The remarkable restriction of the CLL IG gene repertoire, resulting to a great degree from the high impact of BcR IG stereotypy, may also prompt speculations regarding CLL ontogenesis. Overall, the BcR IG molecule justifiably lies at the heart of CLL clinical research, holding the promise of subset-tailored therapies.
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| 2. |
- Agathangelidis, Andreas, et al.
(författare)
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Unlocking the secrets of immunoglobulin receptors in mantle cell lymphoma : Implications for the origin and selection of the malignant cells
- 2011
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Ingår i: Seminars in Cancer Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1044-579X .- 1096-3650. ; 21:5, s. 299-307
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Immunogenetic analysis of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has offered important evidence helping to decipher the immune pathways leading to its development and also prompting a reappraisal of the views about its ontogeny. In particular, older and more recent studies have demonstrated that MCL is characterized by a highly distinctive immunoglobulin gene repertoire with remarkable predominance of the IGHV3-21 and IGHV4-34 genes; restricted associations of IGHV,IGHD and IGHJ genes, culminating in the creation of quasi-identical ("stereotyped") heavy complementarity-determining region 3 sequences in roughly 10% of cases; and, very precisely targeted and, probably, functionally driven somatic hypermutation, ranging from minimal (in most cases) to pronounced. Furthermore, comparison to other entities, in particular CLL, revealed that several of these immunogenetic features are "MCL-biased". On these grounds, an antigen-driven origin of MCL could be envisaged, at least for subsets of cases.
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| 3. |
- Baliakas, Panagiotis, et al.
(författare)
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Prognostic indices in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia : where do we stand how do we proceed?
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 279:4, s. 347-357
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The remarkable clinical heterogeneity in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has highlighted the need for prognostic and predictive algorithms that can be employed in clinical practice to assist patient management and therapy decisions. Over the last 20 years, this research field has been rewarding and many novel prognostic factors have been identified, especially at the molecular genetic level. Whilst detection of recurrent cytogenetic aberrations and determination of the immunoglobulin heavy variable gene somatic hypermutation status have an established role in outcome prediction, next-generation sequencing has recently revealed novel mutated genes with clinical relevance (e.g. NOTCH1, SF3B1 and BIRC3). Efforts have been made to combine variables into prognostic indices; however, none has been universally adopted. Although a unifying model for all groups of patients and in all situations is appealing, this may prove difficult to attain. Alternatively, focused efforts on patient subgroups in the same clinical context and at certain clinically relevant 'decision points', that is at diagnosis and at initiation of first-line or subsequent treatments, may provide a more accurate approach. In this review, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages as well as the clinical applicability of three recently proposed prognostic models, the MD Anderson nomogram, the integrated cytogenetic and mutational model and the CLL-international prognostic index. We also consider future directions taking into account novel aspects of the disease, such as the tumour microenvironment and the dynamics of (sub)clonal evolution. These aspects are particularly relevant in view of the increasing number of new targeted therapies that have recently emerged.
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| 4. |
- Baliakas, Panagiotis, et al.
(författare)
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Splenic marginal-zone lymphoma : ontogeny and genetics
- 2015
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Ingår i: Leukemia and Lymphoma. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1042-8194 .- 1029-2403. ; 56:2, s. 301-310
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Splenic marginal-zone lymphoma (SMZL) is a rare tumor that has recently emerged as a prototype for how the interplay between genetics and environment shapes the natural history of lymphomas. Indeed, the recent identification of molecular immunogenetic subgroups within SMZL may prove to be relevant not only for the sub-classification of the disease but also for improved understanding of the underlying biology. In contrast to other B-cell lymphomas, SMZL lacks a characteristic genetic lesion, although the majority of cases harbor genomic aberrations, as recently revealed by high-throughput studies that identified recurrent genetic aberrations, several in pathways related to marginal-zone differentiation and B-cell signaling. Here we provide an overview of recent research into the molecular and cellular biology of SMZL and related disorders, with special emphasis on immunogenetics and genomic aberrations, and discuss the value of molecular and cellular markers for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of these entities.
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| 5. |
- Mansouri, Larry, et al.
(författare)
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NF-kappa B activation in chronic lymphocytic leukemia : A point of convergence of external triggers and intrinsic lesions
- 2016
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Ingår i: Seminars in Cancer Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1044-579X .- 1096-3650. ; 39, s. 40-48
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) pathway is constitutively activated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients, and hence plays a major role in disease development and evolution. In contrast to many other mature B-cell lymphomas, only a few recurrently mutated genes involved in canonical or non-canonical NF-kappa B activation have been identified in CLL (i.e. BIRC3, MYD88 and NFKBIE mutations) and often at a low frequency. On the other hand, CLL B cells seem 'addicted' to the tumor microenvironment for their survival and proliferation, which is primarily mediated by interaction through a number of cell surface receptors, e.g. the B-cell receptor (BcR), Toll-like receptors and CD40, that in turn activate downstream NF-kappa B. The importance of cell-extrinsic triggering for CLL pathophysiology was recently also highlighted by the clinical efficacy of novel drugs targeting microenvironmental interactions through the inhibition of BcR signaling. In other words, CLL can be considered a prototype disease for studying the intricate interplay between external triggers and intrinsic aberrations and their combined impact on disease evolution. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of mechanisms underlying NF-kappa B deregulation in CLL, including micro-environmental, genetic and epigenetic events, and summarize data generated in murine models resembling human CLL. Finally, we will also discuss different strategies undertaken to intervene with the NF-kappa B pathway and its upstream mediators.
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| 6. |
- Ntoufa, Stavroula, et al.
(författare)
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Toll-like receptors signaling : A complex network for in B-cell lymphoid malignancies NF-kappa B activation
- 2016
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Ingår i: Seminars in Cancer Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1044-579X .- 1096-3650. ; 39, s. 15-25
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Malignancies of mature B cells are quite distinctive in originating from well-differentiated cells. Hence, it is not paradoxical that, similar to their normal counterparts, most mature B cell lymphoma subtypes are critically dependent on microenvironmental cues. Such external signals are sensed by various receptors present on the malignant cells, including the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), eliciting a range of cellular responses, including proliferation but also anergy and apoptosis, often with disease-specific patterns. Critically, the TLR signaling pathways are intertwined with other receptor pathways in malignant B cells, most notably the B-cell receptor pathway, and converge on NF-kappa B, leading to its activation. In the present review, we summarize the literature on TLR expression and functionality and its impact on NF-kappa B activation in different B cell malignancies including chronic lymphocytic leukemia where TLR9 induces activation, cell proliferation and chemoresistance in a proportion of patients while apoptosis can be induced in others. Additionally, we also discuss the therapeutic potential of strategies targeting TLR signaling in lymphoma.
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| 7. |
- Rosenquist, Richard, et al.
(författare)
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Clinical impact of recurrently mutated genes on lymphoma diagnostics : state-of-the-art and beyond
- 2016
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Ingår i: Haematologica. - : Ferrata Storti Foundation (Haematologica). - 0390-6078 .- 1592-8721. ; 101:9, s. 1002-1009
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Similar to the inherent clinical heterogeneity of most, if not all, lymphoma entities, the genetic landscape of these tumors is markedly complex in the majority of cases, with a rapidly growing list of recurrently mutated genes discovered in recent years by next-generation sequencing technology. Whilst a few genes have been implied to have diagnostic, prognostic and even predictive impact, most gene mutations still require rigorous validation in larger, preferably prospective patient series, to scrutinize their potential role in lymphoma diagnostics and patient management. In selected entities, a predominantly mutated gene is identified in almost all cases (e.g. Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia/lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and hairy-cell leukemia), while for the vast majority of lymphomas a quite diverse mutation pattern is observed, with a limited number of frequently mutated genes followed by a seemingly endless tail of genes with mutations at a low frequency. Herein, the European Expert Group on NGS-based Diagnostics in Lymphomas (EGNL) summarizes the current status of this ever-evolving field, and, based on the present evidence level, segregates mutations into the following categories: i) immediate impact on treatment decisions, ii) diagnostic impact, iii) prognostic impact, iv) potential clinical impact in the near future, or v) should only be considered for research purposes. In the coming years, coordinated efforts aiming to apply targeted next-generation sequencing in large patient series will be needed in order to elucidate if a particular gene mutation will have an immediate impact on the lymphoma classification, and ultimately aid clinical decision making.
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| 8. |
- Stamatopoulos, Kostas, et al.
(författare)
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Antigen receptor stereotypy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- 2017
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Ingår i: Leukemia. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 0887-6924 .- 1476-5551. ; 31:2, s. 282-291
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The discovery of almost identical or 'stereotyped' B-cell receptor immunoglobulins (BcR IG) among unrelated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cemented the idea of antigen selection in disease ontogeny and evolution. The systematic analysis of the stereotypy phenomenon in CLL revealed that around one-third of CLL patients may be grouped into subsets based on shared sequence motifs within the variable heavy complementarity determining region 3. Stereotyped subsets display a strikingly similar biology of the leukemic clones, referring to many different levels, from the immunogenetic and genetic and extending to the epigenetic and functional levels. Even more importantly, the homogeneity of stereotyped subsets has clinical consequences as patients assigned to the same stereotyped subset generally exhibit an overall similar disease course and outcome. In other words, stereotypy-based patient classification of CLL has already provided a more compartmentalized view of this otherwise heterogeneous disease and can assist in refining prognostication models. While this is relevant only for the one-third of cases expressing stereotyped BcR IG; in principle, however, the findings from further analysis of the stereotyped subsets may also contribute towards improved understanding of the remaining non-stereotyped fraction of CLL patients.
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| 9. |
- Sutton, Lesley-Ann, et al.
(författare)
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Antigen selection in B-cell lymphomas : tracing the evidence
- 2013
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Ingår i: Seminars in Cancer Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1044-579X .- 1096-3650. ; 23:6, s. 399-409
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- While signaling through the B cell receptor (BcR) facilitates B cell development and maintenance, it also carries intertwined risks for the development of lymphomas since malignant B cells can exploit these pathways in order to trigger and fuel clonal expansion. This corruption of the normal B cell response to antigens, leading to sustained BcR signaling, has given great impulse to investigate in detail the role of antigen in lymphomas. Suffice it to conclude from such studies, largely immunogenetics based, that the evidence implicating antigens (exogenous or self) in lymphoma development is substantial and that lymphomagenesis is functionally driven and dynamic, rather than a simple stochastic process. As the paradigm of antigen-driven lymphoma evolves, further investigation will be paramount to the identification of the inciting agent(s) that may be responsible for immunoproliferative neoplasms and also for the development of therapeutic agents targeting effectors of the BcR signaling pathway.
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| 10. |
- Vardi, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Immunogenetic Studies of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia : Revelations and Speculations about Ontogeny and Clinical Evolution
- 2014
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Ingår i: Cancer Research. - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 74:16, s. 4211-4216
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Over the last decade, immunogenetic analysis of B-cell receptor immunoglobulins (BcR IG) has proved instrumental in dissecting chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) pathogenesis. Initially, it was the finding that the level of somatic hypermutations in rearranged IG heavy-chain genes could define two CLL subtypes associated with a different clinical course that drew attention. As the years ensued, this not only continued to hold strong, but also revealed an unprecedented BcR restriction (aptly coined as "stereotypy"), thus cementing the idea that antigenic elements select the leukemic clones. With all this in mind, in the present review, we focus on the CLL BcR IG, a molecule that clearly lies at the heart of disease pathogenesis, and attempt to distil from past and emerging biologic knowledge the most relevant aspects in the context of the immunogenetics of CLL, while at the same time provoking questions that remain unanswered. We juxtapose CLL with mutated BcR IGs against CLL with unmutated BcR IGs due to their striking clinicobiologic differences; however, when considering ontogeny, common derivation of the two mutational subtypes cannot be excluded. The issue of stereotypy is intertwined throughout and we also raise the subject of isotype-switched CLL, which, despite its rarity, contributes intriguing ontogenetic hints.
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