Irish research identifies protein's role in prolonging cancer cell survival
Irish research published today has revealed a new target for future treatment of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
The findings are the first indication that Bfl1 protein plays a crucial role in prolonging the survival of Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells, the malignant cell that is critical to tumour development.
The study was led by Dr Dermot Walls, a senior lecturer at the School of Biotechnology in DCU, and funded by the Irish Cancer Society, the Health Research Board and the Dublin City University Educational Trust.
Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a cancer of the lymphatic system that originates as a type of white blood cell that starts to grow abnormally.
The research, published today on the front cover of the leading scientific journal, International Journal of Cancer (IJC), conveys how these malignant HRS cells, which represent a small fraction of the tumour mass, are vital to its development.
For years, researchers have been trying to understand exactly what it is that makes these cells grow out of control. Now, for the first time, the DCU team’s work demonstrates that a key cell protein, Bfl1, known to prolong the survival of a cell, is often present and active in HRS cells.
This shows the first indication that Bfl1 plays a crucial role in promoting the survival of some HRS cells, making it a candidate target of interest for future treatments for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
According to Dr. Sinead Loughran, the lead researcher on the project: “Fortunately, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma is a disease that has become highly curable. Not so fortunate though, are the effects long-term toxic treatments can have on young patients, which in the past has resulted in some fatalities.
"The therapeutic challenge that brings a significant future promise is to try and minimise treatment-associated residual disease. There is an urgency to develop treatments that can target and neutralise specific cell proteins that are responsible for promoting cancer cell survival. As a result we are hoping that targeting Bfl-1 protein could prove to be a successful strategy."
Professor John Fitzpatrick, head of research at the Irish Cancer Society, said: “The aim of cancer research is to improve the treatments and methods of diagnosis for different types of cancer. More than 100 people are diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in Ireland every year.
"Thankfully recent advances in chemotherapy regimes have made this disease highly treatable, and now we hope that this research will help to progress new therapies that will limit the treatment-associated residual disease experienced by many.
"The Irish Cancer Society is proud to have supported this research and hopes the results will make a real difference to people living with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in the future."
