Funded by The Little Princess Trust and administered by CCLG
Lead investigator: Dr Vikki Rand, Newcastle University
Award: £99,998.70
Funded November 2016
Understanding the biology of paediatric B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) will enable us to improve the lives of children diagnosed in the UK and Africa. Current treatment is associated with distressing and dangerous side effects and for those children who do not respond to treatment outcome remains poor. More effective and safer treatments are urgently required.
Knowledge of the key defects in the cancer cells is fundamental to the development of such treatment strategies. Recent advances in understanding the biology of B-NHL has identified recurrent abnormalities in genes which may offer alternative treatment options to both reduce treatment-related toxicity and improve outcome for patients with chemotherapy resistant disease.
Our current knowledge, however, is predominately based on adult disease and the value of these new discoveries in paediatric lymphoma is unknown. Moreover, analysis of published data has revealed key differences between adult and paediatric B-NHL.
To this end, we have established the largest cohort of childhood B-NHL samples from the UK and Malawi. Using a combination of cutting-edge techniques we will identify the full spectrum of mutations in 50 paediatric patient samples. Recurrent mutations which alter gene expression and the associated pathways will be assessed to determine which are immediately actionable with existing and approved drugs.
Their incidence will then be determined in a further 178 UK and 98 Malawi B-NHL patient samples. The therapeutic value of the strongest target and sensitivity to drugs will be assessed and findings from this study will significantly enhance our understanding of the genomic complexity underlying childhood B-NHL and provide potential targets for new and safer treatments.