Understanding the role of CaMK1D protein on the development of diffuse large B cell lymphoma in children

Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer which affects children and is treated with a combination of chemotherapy drugs. Despite many children having a high chance of survival, current treatments don’t work for around 10-15% of patients. For children who are cured, these treatments have potentially life-changing immediate and long-term side effects. There is an increasing need for new treatments that are more targeted and reduce side effects, without reducing survival rates.

In addition to cancer cells, there are various other cells that can be found in and around lymphoma tumours, in the tumour microenvironment. These cells can play an important role in how cancer develops and progresses. However, the types and general organisation of cells is currently unknown in one of the more aggressive childhood lymphomas - diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

In this project, Dr Minnatallah Al-Yozbaki will address this by looking for molecular markers to identify which cells are present in the tumour microenvironment. She hopes to create a visual map of how different cell types are positioned in cancerous tissues, and look at how a protein called CaMK1D affects their structure.

Dr Al-Yozbaki hopes that this work will build the foundation for future work on the tumour microenvironment in lymphomas that could lead to safer and more effective treatments.