title: Is it possible to overcome antiapoptotic API2/MALT1 events in tumor B-cells by influencing Tregs in MALT lymphoma?
abstract: Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) comprises approximately 50% of primary gastric lymphoma. Proliferation of tumor cells infected with Helicobacter pylori is facilitated by the presence of T cells activated by H. pylori antigens. Unlike the majority of MALT lymphomas, tumors bearing the t(11;18)(q21;q21) resulting in production of a chimeric protein API2/MALT1 are often resistant to H. pylori eradication therapy, and require more aggressive therapeutic approach including chemotherapy. The authors hypothesize that a subset of patients with translocation-positive MALT lymphoma might benefit from a novel therapeutic approach that would address intercellular communication pathways between various cell types in the tumor microenvironment. A subset of T cells called regulatory T cells (Tregs) are one of the major immunomodulators of antitumor response mechanisms. There are several potential tools that could have a substantial impact on this particular T cell population, such as interleukin (IL)-15, indoleamine 2,3-dioxigenase (IDO), anti-CD25 antibodies. Introducing some of these components into treatment protocols for patients with API2/MALT1 translocation-positive MALT lymphomas might also prove to be benefitial for other lymphomas with increased number of intratumoral Tregs.
authors: Department of Pathology and Cytology, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. sdotlic30@gmail.com
authors: Snjezana
authors: S
authors: Dotlic
authors: Slavko
authors: S
authors: Gasparov
authors: Eva
authors: E
authors: Lovric
authors: Mara
authors: M
authors: Dominis
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Korac
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C415943:API2-MALT1 fusion protein, human; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion