title: Clonal expansion in B-CLL: fungal drivers or self-service?
abstract: Relatively few cancers arise in mature, differentiated cells. The propensity of mature B cells to transform has been linked to their longevity and proliferative potential, and stimulation of the B cell receptor (BCR) by cognate antigen may promote the transformation process. A study in this issue (Hoogeboom et al.) lends support to this notion, showing that cancer cells from a subset of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) express a BCR specific for a sugar expressed by commensal yeast species. Another study, in contrast, suggests that B-CLL cells uniquely acquire the ability to signal in the complete absence of ligand.
authors: Division of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5NG, England, UK. mel.greaves@icr.ac.uk
authors: Mel
authors: M
authors: Greaves
mesh_terms: D000939:Epitopes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015003:Yeasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D047071:beta-Glucans; C064197:beta-1,6-glucan