Description:

Title: Integrating EBV into Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma Genetics.

Topic:

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a group of morphologically similar but genetically distinct aggressive lymphomas.  DLBCL subtypes have been identified based on gene expression and, more recently recurrent driver mutations have identified subtypes with distinct prognoses and susceptibilities to target therapies.  However, these important genetic landscape efforts have been agnostic to EBV status. We have reanalyzed these studies and identified specific DLBCL subtypes which are EBV associated and the EBV latency genes expressed in these tumors.  In parallel we are using in vitro and animal models to define how specific driver mutations and EBV latency oncogenes collaborate to transform B lymphocytes.  Our preliminary data suggests that LMP2A expression, while not essential for B cell transformation, is associated with antigen-induced signaling dependence and susceptibility to BTK inhibitors. We expect that full defining the interactions between EBV oncogenes and DLBCL driver mutations will reveal additional synthetic lethalities and therapeutic opportunities.

Speaker: Eric Johannsen, MD,  Professor, University of Wisconsin

Host: Eva Gottwein, PhD, Associate Professor, Dept. of Microbiology-Immunology