Follicullar lymphoma and the significance of its tumour microenvironment

Czech version

Authors: A. Janíková ¹; J. Michalka ¹; B. Tichý ¹; P. Fabian ²; J. Šupíková ¹; J. Mayer ¹
Authors‘ workplace: Interní hematoonkologická klinika, Lékařská fakulta Masarykovy univerzity a Fakultní nemocnice Brno ¹; Masarykův onkologický ústav Brno ²
Published in: Transfuze Hematol. dnes,16, 2010, No. 3, p. 150-157.
Category: Comprehensive Reports, Original Papers, Case Reports

Overview

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent B-lymphoproliferative disease characterized by slow growth and recurrent course. Despite of histological homogeneity, clinically, it is quite heterogeneous disease. Median of survival is about 18 years, but 10–15% of patients die during 2–3 years from the time of diagnosis due to progression of the disease. Spontaneous regressions appear typically in FL and suggest immunological interaction with tumor cells. The importance of the tumor microenvironment as the determining factor of the lymphoma’s biology is supported by the results of several gene expression and immunophenotyping studies. This review summarizes recent knowledge about the “players” of the tumor microenvironment in FL such as follicular dendritic cells (FDC), FOXP3+ T-regulatory cells (T-regs), CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells, lymphoma associated macrophages (LAMs), CD57+ NK-cells, etc. The influence of the tumor microenvironment on biology of follicular lymphoma seems to be clear but the results are often controversial. These discrepancies could be partially caused by diverse design of studies, but especially a different sensibility of each microenvironment subpopulation to the various therapeutic regimens is of value. Understanding the microenvironment elements, their relationship and cross-talk with tumor cells could help to establish precise individual prognosis but also to select a targeted therapeutic strategy.

Key words:
follicular lymphoma, t(14;18), tumor microenvironment, FOXP3, follicular dendritic cells, lymphoma-associated macrophages

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Transfusion and Haematology Today

2010 Issue 3