End-year 3 update of Dr. Jeffery Bryan’s research to discover biomarkers for detection, classification, and treatment of B-cell lymphoma. Progress continues in the researcher’s efforts into this population of B cell lymphomas similar to the aggressive form seen in humans.
Progress continues at all 3 institutions. The proposed immunohistochemical evaluations and flow cytometry techniques have identified that the population of B cell lymphomas appears to be a monomorphic group of diffuse large B cell variety (DLBCL) similar to the aggressive form in humans. An immunohistochemistry panel is now functional to identify these and flow
cytometry has being optimized, but does not clearly distinguish among them.
Gene expression analyses are underway that we expect to further characterize these samples and better our understanding of the etiopathogenesis of the disease. Completed sequencing experiments have identified differentially hypermethylated genes in B cell lymphomas of Golden Retrievers that is similar to those in human lymphoma. A diagnostic PCR panel is in progress for further screening of affected and unaffected Golden Retrievers for lymphoma methylation marks.
We are beginning to add whole genome, exome, and transcriptome sequencing in a subset of cases to understand how mutation and DNA methylation interact. TAMU has successfully generated tumor initiating cell populations from cultured lymphocytes and has optimized the procedures to be performed on fine-needle aspirates of lymphoma nodes. It appears that multiple aspirates will be necessary to get all the material needed for characterization. Sufficient TIC cells can be generated for sequencing with the protocol in place at MU. Because the lymphoma samples are so similar across the board, we have changed Aim 1 to evaluate gene expression in these tumors as it relates to the methylation profile.
