Molecular classification, pathway addiction, and therapeutic targeting in diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Abstract

The rapid emergence of molecularly based techniques to detect changes in the genetic landscape of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), including gene expression, DNA and RNA sequencing, and epigenetic profiling, has significantly influenced the understanding and therapeutic targeting of DLBCL. In this review, we briefly discuss the new methods used in the study of DLBCL. We describe the influence of the generated data on DLBCL classification and the identification of new entities and altered cell survival strategies, with a focus on the renewed interest in some classic oncogenic pathways that are currently targeted for new therapy. Finally, we examine the molecular genomic studies that revealed the importance of the tumor microenvironment in the pathogenesis of DLBCL.

Keywords: B cell receptor signaling; Diffuse large B cell lymphoma; gene expression profiling; oncogenes; tumor microenvironment.