A “protective switch” identified in the most common blood cancer

At the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, we have identified a molecular mechanism that acts as a “protective switch” in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common blood cancer and one of the most aggressive.

The study, published in The Journal of Immunology, reveals that a single protein, HDAC7, plays a key role in controlling the disease. This “switch” is essential for the proper development of the immune system and, when it is lost in tumor cells, the cancer becomes more aggressive.

Our results show that many patients have reduced levels of HDAC7, which is associated with a poorer prognosis. Moreover, by restoring this protein in experimental models, we were able to slow down and even stop tumor growth, inducing the death of cancer cells.

This finding helps us better understand the mechanisms driving this type of lymphoma and opens the door to new strategies for more precise patient classification, as well as the development of more targeted and effective treatments.

This advance reinforces our commitment to research to improve the diagnosis and management of hematological cancers.

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