Lymphoma is one of the most common blood cancers. Treatments have helped many people, but for some, the cancer comes back after treatment. When that happens, it can be harder to treat. New research shows that finding shared targets in different types of lymphoma could lead to better treatments.
Cancer does not grow alone. It is surrounded by other cells called “stromal cells.” These stromal cells can sometimes help the cancer grow or resist treatment. But we still do not know exactly how they work or how many different types there are. In this project, we will use special tools to study these cells one by one. One tool is called single-cell sequencing, and another is called the CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager. These tools help us look closely at tumor cells and stromal cells to see how they work together.
We will also use lab models made from real patient samples. These models will help us watch how cancer and stromal cells behave together, both in lab dishes and in mice. We can then test new treatments that block the bad interactions between these cells. Lastly, we will use gene-editing technology to learn how cancer cells escape the immune system and resist treatment.
By better understanding how stromal cells support lymphoma, we hope to find new ways to treat the disease and help more people survive.
