2008 Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium (MCLC) Scientific Workshop

The March 2008 Mantle Cell Lymphoma Consortium (MCLC) Scientific Workshop held in Dallas, TX, brought together 80 of the best and brightest lymphoma researchers from around the world. Investigators reported on their research accomplishments and participants deliberated on translating their progress into improved MCL therapies for the nearly 3,000 U.S. patients diagnosed with MCL each year.

Presentations at the Workshop represent some of the most exciting, progressive work being done in MCL research. The work of these MCL investigators spans a gamut of differing, yet potentially complementary, strategies to overcome the disease and improve the lives of patients.

Essential questions addressed during the presentations included:

• How can existing therapies be optimized?
• What are the most promising new therapeutic strategies for MCL?
• Which cellular pathways are most relevant to the disease’s progression and treatment response?
• How can novel technologies and biology-based approaches contribute to the understanding of the disease, therapeutic targets, and individualization of patient therapy?
• What are the most promising therapeutic agents and how may they be optimally utilized?

The physicians and scientists that make up the MCLC are expanding our understanding of MCL biology, including the role of cell proteins, mechanisms of cell signaling, and the importance of genetic characterization. These researchers are also developing and testing novel methods of inducing cell death (apoptosis) in malignant cells while protecting healthy cells and patients from the often dangerous and debilitating effects of those treatments.

Although our understanding of MCL has grown markedly, especially in the areas of gene expression and morphology, many questions remain.  Several MCL investigators that attended the Workshop are attempting to find the answers to some of these questions by:

• Identifying improved methods of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) to reduce toxicity and target optimal approaches to individual patients.
• Creating targeted antibodies designed to attack potential weaknesses of cancer cells.
• Testing drugs alone and in combination for maximal effectiveness.
• Exploring creative new approaches, for instance, taking advantage of cell structures such as mitochondrial pores to destroy cancer cells from within.

Some Scientific Highlights from this year's Workshop include:

• Diagnostic strategies to identify patients with indolent disease using DNA microarray technology and a “Five Gene Model” to predict a patient’s prognosis allowing physicians to more effectively tailor treatment to each patient’s needs.
• The ability to identify MCL’s “Achilles’ Heel” using an RNA interference library that will allow researchers to ID potential therapeutic targets more rapidly.
• The study of epigenetics to re-express silenced genes, which could be reawakened strengthening the body’s defenses against cancer.
• Advances in the understanding of new molecular targets such as the heat shock protein (HSP), enzymes, and a dual target radioimmunotherapy approach.
• Novel engineering methods to transfer “central memory T-cells” equipped with chimeric antigen receptors programmed to kill MCL cells as part of stem cell transplant therapies.
• A variety of innovative therapeutic approaches including the use of triterpenoids and kinase inhibitors as well as new regimens and combinations for familiar drugs like rituximab.

Order a copy of the full meeting report.