Open AccessTargeting pathological B cell receptor signalling in lymphoid malignancies
Author(s) -
Ryan M. Young,
Louis M. Staudt
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
nature reviews. drug discover/nature reviews. drug discovery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 9.921
H-Index - 328
eISSN - 1474-1784
pISSN - 1474-1776
DOI - 10.1038/nrd3937
Subject(s) - breakpoint cluster region , cancer research , lymphoma , b cell receptor , signalling , biology , antigen , b cell , immunology , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , antibody , genetics
Signalling through the B cell receptor (BCR) is central to the development and maintenance of B cells. In light of the numerous proliferative and survival pathways activated downstream of the BCR, it comes as no surprise that malignant B cells would co-opt this receptor to promote their own growth and survival. However, direct evidence for BCR signalling in human lymphoma has only come to light recently. Roles for antigen-dependent and antigen-independent, or tonic, BCR signalling have now been described for several different lymphoma subtypes. Furthermore, correlative data implicate antigen-dependent BCR signalling in many other forms of lymphoma. A host of therapeutic agents targeting effectors of the BCR signalling pathway are now in clinical trials and have shown initial success against multiple forms of lymphoma.