A recent study has found that levels of circulatory proteins can be used to improve diagnoses and personalized care for patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma. Researchers have discovered a specific protein profile that is associated with more severe forms of the disease.
B-cell lymphoma is the most prevalent cancer of the lymphatic system, and about 30% of patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma experience a relapse. Currently, the risk assessment for the disease is based on clinical estimates, including the patient’s age, overall health, and the stage of the disease.
A recent joint Nordic study conducted by researchers at the University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital explored the potential use of blood samples from lymphoma patients to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. The study involved the analysis of blood samples from 109 patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma to measure the levels of 1,400 proteins, known as protein profiles. The conventional methods of diagnosing and treating lymphomas have limitations, as they may not accurately identify high-risk patients and do not fully explore the biological differences between different types of lymphomas. Additionally, poor tissue samples can hinder the accuracy of diagnoses.
The study involved collecting samples before, during, and after treatments. The researchers then compared the samples with clinical data on the patients, the characteristics of the tumour tissue, and circulating tumour DNA originating in lymphoma.
They identified an inflammatory protein profile in the blood samples, which was associated with poor survival, inflamed tumour tissue, and tumour burden. Additionally, they found that different subtypes of B-cell lymphoma can be classified based on the protein profiles obtained from blood samples.
It was discovered that protein data enables the monitoring of the tumour response to treatment and the identification of potential therapeutic targets.
The initial identification of patients’ response to treatment was a crucial discovery. The study revealed that the protein profiles in blood samples can assist in directing care to those patients who will benefit the most. This method has the potential to greatly improve personalized care by considering both the characteristics of tumor tissue and the patient’s response to the disease, as stated by Professor Sirpa Leppä from the University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital. Additionally, disease recurrence can be observed in blood samples, according to Doctoral Researcher Maare Arffman from the University of Helsinki.Utilizing protein profiles can enhance the accuracy of diagnoses when a tissue specimen alone is insufficient. Additionally, these profiles can assist in the ongoing care and observation of patients. For instance, a blood test can be utilized to gauge whether disease-specific proteins have returned to normal levels post-treatment, and further actions can be tailored based on the patient’s requirements. This could potentially lead to the monitoring of relapses using blood samples instead of imaging, as stated by Arffman. The next step is to further explore the potential of using protein profiles to improve patient care and treatment.clinical trials
The researchers emphasize the need to conduct clinical trials to determine the feasibility of using protein profiles in day-to-day practice.
Professor Leppä’s research group is currently planning a clinical study using blood samples to profile lymphoma patients and customize their care.
According to Leppä, the use of liquid biopsies in cancer research is a rapidly advancing area.
“The proteins and circulating tumor DNA in blood samples have great potential to enhance cancer diagnostics, improve patient risk assessment, and guide treatment.”In a study published in Med, researchers found that inflammatory and subtype-dependent serum protein signatures can predict survival beyond the ctDNA in aggressive B cell lymphomas.
