National Institutes of Health (NIH) Scientists Identify Possible Gene Target for Treating a Form of Lymphoma

National Cancer Institute -- Researchers have identified a mutation in a gene that could lead to targeted therapies for certain lymphoma patients whose cure rates are currently poor. Mutation of the MYD88 gene was found to be one of the most frequent genetic abnormalities in a form of cancer known as diffuse large B cell lymphoma. MYD88 encodes a protein that is crucial for the normal immune response to invading microorganisms. New experiments show a mutation in the MYD88 protein sequence can cause uncontrolled cellular signaling, leading to survival of malignant cells. The study, led by researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, appeared online in Nature, Dec. 22, 2010.