With over 180 attendees and over $145,000 in donations, the Forward Lymphoma event with Coach Bob Knight was a huge success. To view photos from the event, click here.
Research Projects - Signaling Pathway
Researchers: Erik Ranheim
Description: The Frizzled / Wnt Signaling Pathway in B Cell Lymphoma / Leukemia Activating Innate Anti-tumor Immunity in B Cell Lymphoma / Leukemia
Summary: The Frizzled/ Wnt pathway, a family of receptors and ligands that regulate the level of beta-catenin within cells that has been implicated in a number of human tumors, most notably colon cancer and the familial polyposis syndrome. Dr. Ranheim’s interest stems from the fact that work in Irv Weissman’s laboratory showed that beta-catenin signaling may be a critical signal directing hematopoietic stem cells to self-renew rather than differentiate. His examination of frizzled 9 knockout mice suggests that this pathway may offer a similar signal to developing cells in the B lymphoid lineage as well as affecting plasma cell function. Malignant cells also seem to be signaled to “self-renew” rather than differentiate, and the beta-catenin pathway is likely to be involved in this decision. Dr. Ranheim’s laboratory has found that particular members of this signaling pathway are critical for development of lymphoma/leukemia in a mouse model of human chronic lymphocytic leukemia and is exploring whether other B cell malignancies may also use this pathway to enhance survival and growth of the malignant cells
