Project description:The location of nucleosomes in the human genome determines the primary chromatin structure and regulates access to regulatory regions. However, genome-wide information on deregulated nucleosome occupancy and its implications in primary cancer cells is scarce. Here, we conducted a genome-wide comparison of high-resolution nucleosome maps in peripheral-blood B cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and healthy individuals at single base pair resolution. Our investigation uncovered significant changes of nucleosome positioning in CLL. Globally, the spacing between nucleosomes – the nucleosome repeat length (NRL) – was shortened in CLL. This effect was stronger in the more aggressive IGHV-unmutated than in the IGHV-mutated CLL subtype. Changes in nucleosome occupancy at specific sites were linked to active chromatin remodelling and reduced DNA methylation. Nucleosomes lost or gained in CLL marked differential binding of 3D chromatin organisers such as CTCF as well as immune response-related transcription factors and delineated mechanisms of epigenetic deregulation. The principal component analysis of nucleosome occupancy in cancer-specific regions allowed classification of samples between cancer subtypes and normal controls. Furthermore, patients could be better assigned to CLL subtypes according to differential nucleosome occupancy than based on DNA methylation or gene expression. Thus, nucleosome positioning constitutes a novel readout to dissect molecular mechanisms of disease progression and to stratify patients. Furthermore, we anticipate that the global nucleosome repositioning detected in our study, such as changes in the NRL, can be exploited for liquid biopsy applications based on cell-free DNA to monitor disease progression.
Project description:THis is a simple ordinary differential equation model describing chemoimmunotherapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, including descriptions of the combinatorial effects of chemotherapy and adoptive cellular immunotherapy.
Project description:B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia - A model with immune response
Seema Nanda 1, , Lisette dePillis 2, and Ami Radunskaya 3,
1.
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Centre for Applicable Mathematics, Bangalore 560065, India
2.
Department of Mathematics, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711
3.
Department of Mathematics, Pomona College, Claremont, CA, 91711, United States
Abstract
B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is known to have substantial clinical heterogeneity. There is no cure, but treatments allow for disease management. However, the wide range of clinical courses experienced by B-CLL patients makes prognosis and hence treatment a significant challenge. In an attempt to study disease progression across different patients via a unified yet flexible approach, we present a mathematical model of B-CLL with immune response, that can capture both rapid and slow disease progression. This model includes four different cell populations in the peripheral blood of humans: B-CLL cells, NK cells, cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells. We analyze existing data in the medical literature, determine ranges of values for parameters of the model, and compare our model outcomes to clinical patient data. The goal of this work is to provide a tool that may shed light on factors affecting the course of disease progression in patients. This modeling tool can serve as a foundation upon which future treatments can be based.
Keywords: NK cell, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mathematical model, T cell., B-CLL.
Project description:This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of romidepsin in treating patients with lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or solid tumors with liver dysfunction. Romidepsin may stop the growth of cancer cells by entering the cancer cells and by blocking the activity of proteins that are important for the cancer’s growth and survival.
Project description:This phase II trial studies how well giving lenalidomide with or without rituximab works in treating patients with progressive or relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), prolymphocytic leukemia (PLL), or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Biological therapies, such as lenalidomide, may stimulate the immune system in different ways and stop cancer cells from growing. Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Giving lenalidomide together with or without rituximab may kill more cancer cells.