Progress against follicular lymphoma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To share the recent progress in research and new therapies against follicular lymphoma and highlight the exciting opportunities to improve the treatment of follicular lymphoma. RECENT FINDINGS: Follicular lymphoma has been somewhat neglected by the research community, but recent genomic studies have identified key genetic lesions in follicular lymphoma. In addition, a new murine model is available to explore the function of these lesions in the development, progression, and treatment of follicular lymphoma. Moreover, new small-molecule inhibitors are now available that target key pathways in follicular lymphoma including B-cell receptor signaling and histone modifiers. SUMMARY: Follicular lymphoma is a very common and still incurable form of lymphoma. However, recent genomic and in-vivo biological studies are beginning to unveil the molecular drivers of follicular lymphoma. This coincides with the development of effective small-molecule inhibitors against key targets. Together these developments suggest that we are at a long overdue watershed moment in the treatment of follicular lymphoma.

Tissue microarray evidence of association between p16 and phosphorylated eIF4E in tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Expression of p16 is a marker for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related carcinogenesis in head and neck cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine if p16 immunoreactivity is associated with aberrant expression of components of the PI3 kinase pathway. METHODS: A tissue microarray (TMA) was constructed for 46 archived tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma specimens. Clinical demographics of these patients were analyzed, and the TMA was interrogated with antibodies directed against p16, phosphorylated Akt(Ser473), phosphorylated S6(Ser240/244), phosphorylated S6(Ser235/236), phosphorylated 4E-BP1(Thr37/46), phosphorylated eIF4E(Ser209), PTEN, p21, and p53. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between history of tobacco abuse (>10 pack/years) and absence of p16 expression (p = .01). Expression of p16 was significantly associated with immunoreactivity of p21 (p = .02), PTEN (p = .02), and phosphorylated eIF4E (p = .03). There was no evidence of association between p16 status and expression of phosphorylated S6, phosphorylated 4E-BP1, or p53. CONCLUSION: p16 positive tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by expression of phosphorylated eIF4E that may occur via a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-independent mechanism.