15 de septiembre, Día Mundial de Concienciación sobre el Linfoma
T cells can either help the tumor or fight it, depending on the type of lymphoma
Scientists at Lymphomas Group confirm that genetic alterations in tumor cells alter the relationship between the lymphoma and the surrounding immune cells
September 15, 2026
T cells, one of the body’s defenses against disease, can play opposing roles in lymphoma: in some cases, they promote the survival of tumor cells, and in others, they help fight them. This is shown in a study led by Dr. José A. Martínez-Climent, principal investigator of the Lymphoma Group at Cima, University of Navarra, published in the scientific journal Molecular Cancer.
Lymphomas are cancers that originate in cells of the immune system. Some grow slowly and are considered indolent, while others, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, are more aggressive. Each type can progress and respond to treatment differently.
The study focused on combining lymphomas with the genetically active MYD88 mutation with other genetic alterations—induced at selected stages of B-cell development—in order to generate lymphomas similar to human lymphomas that carry the mutation. These lymphomas exhibited developmental behaviors ranging from clinically indolent small-cell tumors to aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL).
T Cells: A Double-Edged Sword
One of the main findings of the study, conducted at the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra, is that T cells perform opposing functions depending on the type of lymphoma: in indolent lymphomas, they promoted the survival of tumor cells, whereas in aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), they helped combat them. “The specific characteristics of T cells were associated with the efficacy of standard treatments and new immunotherapies. Furthermore, by targeting immune mechanisms identified in the study, we were able to improve the therapeutic response in in vivo experimental models,” adds Dr. Ion Celay, lead author of the study along with Dr. Miriam Recalde.
The results show that the genetic characteristics of lymphoma give rise to different states of its immune microenvironment and that these influence the response to treatment of the various subtypes. The study thus provides a proof of concept for personalizing treatment using information about the lymphoma’s immune microenvironment.