Researchers Discover New Lymphoma Subtype, Boosting Treatment Hope

Researchers at the University of Southampton have made a significant breakthrough in the fight against blood cancer by identifying a new subtype of lymphoma. This discovery could lead to improved and more targeted therapies for patients suffering from the aggressive form known as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The study highlights the unique characteristics of this newly classified subtype, named Mann-type DLBCL, which is marked by the presence of a specific sugar that enhances cancer cell survival and growth.

Lymphoma is a cancer that primarily affects lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell essential for the immune system. Within the category of lymphoma, DLBCL is known for its aggressive nature and poor response to standard therapies. The research team, which collaborated with experts in Canada and the United States, published their findings in the journal Blood.

In the study, led by Professor Francesco Forconi from the University of Southampton’s Cancer B-cell Group, data from 595 DLBCL patients was analyzed. The research utilized two datasets from the BC Cancer Agency and the National Cancer Institute. The team discovered that Mann-type DLBCL lymphoma cells consistently exhibit a specific sugar known as mannose on their surface, which is not commonly found on normal human cells. This sugar is crucial because it helps these cancer cells evade standard treatments, ultimately leading to more aggressive disease progression and poorer patient outcomes.

Professor Forconi emphasized the importance of this discovery, stating, “Patients with this new subtype, Mann-type DLBCL, have a high-risk cancer that cannot respond well to conventional therapies, so identifying this as a distinct group is very important to their treatment program.” He added that understanding the specific types of cancers is vital for improving treatment strategies.

The significance of this research lies not only in the identification of a new lymphoma subtype but also in its implications for clinical practice. The presence of mannose on the cancer cells can now be detected using conventional laboratory tests, allowing healthcare providers to recognize these specific cases more easily. This advancement opens the door to developing more effective, tailored treatments for patients suffering from Mann-type DLBCL.

Co-author and Director of the University of Southampton’s Institute for Life Sciences, Professor Max Crispin, remarked on the unusual role of carbohydrates in cancer biology, saying, “Finding mannose structures driving tumor growth is remarkable and a powerful example of how interdisciplinary science, combining molecular insight with clinical data, can transform our understanding of disease.”

The researchers’ work not only provides hope for patients with this hard-to-treat subtype of lymphoma but also underscores the importance of continued research in the field of cancer biology. As the scientific community works towards developing targeted therapies, findings like these will play a crucial role in improving the outcomes for lymphoma patients.

For further details, refer to the research conducted by Dylan James Tatterton et al., titled “The Origin, Diagnosis, and Prognosis of Oligomannose-Type Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma,” published in the Blood Journal in 2025 (DOI: 10.1182/blood.2025029163).