Tufts University Researchers Identify Genetic Blood Markers Predicting Success of Personalized Lymphoma Treatment Regimens

Tufts University scientists identify immune-related genes in blood that predict whether lymphoma patients will respond to new, less toxic cancer treatments.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 10:16 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Tufts University

Addressing the Limitations of Standard Lymphoma Care

Current medical protocols for diffuse large B cell lymphoma rely on a heavy combination of antibody treatments and quadruple chemotherapy, which successfully cures many but fails nearly 30% of patients. According to researchers at Tufts University, the intensity of this standard regimen poses a significant risk of heart damage, particularly for the elderly population most affected by the disease. Despite the availability of newer, less toxic alternatives, many clinicians hesitate to diverge from the gold standard because they lack a reliable method to predict which patients will respond positively to experimental options.

The Canine Model for Human Oncology Breakthroughs

In a study published in Scientific Reports, scientists analyzed blood samples from pet dogs undergoing various trial treatments for the same aggressive cancer found in humans. The dogs were treated with a canine equivalent of human antibodies paired with a reduced dose of chemotherapy and one of three novel immunotherapies. By focusing on gene activity in circulating immune cells rather than traditional tumor tissue, the team utilized a noninvasive liquid biopsy technique. This comparative medicine approach allowed researchers to monitor the genetic "conversation" of the immune system at several critical intervals throughout the treatment cycle.

Identifying Genetic Markers for Long Term Survival

The research team pinpointed two specific genes, CD1E and CCL14, as critical indicators of a successful therapeutic outcome. According to assistant professor Jillian Richmond, these genes act as vital components of the body's internal defense, with one helping T cells recognize cancer and the other acting as a chemical beacon to recruit immune reinforcements. The study suggests that the presence of these markers in the blood signifies a robust immune response, whereas their absence may indicate that the immune system is already too exhausted to benefit from the therapy provided.