Researchers Uncover New Lymphoma Subtype, Offering Hope for Treatment

Researchers at the University of Southampton have identified a new subtype of lymphoma, providing fresh hope for patients battling aggressive forms of blood cancer. This discovery highlights a unique sugar that enhances the survival and growth of lymphoma cells, potentially leading to more targeted treatments.

Lymphoma, a cancer that primarily affects white blood cells known as lymphocytes, encompasses various types. The latest breakthrough focuses on a subtype within diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), specifically termed Mann-type DLBCL. This subtype has been found to resist conventional therapies, underscoring the importance of recognizing it as a distinct group.

The research team, which includes collaboration with scientists from Canada and the United States, published their findings in the journal Blood. Lead researcher Professor Francesco Forconi of the Cancer B-cell Group at the University of Southampton emphasized the significance of this identification. He stated, “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.”

The study analyzed data from 595 DLBCL patients using two separate cohort datasets from the BC Cancer Agency and the National Cancer Institute. Researchers focused on the presence of a specific sugar, mannose, found on the B-cell receptor. Remarkably, they identified this sugar in approximately one-third of all DLBCL cases.

Mann-type DLBCL lymphoma cells consistently express mannose, which contributes to their resistance to standard anti-cancer drugs. Mannose, typically associated with many infectious agents but scarce on normal human cells, enables the cancer cells to thrive and proliferate. This mechanism results in a more aggressive cancer form and poorer outcomes for affected patients.

Co-author and Director of the University of Southampton’s Institute for Life Sciences, Professor Max Crispin, noted the unusual role of carbohydrates in cancer biology. He remarked, “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 identification of Mann-type DLBCL allows for improved recognition of this subtype through standard laboratory tests. This advancement paves the way for scientists to develop more effective, tailored treatments, ultimately aiming for better outcomes for patients diagnosed with this specific type of lymphoma.

For further details, refer to the study by Dylan James Tatterton et al., titled “The Origin, Diagnosis, and Prognosis of Oligomannose-Type Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma,” published in Blood in March 2025.