Advancing Lymphoma Research in Canada:
The Impact of Our Research Grants Over the Years
At Lymphoma Canada, we are dedicated to supporting research that drives meaningful change for people affected by lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Over the years, our research grants program has funded numerous impactful studies led by Canadian researchers and healthcare professionals across the country.
Lymphoma Canada’s funding supports well-defined studies with the potential to improve healthcare delivery, strengthen health systems, and enhance patient outcomes. These studies cover a range of areas, including:
- Patient-reported outcomes
- Comparative clinical effectiveness
- Pharmaco-economics
- Health care utilization
Through this campaign, we highlight some of the important research projects that Lymphoma Canada has supported in recent years. We invite you to learn more about these projects and the positive difference they are making for lymphoma and CLL patients, as well as the broader healthcare community in Canada.
2020: Enhancing CAR-T Cell Therapy for Lymphoma Patients
Lymphoma Canada proudly supported research led by Dr. Sam Saibil and Dr. Rob Laister at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to enhance CAR-T cell therapy for lymphoma patients. CAR-T therapy is a groundbreaking treatment that modifies a patient’s own immune cells (called T-cells) to target and destroy lymphoma cells. However, one challenge is that these CAR-T cells don’t always last long enough in the body to provide lasting protection against cancer returning.
This research project made important strides in overcoming that challenge. The team discovered a promising class of agents known as tRNA synthetase inhibitors (such as halofuginone) that improve how CAR-T cells produce energy through their mitochondria, enhancing their overall metabolic function. Better energy production helps CAR-T cells survive longer in the body, which could lead to more durable remissions and a reduced risk of relapse.
The team also developed a new testing method (a novel single-cell mass cytometry panel) to precisely analyze CAR-T cell metabolism. This technology is being used to study CAR-T cell products in both laboratory and clinical settings, providing insights into how metabolic characteristics influence treatment outcomes.
These promising findings also helped secure over $700,000 in additional funding from major Canadian health research organizations, including the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the National Research Council of Canada. This new support enabled the research team to continue exploring CAR-T cell metabolism in greater detail, both in the laboratory and in clinical samples. Overall, by deepening understanding of how CAR-T cells function and survive in the body, this research is helping to improve CAR-T therapies for lymphoma patients, leading to more durable remissions and better overall survival outcomes.
2021: Improving Mantle Cell Lymphoma Treatment by Targeting Genetic Mutations
Lymphoma Canada proudly supported research led by Dr. Krysta Coyle, a post-doctoral fellow at Simon Fraser University, to advance treatment options for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). MCL is a rare and difficult-to-treat type of lymphoma diagnosed in approximately 500 Canadians each year. It develops when immune cells acquire errors, or mutations, in their DNA, leading to cancer growth that is largely considered incurable with current therapies.
Dr. Coyle’s research focused on understanding the role of a specific gene called HNRNPH1. Her team discovered that mutations in this gene are linked to worse outcomes for MCL patients. Laboratory studies showed that these mutations likely affect other genes in ways that cause cancer cells to grow faster and become more aggressive, leading to poorer survival.
To address this challenge, the researchers tested a new treatment strategy (called antisense oligonucleotide therapy) designed to correct the harmful effects of HNRNPH1 mutations. Early laboratory results showed promising signs of success, suggesting that this approach may slow or stop cancer cell growth. This work provided important early evidence to support the development of new treatment options for MCL patients.
This research also resulted in a review article exploring the broader roles of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), a group of proteins that include HNRNPH1. The study highlighted how changes in hnRNPs can contribute to cancer growth and resistance to treatment, suggesting these proteins could be important targets for future therapies.
By improving our understanding of the genetic changes driving mantle cell lymphoma and testing innovative treatment approaches, Dr. Coyle’s work laid critical groundwork for future clinical trials. This research has helped advance efforts to improve care and survival outcomes for people living with MCL, offering hope for better treatment options in the future.
2021: Using Health Data to Improve Treatment Planning for CLL Patients
Lymphoma Canada supported research led by Dr. Versha Banerji at CancerCare Manitoba to better understand how the shift from traditional chemotherapy to newer lifelong treatments is impacting chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients and the healthcare system.
In recent years, novel targeted therapies have greatly improved treatment options for CLL patients, particularly for elderly individuals or those with high-risk disease identified through molecular testing. Unlike chemotherapy, which is usually given for a set period (such as six months), many of these newer treatments are taken daily for the rest of a patient’s life as long as they remain effective. This has resulted in patients living longer while remaining on treatment, but it also requires more frequent follow-up visits and continuous care.
This research project systematically evaluated how these changes affect patients and the healthcare system in Manitoba. The team identified 720 CLL patients who received treatment between 2008 and 2020 using multiple provincial databases, including the Manitoba Cancer Registry and CCMB Pharmacy data. They conducted detailed chart reviews to ensure data accuracy and compiled information on hospital visits, medical claims, emergency department visits, and prescription drug use. The analysis focused on understanding healthcare resource utilization, which services are most accessed, and how treatment strategies have evolved with the introduction of molecular testing.
With additional funding acquired, the team is now expanding their analysis to include patients treated up to the end of 2023. They are also incorporating a health economic evaluation to assess the financial impact of continuous therapies compared to finite treatments like chemotherapy. This work is helping build a living real-world evidence platform that will inform treatment planning, improve care delivery, and ensure the healthcare system is prepared to meet the needs of CLL patients now and in the future. The findings are expected to be published in the second half of this year.
2022: Understanding Second Cancer Risks to Guide Safer CLL Treatment Decisions
Lymphoma Canada supported research led by Dr. Abi Vijenthira to better understand how different treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) affect patients’ risk of developing second cancers and their overall health.
CLL is a common type of blood cancer. When treatment is needed, patients may receive either a chemotherapy combination called FCR (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab) or newer oral treatments including BTK inhibitors. While FCR can lead to long-term remission, there are concerns about an increased risk of second cancers. Newer oral therapies are thought to have a lower risk, but since CLL itself raises the chance of developing second cancers, it was unclear whether chemotherapy truly adds to that risk.
Dr. Vijenthira’s team studied nearly 1,000 CLL patients in Ontario who were treated with either FCR or BTK inhibitors. They found that second cancers were common in both groups, affecting about 5–10% of patients over 2 years, highlighting the importance of regular cancer screening for all patients with CLL. Although limited by short follow up time, the study showed no difference in second cancer risk between patients treated with chemotherapy and those treated with newer oral therapies.
They also found that death rates were similar for both groups, when accounting for the fact that patients receiving BTK inhibitors tended to be older. In terms of healthcare use, patients treated with FCR had more emergency room visits and hospital stays during their 6-month chemotherapy treatment. However, patients on BTK inhibitors, which are taken indefinitely, had much higher long-term healthcare costs, mainly due to the high drug cost.
This research provided important real-world evidence to guide safer treatment decisions for CLL patients and emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring for second cancers, no matter which treatment is used. Publication is anticipated in the next 1–2 years, once approximately five years of follow-up data is available.
2022: Advancing Personalized Treatments for Patients with Rare PTCL-TFH Lymphoma
Lymphoma Canada supported research led by Dr. Kerry Savage and her team at BC Cancer to better understand a rare type of T-cell lymphoma called peripheral T-cell lymphoma with T-follicular helper phenotype (PTCL-TFH). This rare lymphoma was only officially recognized in 2016 and shares many similarities with another lymphoma called angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), making diagnosis and treatment challenging.
To learn more about PTCL-TFH, the research team reviewed all cases of related lymphomas diagnosed in British Columbia since 1995. So far, they have collected tissue samples from 314 patients with PTCL-TFH, AITL, and peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS). These samples are being combined onto special research slides, called tissue microarrays, that hold tiny pieces from each patient’s tissue. This powerful tool allows scientists to study many lymphoma samples at the same time under identical conditions, making it easier to compare their biological features and identify patterns that could guide better diagnosis and treatment.
The team is also using advanced genetic testing, including whole exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and other molecular techniques, to better understand the genetic changes driving PTCL-TFH. They are studying how cancer cells interact with surrounding cells in their environment, which can affect how the cancer behaves and responds to treatment.
By combining this detailed genetic information with patients’ clinical data, such as their treatments and outcomes, the researchers hope to identify specific features of PTCL-TFH that can guide personalized treatment approaches in the future. Early findings from this study will help doctors better classify and treat this rare lymphoma, ultimately leading to improved care and outcomes for patients.
This work represents the largest and most comprehensive study of PTCL-TFH to date and will serve as a benchmark for future research to develop targeted therapies for people affected by this challenging disease.
2023: Enhancing Radiation Therapy Safety to Support Bone Marrow Transplants
Lymphoma Canada is proud to have supported research led by Dr. Ingrid Spadinger at BC Cancer to improve the safety and effectiveness of total body irradiation (TBI), a type of radiation therapy used before bone marrow transplants. TBI involves delivering radiation to the entire body to eliminate any remaining cancer cells and prepare patients for transplant.
Currently, there are different ways to deliver TBI, but it’s not fully understood how these methods affect the dose of radiation that circulating blood receives. This matters because radiation exposure to blood cells can lead to complications like low lymphocyte counts (important immune cells) and potentially influence the risk of cancer coming back.
Dr. Spadinger’s team is developing a computer model that simulates blood flow and calculates the radiation dose the blood receives during TBI with different delivery techniques. By comparing these doses, the research will help doctors understand which methods deliver radiation more uniformly and safely to patients.
This knowledge will support better clinical decisions as newer, more advanced TBI techniques are introduced, helping to reduce side effects and improve outcomes for patients undergoing bone marrow transplants.
Dr. Spadinger is currently preparing the first scientific publication based on this research.
2023: Improving Treatment Options for ALK-Negative Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Patients
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is one of the most common aggressive types of T-cell lymphoma. While recent treatments have improved survival for many patients, outcomes are less favorable for those whose lymphoma comes back after treatment. Developing new therapies is therefore a critical priority.
Lymphoma Canada supported research led by Dr. Robert Kridel and Dr. Tomohiro Aoki at University Health Network (UHN) to better understand ALK-negative ALCL, particularly how cancer cells interact with normal immune cells in their environment, known as the tumor microenvironment.
Using a cutting-edge technique called single-cell sequencing, the team was able to study the genetic material of individual cancer and immune cells. This technology revealed how cancer cells and immune cells communicate and influence each other, which is important for understanding why some treatments fail.
In their study of tissue samples from ALCL patients, the researchers identified different types of immune cells and discovered unique features of immune cells that appear to be dysfunctional in ALCL. They found certain genes and proteins that cancer cells use to “hide” from the immune system. This interaction may help cancer cells avoid being destroyed by the immune system, and targeting it could lead to new treatments.
Building on these findings, the next phase of research will examine the physical relationships between lymphoma cells and immune cells within the tumor. The team will also test new treatments in laboratory models that aim to boost the immune system’s ability to fight cancer by blocking certain signals used by the tumor.
This work aims to uncover new biomarkers and innovative treatment targets that could lead to therapies with fewer side effects, higher cure rates, and better outcomes for patients with ALK-negative ALCL.
2024: Discovering How Genetic Differences Affect CAR-T Therapy Outcomes
CAR-T therapy is a breakthrough treatment that uses a patient’s own immune cells, reprogrammed to attack lymphoma. While it can be a cure for some patients whose cancer has returned after initial treatments, many unfortunately experience relapse after CAR-T therapy, and in those cases, options are limited.
Lymphoma Canada is currently supporting research led by Dr. Robert Vanner and Dr. Rob Laister at UHN, who are studying why CAR-T therapy works well for some patients but not others. They are looking at genetic changes called mutations in the CAR-T cells themselves. By comparing mutations found in patients who respond exceptionally well to those who don’t respond, the team hopes to identify specific genes and biological pathways that influence treatment success.
This research aims to uncover key factors that could help develop more personalized CAR-T therapies, making this treatment more effective and curative for a larger number of lymphoma patients.
To continue funding vital Canadian research projects like those featured in this campaign, we need your support. Please consider donating today to help advance lymphoma and CLL research in Canada, your contribution truly makes a difference.
