PhD ceremony Ms. Y. Liu: Novel insights in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin lymphoma. Microenvironment, genetic landscape and regulation of HLA expression

PhD ceremony: Ms. Y. Liu

Dissertation: Novel insights in the pathogenesis of Hodgkin lymphoma. Microenvironment, genetic landscape and regulation of HLA expression

Promotor(s): prof. J.H.M. van den Berg

Faculty: Medical Sciences

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is a B cell malignancy consisting of neoplastic Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells, which generally comprise less than 1% of the total cell population, and a large majority of non-malignant reactive immune cells. This highly characteristic histology makes cHL a disease that is difficult to study. In our group we have a longstanding interest in the molecular, pathological and immunological background of cHL. The focus of this thesis is on the tumour microenvironment, gene mutations, and the regulation of HLA expression.

In summary, the most important outcomes are: 1) The microenvironment in cHL is actively shaped and an essential component of the tumour; 2) The complete loss of HLA class I in HL might be related to gene mutations affecting β2-m or the classical HLA genes themselves; 3) Special PML isoforms and SATB1 partially affect HLA expression in cHL.