From Laboratory Research to Patient Care
The major focus of Dr. Iqbal’s lab is to understand the molecular mechanism of lymphomagenesis and to translate the relevant findings in lymphoma patient care. The laboratory has extensively used multi-omics to improve molecular diagnosis and prognostication in lymphoid neoplasms. Since the last decade, my laboratory has extensively focused on genetic characterization and delineation of the molecular mechanisms leading to the transformation, in particular peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), which are challenging to diagnose and hard to treat. PTCLs exhibit an aggressive clinical course and are challenging to study at the molecular level, due to rarity and inter and intra-heterogeneity within PTCL entities. Furthermore, the lack of authentic animal models and lymphoma cell lines have impeded the success in clinical translation.
Current Projects
Using functional approaches, we have now defined robust diagnostic and prognostic signatures with distinct clinical and biological features. Two major consortiums, the international PTCL Project (I-PTCL) and the Lymphoma/Leukemia Molecular Profiling Project (LLMPP) consortiums are crucial for providing high quality NHLs biospecimens for these studies, which have tremendously improved our understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms. Currently, the projects in the lab include:
- Genetic Analysis
Genetic analysis in the novel PTCL subtypes. - Circulating Cell-Free/Tumor DNA (cf/ctDNA)
The cell-free (cf) DNA sequencing, that can aid in diagnosis and disease monitoring. - Molecular SubClassification
Molecular subclassification of PTCL for routine clinical practice. - Murine Models
Developing novel murine models for PTCL subtypes. - Evaluating the novel therapeutics (antibody-conjugated) drugs in PTCL.
- Tumor microenvironment analysis using Image Mass Cytometry (IMC).
The lab has generated T-cell relevant mouse models to determine the cell intrinsic pathogenetic mechanisms. Our laboratory has collaboration with an outstanding team of experts and colleagues who provide complimentary support in pathobiology, clinical management, liquid biopsy assay and bioinformatics/biostatistics.