# Single-cell characterization of tumor and microenvironment co-evolution in Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas

> **NIH NIH U01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2021 · $607,499

## Abstract

Project Summary
Tumor and microenvironment constitute complex ecologies involving a multitude of stromal cells, immune cells,
and in some cases coexisting microbes. A paradigmatic example of complex tumor-microenvironment
interactions are peripheral T-cell lymphomas, aggressive and genetically complex tumors where tumor cells often
constitute a minority cell population. Peripheral T-cell lymphomas are frequently associated with the presence of
Epstein-Barr virus whose role in the disease remains largely uncharacterized. We have shown that the presence
of specific macrophage populations and viral transcriptional programs are associated to survival. But, how do
tumor and microenvironment coevolve and inform prognosis? Our project goal is to characterize the tumor-
microenvironment interactions and coevolution in peripheral T-cell lymphomas using large collections of human
transcriptomic data and longitudinal single-cell sequencing data from recently developed mouse models. We will
develop an approach based on random matrix theory and topological data analysis for modelling the continuous
aspect of tumor microenvironment evolution. We will further deploy our lab-developed methodology for in silico
pathogen detection to study the interactions between the Epstein-Barr virus and peripheral T-cell lymphoma
lymphomagenesis and progression. Successful completion of our goals will provide a general, experimentally
validated strategy to uncover the dynamical nature of tumor-microenvironment interactions at the single-cell
resolution in tumor types with complex stromal component. Additionally, our approach will help uncover new
microenvironment driven targets supporting lymphoma cell growth, with potential therapeutic implications for the
treatment of this deadly disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10218124
- **Project number:** 5U01CA243073-03
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Teresa Palomero
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $607,499
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-08-21 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10218124

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10218124, Single-cell characterization of tumor and microenvironment co-evolution in Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas (5U01CA243073-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10218124. Licensed CC0.

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