# Development of Mechanism-Based Therapy For Myc+/Bcl2+ Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

> **NIH NIH P50** · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · 2020 · $273,372

## Abstract

Approximately 30% of diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) co-express high levels of Myc and Bcl2 
proteins (Myc+/Bcl2+ DLBCL), which confers a poor prognosis when treated with standard chemotherapy 
regimens. Accordingly, Myc+/Bcl2+ expression defines a subset of patients with DLBCL with a clear unmet 
medical need. The goal of this project is to develop novel mechanism-based therapy to improve the cure rate 
of patients with Myc+/Bcl2+ DLBCL. To do that, we will capitalize on the recent knowledge reported by our 
group and others demonstrating oncogenic cooperation between Myc and Bcl2, and Myc and activated PI3K 
pathway that can be exploited by novel targeted approaches. As the development of drugs that can directly 
inhibit Myc protein remains challenging, we will examine alternative approaches, including targeting Myc 
transcription using HDAC inhibitors and bromodomain inhibitors, or Myc translation using inhibitors of 
mTORC1 and the eIF4A RNA helicase. In Aim 1, we will investigate the contribution of protein translation to 
Myc/Bcl2 expression In DLBCL. In Aim 2, we will perform preclinical experiments to develop novel 
mechanism-based treatment strategies for Myc+/Bcl2+ DLBCL. In Aim 3, we will conduct phase I/II studies of 
novel therapies developed from Aims 1 and 2 to evaluate their safety and efficacy in patients with Myc+/Bcl2+ 
DLBCL.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9988854
- **Project number:** 5P50CA192937-05
- **Recipient organization:** SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Gilles Salles
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $273,372
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-30 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9988854

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9988854, Development of Mechanism-Based Therapy For Myc+/Bcl2+ Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (5P50CA192937-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-01 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9988854. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*