What It Takes to Transform a T Cell

The role of fusion genes and cancer driver genes in malignant transformation has traditionally been explored using transgenic or chimeric mouse models. It has been challenging to develop models that fully resemble the characteristics and morphology of human cancers. This applies to anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), a malignancy classified as a peripheral T-cell lymphoma. It is still unclear at which stage of T-cell development ALCL can occur, as well as the early molecular events required for malignant transformation. In this issue of Cancer Research, Pawlicki and colleagues introduced the NPM-ALK fusion gene and mutant variants into primary T cells from healthy donors. By monitoring transduced T-cell clones over time, they demonstrated that transformed T cells undergo a progressive loss of T-cell identity accompanied with upregulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition program and reemergence of an immature, thymic profile. Introduction of NPM-ALK was, however, not sufficient to convert healthy T cells to malignant clones, as this process required activation of T-cell receptor signaling. The study sets the stage for modeling early genetic changes in human tumors.See related article by Pawlicki et al., p. 3241.