Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), the most prevalent B-cell malignancy in the Western world, has seen a rising incidence rate. Despite significant advancements in treatment methodologies, CLL continues to be an incurable disease. Traditional therapeutic approaches leave early-stage patients in a "watch and wait" state, due to the absence of effective treatments. Our study shifts the focus towards the unique lipid metabolism of CLL cells, proposing a novel therapeutic approach by exploiting metabolic vulnerabilities in CLL, particularly during early disease stages. We investigate how dietary patterns, particularly the Western diet, influence CLL progression and determine the role of nutrient transporters in modulating CLL cell metabolism and growth. Initial findings highlight a link between diet and disease progression, underscoring the potential of dietary intervention and metabolic targeting as innovative treatment pathways. Our mission is to offer new hope through targeted, metabolism-based therapies. By understanding the relationship between nutrient intake, transporter expression, and CLL progression, we aim to pave the way for novel treatments that could transform patient outcomes.
https://med3.mri.tum.de/de/forschung/nachwuchsgruppe-dr-eichner-solute-carriers-cancer