Our research concentrates on the study of malignant lymphoma and tumors of the immune system using the tools of immunology and molecular biology to develop a better understanding of the initiation and progression of the malignant process. Receptor molecules present on the surface of tumor cells transmit signals for regulation of cell growth. These receptors include the immunoglobulin molecule on B cell tumors and the T cell receptor on T cell tumors. Questions the lab is currently addressing include:
1. Can a clue to the pathogenesis of lymphoma be derived from a study of their antigen receptors?
2. Can new treatments for lymphoma be developed by targeting receptors with monoclonal antibodies?
3. Can vaccines be developed which can induce an immune response in the host against the receptors on their own tumor?

• Natkunam Y, Vainer G, Chen J, Zhao S, Marinelli RJ, Hammer AS, Hamilton-Dutoit S, Pikarsky E, Amir G, Levy R, Yisraeli JK, Lossos IS "Expression of the RNA-binding protein VICKZ in normal hematopoietic tissues and neoplasms." Haematologica 2007; 92: 2: 176-83 More
• Weinberg OK, Ai WZ, Mariappan MR, Shum C, Levy R, Arber DA "Minor BCL2 Breakpoints in Follicular Lymphoma. Frequency and Correlation with Grade and Disease Presentation in 236 Cases." J Mol Diagn 2007; More
• Liu A, Guardino A, Chinsangaram L, Goldstein MJ, Panicali D, Levy R "Therapeutic vaccination against murine lymphoma by intratumoral injection of recombinant fowlpox virus encoding CD40 ligand." Cancer Res 2007; 67: 14: 7037-44 More
• Natkunam Y, Farinha P, Hsi ED, Hans CP, Tibshirani R, Sehn LH, Connors JM, Gratzinger D, Rosado M, Zhao S, Pohlman B, Wongchaowart N, Bast M, Avigdor A, Schiby G, Nagler A, Byrne GE, Levy R, Gascoyne RD, Lossos IS "LMO2 Protein Expression Predicts Survival in Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treated With Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy With and Without Rituximab." J Clin Oncol 2007; More
• Li J, Song W, Czerwinski DK, Varghese B, Uematsu S, Akira S, Krieg AM, Levy R "Lymphoma Immunotherapy with CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides Requires TLR9 Either in the Host or in the Tumor Itself." J Immunol 2007; 179: 4: 2493-500 More