Oncogenic Vav1-Myo1f induces therapeutically targetable macrophage-rich tumor microenvironment in peripheral T cell lymphoma

SUMMARY

Peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) comprises heterogeneous lymphoid malignancies characterized by pleomorphic lymphocytes and variable inflammatory cell-rich tumor microenvironment. Genetic drivers in PTCL-NOS include genomic alterations affecting the VAV1 oncogene; however, their specific role and mechanisms in PTCL-NOS remain incompletely understood. Here we show that expression of Vav1-Myo1f, a recurrent PTCL-associated VAV1 fusion, induces oncogenic transformation of CD4 ⁺ T cells. Notably, mouse Vav1-Myo1f lymphomas show T helper type 2 features analogous to high-risk GATA3 ⁺ human PTCL. Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals that Vav1-Myo1f alters T cell differentiation and leads to accumulation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the tumor microenvironment, a feature linked with aggressiveness in human PTCL. Importantly, therapeutic targeting of TAMs induces strong anti-lymphoma effects, highlighting the lymphoma cells’ dependency on the microenvironment. These results demonstrate an oncogenic role for Vav1-Myo1f in the pathogenesis of PTCL, involving deregulation in T cell polarization, and identify the lymphoma-associated macrophage-tumor microenvironment as a therapeutic target in PTCL.

Graphical Abstract

In brief

Cortes et al. show that expression of Vav1-Myo1f, a recurrent peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL)-associated VAV1 fusion, induces CD4 ⁺ T cell lymphoma with features analogous to high-risk GATA3 ⁺ human PTCL. Expression of Vav1-Myo1f induces recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages to the tumor microenvironment that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention in PTCL.