Researchers Uncover Key Protein Fueling Hodgkin Lymphoma Growth
A significant breakthrough by researchers from The Australian National University (ANU) has shed light on a specific protein that may contribute to the growth of Hodgkin lymphoma, a prevalent type of blood cancer. The study, published in Science Advances, reveals that the protein known as H2A.B, typically found only in sperm-producing cells in the testis, is manipulated by cancer cells in patients suffering from Hodgkin lymphoma.
Professor David Tremethick, one of the leading authors of the study, described H2A.B as acting “like a rogue switchboard” within the cancer cells. He explained that this protein does not merely reside on the DNA; it plays an active role in altering gene expression, protein synthesis, and the overall functioning of the cancer cell to promote tumor growth.
Because H2A.B is generally absent in most healthy tissues, targeting this protein could offer a selective approach to cancer therapy, minimizing harm to normal cells.
In collaboration with Tremethick, Associate Professor Tatiana Soboleva highlighted that H2A.B is among the few variants of this type of protein that could be targeted with drugs. “Targeting how H2A.B is modified or how it interacts with other proteins could help switch off cancer-promoting pathways,” she noted.
Previous research hinted at H2A.B’s involvement in cancer, but this study provides the first comprehensive analysis of how it allows cancer cells to co-opt normal genetic programming. The authors indicated that H2A.B is part of a broader trend of cancer cells reactivating genes usually reserved for reproductive processes.
Understanding the mechanisms behind this phenomenon is essential for the advancement of targeted therapies. “We now know that H2A.B can bind to a unique set of proteins known as the SWI/SNF complex, which is crucial for opening DNA to activate gene expression,” Soboleva explained. “Blocking H2A.B’s interactions could potentially inhibit its cancer-promoting effects.”
This groundbreaking research marks a pivotal step towards developing more effective and personalized treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma, opening new avenues for targeted intervention in cancer therapies.
For more information, refer to the study by Xuanzhao Jiang et al, titled “Nonchromatin regulatory functions of the histone variant H2A.B in SWI/SNF genomic deposition,” published in Science Advances (2025), DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adx1568.
