Dr. Ari Melnick on MALT1 as a Potential Target in DLBCL

Ari M. Melnick, MD, a professor of medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical College, explains recent interest in the protein MALT1 as a potential therapeutic targeted for patients with activated B cell—like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (ABC–DLBCL).

MALT1 is the only known paracaspase protein in humans and is related to caspases, which play an essential role in apoptosis. Melnick believes that agents designed to target MALT1 are less likely to interact with other proteins, since no other paracaspases exist in humans.

The uniqueness of MALT1 makes it potentially more useful, Melnick believes. Additionally, MALT1 is an active component of the CBM complex, which is downstream from two active pathways that are implicated in ABC-DLBCL pathogenesis. As such, inhibiting this protein may be an effective treatment by dampening tumor signaling, Melnick proposes.