Executive Summary : | The removal of apoptotic cells is crucial for maintaining tissue homeostasis during normal physiological conditions. This process involves the expression of "find me" and "eat me" signals by dying cells, chemotaxis, and the accumulation of macrophages at the site of apoptotic cells. Normal cells express "do not eat me" signals, such as CD47, CD24, and PD-L1, which protect them from phagocytic and cytotoxic immune cells. Altered levels of find me and eat me signal molecules have been reported in patients with certain cancers, such as lung, breast, and colorectal cancers, which hinder immune cells from recognizing and eliminating tumor cells. Studies suggest that find me signals, particularly S1P and CX3CL1, modulate cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, and invasion. Elevated expression of do not eat me signals, such as CD47, facilitates cancer growth by inducing invasion and metastasis. However, the role of find me signals in the pathogenesis of haematological malignancies, including T cell lymphoma, remains elusive. The tumor-stage-specific immunotherapeutic potential of do not eat me signals has not yet been evaluated. This study aims to uncover the role of find me signals in modulating crucial cellular processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and migration and invasion, particularly in T cell lymphoma. The experimental findings will help design novel, patentable, and effective therapeutic strategies against T cell lymphoma, a complex malignancy with complex clinical management. |