Using murine models to investigate tumor-lymphoid interactions: Spotlight on chronic lymphocytic leukemia and angioimmunoblastic T-Cell lymphoma

The role of the tumor microenvironment in leukemias and lymphomas is well established, yet the intricacies of how the malignant cells regulate and influence their non-malignant counterparts remain elusive. For example, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an expansion of malignant CD5⁺CD19⁺ B cells, yet the non-malignant T cells play just as large of a role in disease presentation and etiology. Herein, we review the dynamic tumor cell to lymphoid repertoire interactions found in two non-Hodgkin's lymphoma subtypes: CLL and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. We aim to highlight the pivot work done in the murine models which recapitulate these diseases and explore the insights that can be gained from studying the immuno-oncological regulation of non-malignant lymphoid counterparts.