The present invention pertains to a combined diagnostic and therapeutic approach for leukemia/lymphoma patients comprising the analysis of the biomarker T cell immune response cDNA 7 (TIRC7) and, depending on its expression in leukemia/lymphoma cells in a patient, the use of TIRC7 as a target for therapy. In particular, the invention provides methods for stratifying leukemia/lymphoma patients into two groups one of which will benefit from a TIRC7 modulatory treatment, and one of which are non-responders to such a therapy. Furthermore, the invention provides compounds for the treatment of patients that are identified as responders according to the invention. Thus, the present disclosure offers a true theranostic approach for leukemia/lymphoma patients based on TIRC7.