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From soft tissue to stiff leather: Understanding the role of paxillin in liver fibrosis

Researchers have made significant progress in understanding a pathway contributing to liver fibrosis. Paxillin has been found to play a key role in the activation of hepatic stellate cells, leading to excessive extracellular matrix production and scarring. This discovery holds promise for developing new treatments for liver fibrosis.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalJournal of Cell Science·DateNov 1, 2023

Capturing immunotherapy response in a blood drop

A phase 2 clinical trial found that serial blood tests can identify patients who benefit from additional immunotherapies, suggesting a potential early marker of treatment response. The study also showed that ctDNA analyses correlated with tumor size and survival, making it a promising strategy for guiding therapy.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·DateOct 9, 2023

Lurbinectedin for Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs)

Researchers discuss lurbinectedin as a method to treat neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), with encouraging results from phase II basket studies demonstrating activity in platinum-sensitive relapsed SCLC and other malignancies. Lurbinectedin's mechanism of action involves inhibiting oncogenic transcription, promoting apoptosis and cell death.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncoscience·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 6, 2023

New study at the Alzheimer’s Center at Temple casts light on protein that could help defeat Alzheimer’s disease and increase productive lifespan

Scientists at Temple University's Alzheimer's Center have identified a promising new therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease: the protein ABCA7. The study found that cholesterol depletion and inflammation suppress ABCA7 levels in human brain cells, potentially contributing to disease onset.

An ancient anti-cancer mechanism: DISE

Researchers at Northwestern University identified a new evolutionarily conserved RNAi-based form of cell death called Death Induced by Survival gene Elimination (DISE), which targets essential survival genes in cancer cells. This mechanism is ancient and effective against all cancers tested.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 3, 2023

Experts present pioneering vision on reducing brain disorders by 2050

A special supplement presents insights on neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, affecting 55 million people worldwide. Researchers explore novel molecular pathways and therapeutic approaches, such as acupuncture therapy, to alleviate the burden of brain disorders.

SourceIOS Press·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·TypeSystematic review·DateSep 28, 2023

"Radar" detects active cellular destroyers

A team of scientists has developed a method to detect active Cullin-RING ligases (CRLs), which are responsible for destroying unwanted proteins in cells. The new technology, called a molecular radar, reveals which CRLs are deployed to address cellular stresses and perform the actions of some anti-cancer drugs.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Chemical Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 26, 2023

Kinase-targeted therapy in subsets of colorectal cancer

Researchers explore kinase inhibitors as targeted therapies for specific CRC subsets, offering hope for improved treatment options. Key findings suggest that uncovering essential kinases for tumor growth can lead to more effective treatment strategies in metastatic or later-stage CRC patients.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncoscience·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 22, 2023

St. Jude refines definition and hones treatment of hyperdiploid leukemia

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital refined the definition of hyperdiploidy in childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), using DNA index to predict patient outcomes. The study found that a simpler system captures a significant proportion of patients with excellent prognoses, and that individual chromosome ...

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateSep 20, 2023

New model for in vitro production of human brown fat cells lays groundwork for obesity, diabetes cell therapy

A new model for producing human brown fat cells in vitro has been developed, providing a potential solution for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. The researchers identified key cellular signaling cues that lead to brown adipocyte formation and successfully reproduced this process in human pluripotent stem cells.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalDevelopmental Cell·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 20, 2023

Three new articles in the Special Issue “Single-Cell and Spatially Resolved Omics - I” of Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis Articles describe how single-cell and spatially resolved omics can identify novel therapeutic targets

Researchers have identified novel therapeutic targets using single-cell and spatially resolved omics, including cannabidiol for colorectal tumors, Cux1 as a potential target for dry skin diseases, and microglia communication for Alzheimer's disease. These studies offer hope for future treatments.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalJournal of Pharmaceutical Analysis·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 18, 2023

Personalized combination treatment turns on an immunometabolic switch to effectively control an aggressive form of prostate cancer

Researchers developed a personalized combination treatment that turned on an immunometabolic switch to effectively control aggressive prostate cancer. The treatment showed complete tumor control and long-lasting survival without side effects in a mouse model of advanced prostate cancer.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateSep 18, 2023

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers develop novel tumor-targeting nanospheres with the potential to dramatically improve light-based cancer diagnosis and treatment

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed acidity-triggered rational membrane peptide-functionalized nanospheres that combine tumor detection and monitoring with potent, light-triggered cancer therapy. These nanospheres enable improved efficacy of phototherapies with minimal systemic toxicity.

SourceNew York University·JournalACS Nano·DateSep 13, 2023

LSU Health New Orleans researchers discover a key failure in amd that may lead to progression and vision loss

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) decreases essential fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), limiting protective molecule formation and repair potential. The discovery may open new therapeutic avenues for AMD, particularly in females, who are more susceptible to retinal degeneration due to estrogen effects.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalExperimental Eye Research·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 11, 2023

CAR-T-cell therapy without side effects? Hollings researchers show results in preclinical models

Researchers at Hollings Cancer Center have made a breakthrough in CAR-T-cell therapy by eliminating the need for lymphodepleting chemotherapy, which reduces the risk of severe side effects. In preclinical models, their method showed promising results in controlling cancer and creating memory cells trained on specific proteins.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalMolecular Therapy·DateSep 7, 2023

Newly discovered fungus helps destroy a harmful food toxin

A newly discovered fungus has been found to transform the toxic compound patulin into less harmful byproducts, offering potential solutions for controlling its presence in food products. The fungus, identified as Acremonium sp., was shown to degrade patulin into desoxypatulinic acid and other compounds, which are significantly less toxic.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalMicrobiologyOpen·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 31, 2023

Gene therapy for brain tumor shows promising early results in humans

A new study from the University of Michigan Department of Neurosurgery and Rogel Cancer Center shows promising early results that a therapy combining cell-killing and immune-stimulating drugs are safe and effective in extending survival for patients with gliomas, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer. The treatment improved survival...

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 31, 2023

Embargoed - Potent oral agent that acts as both immunotherapy and targeted treatment produces high response rate in patients with hard-to-treat and refractory multiple myeloma when combined with steroid, trial shows

A new oral agent called mezigdomide has shown impressive responses in combination with dexamethasone in patients with multiple myeloma that had relapsed and stopped responding to all currently available therapies. The treatment produced a response rate of over 40% and a median duration of response of almost 8 months.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 30, 2023

Once rhabdomyosarcoma, now muscle

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have made a significant breakthrough in transforming rhabdomyosarcoma cells into regularly functioning muscle cells using differentiation therapy. This innovative approach has the potential to spare patients and their families from pain and suffering by offering a new treatment option.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 28, 2023

New Chinese Medical Journal review summarizes latest research on gamma delta T cells for tumor immunotherapy

Recent research on gamma delta T cells has made significant progress in understanding their role in antitumor immune response. Key findings include the identification of various hidden mechanisms and a strong association between tumor-infiltrating gamma delta T cells and patient survival.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Medical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateAug 22, 2023

Inhibiting glutamine metabolism impacts tumor cells or the microenvironment?

Glutamine metabolism plays a crucial role in cancer cell growth and survival, with its inhibition shown to block cancer cell growth in vivo and in vitro. A recent editorial paper suggests that glutamine dysregulation may also impact the tumor microenvironment, potentially leading to increased oxidative stress and cancer cell death.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateAug 16, 2023