Research on how cancer spreads through the body. Covers metastasis monitoring, bone metastasis, and nanoparticle treatments.
Researchers developed a microfluidic device to study breast cancer cells' invasion process, identifying 244 different genes that enable invasive cells. The tool mimics human tissue environments, offering new avenues for biomarkers and targeted therapies.
A new study using uEXPLORER technology successfully detected metastatic cancer in patients, providing high-quality images of tumor behavior. Parametric images showed improved visibility of cancer lesions detection and multi-parametric characterization of tumor metastases.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine discovered that breast cancer cells can alter the function of NK cells to facilitate their spread. The study suggests preventing this reprogramming might stop breast cancer from metastasizing, a major cause of death in breast cancer patients.
Researchers discovered that metastatic breast cancer cells can reprogram natural killer (NK) cells to stop killing cancer cells and instead aid in metastasis. This work also identifies new immunotherapy strategies to reverse this reprogramming process, offering a potential way to prevent or reduce breast cancer mortality.
International laboratories joined forces to create BrMPanel, a repository of over 60 cell lines for brain metastasis research. The platform facilitates knowledge exchange and speeds up the development of effective therapies.
Moffitt researchers discovered deltaNp63 protein plays a key role in facilitating cancer spread by oscillating its expression. The protein is overexpressed in many primary tumors and metastases, and its silence is required for cancer cells to undergo EMT.
Researchers at Hokkaido University found that inflammatory changes in tumors caused by chemotherapy trigger drug resistance in blood vessels, resulting in poorer cancer outcomes. The team also discovered a treatment strategy involving the combination of an ABCB1 inhibitor and anticancer drugs to overcome this resistance.
A new radiotracer, 68Ga-DOTA-JR11, has shown excellent imaging performance in detecting liver metastases and providing important information to guide treatment. The study found that 68Ga-DOTA-JR11 performed better than 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT in detecting liver lesions, with a higher tumor-to-background ratio.
Researchers report a case of hyperprogression in metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients treated with immunotherapy combinations, highlighting the need for biomarker development and treatment strategies. Cabozantinib shows promise in controlling hyperprogression, but clinical trials are needed to identify optimal approaches.
A single-center retrospective study of 282 patients with early or locally advanced lung adenocarcinoma found that EGFR-mutated lung cancer had increased rates of metastatic recurrence. Early identification of these recurrences is crucial, given the improved post-relapse survival observed in this population.
A scalable 'lab-on-a-chip' device detects early and advanced breast cancer in plasma samples with high accuracy, overcoming current diagnostic limitations. The EV-CLUE chip's noninvasive method shows promise for improving cancer detection and monitoring.
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have shown that a protein called Slug regulates cell movement and can be inhibited to suppress pancreatic cancer metastasis. The study also identified two druggable targets, ERK and eIF2 alpha, which hold promise as treatments for the deadly disease.
The largest ever study of radiosurgery for brain metastases from small cell lung cancer has been published in JAMA Oncology. The analysis found that patients treated with first-line stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) had a median overall survival of 8.5 months, compared to 6.2 months for those treated with whole-brain radiation (WBRT). Ad...
Scientists discover that nicotine, found in tobacco, promotes the spread of non-small-cell lung cancer cells into the brain. Researchers identify parthenolide as a potential treatment option to prevent brain metastasis.
Researchers found that continued nicotine use promotes brain metastasis in lung cancer patients, who often struggle to quit due to nicotine addiction. Parthenolide, a compound from the herb Feverfew, blocks this effect and may prevent brain tumors, offering new hope for treatment.
A study published in Oncotarget found that T-DM1 significantly improves response rates and median progression-free survival in patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer. This suggests a preferred second-line choice for T-DM1 over trastuzumab emtansine.
Researchers at Tulane University discovered a way to inhibit aggressive triple negative breast cancer by targeting the TRAF3IP2 gene. Suppressing this gene suppresses tumor growth and metastasis, while silencing another gene, Rab27a, only delays tumor growth but not metastasis.
Researchers identified an enzyme, p38α kinase, as crucial for metastasis, which is the primary cause of cancer deaths. By blocking this enzyme using an inhibitor, they successfully reduced melanoma's spread to the lungs and prolonged survival time.
A new method for predicting the evolution of melanoma uses the quantification of BRAF-V600E mutation load as a prognostic marker. The study found that patients with lower levels of this mutation in their primary tumours were more likely to develop metastasis, suggesting its potential use as a predictor of progress to metastasis.
A new study reveals that lymph node and distant metastases develop through different evolutionary mechanisms, with lymph nodes being a genetically highly diverse group. This suggests that metastasis formation in locoregional lymph nodes is comparatively easy and can be achieved by many cells, whereas dissemination to and outgrowth in d...
Researchers have found that genetic mutations from birth can promote cancer metastasis, with a single gene variant ApoE4 associated with slower tumor growth and better immune response. This discovery may lead to personalized treatment approaches for patients based on their genetics.
Mutations in TP53 and concomitant mutant p53 proteins in cancer cells have been found to accelerate tumorigenesis and metastasis. The researchers found that the combination of gain of function mutations and loss of heterozygosity provides protection against cell death, promoting a fibrotic microenvironment and inflammation pathways.
Researchers at City of Hope have identified a novel microRNA biomarker that can detect lymph node metastases in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which makes up about 80% of all pancreatic cancer cases. The test has an accuracy level of 78% and could lead to more personalized treatment strategies for patients.
Researchers at Université catholique de Louvain discovered that cancer cells can deactivate the CD166 'Velcro' protein on their surface, allowing them to migrate more easily and form metastases. This fundamental mechanism may lead to the development of new solutions to block metastasis and slow down cancer progression.
Researchers at DKFZ successfully blocked a receptor that stimulates tumor growth and metastasis with an antibody, slowing down cancer progression. The study found that the antibody reduced metastases in treated mice without affecting blood vessel formation.
A virtual computational cell was built to predict cancer metastasis by analyzing the interaction of numerous molecules and signals within the tumor environment. The research found that hybrid cancer cells can be targeted using specific molecular signals and extracellular matrix proteins, offering new therapeutic strategies against cancer.
A phase II clinical trial found that stereotactic ablative radiation (SABR) slowed disease progression in a subset of men with limited spread of prostate cancer. SABR treatment was associated with an expanded population of T cells, suggesting a full-body immune system response to their cancers.
A randomized trial of high-dose targeted radiation versus observation found no significant difference in progression prevention among 54 men with recurrent hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The study suggests that observation may be a viable alternative to radiation therapy for this patient population.
Jason Gleghorn is developing microfluidic devices to culture entire lymph nodes outside the body, enabling real-time study of cell behavior. The project aims to understand chronic infection and inflammation, as well as drug delivery strategies for chemotherapy and antiretroviral therapies.
Researchers found that osimertinib, commonly used to treat non-small cell lung cancer, showed benefits for patients with metastatic brain cancers, with 64% experiencing a measurable response and 90% disease control in the central nervous system.
Researchers at UC Davis have discovered that changes in surface sugarlike molecules, or glycans, on cancer cells help them metastasize. The study found that cancer cells with high levels of mannose glycan were more likely to spread into surrounding tissues.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed a microfluidic platform that allows for the isolation and study of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from blood samples. The platform enables high precision analysis of CTCs' mechanical properties at the single cell level, holding potential for early cancer detection and monitoring.
Researchers have developed a new contrast agent that detects brain metastases in certain types of cancer, such as breast cancer, at an early stage using minimal amounts of contrast agent. The agent works by detecting the formation of new blood vessels, improving MRI sensitivity and visualization.
A new study from Tulane University has identified a protein on tumor-derived extracellular vesicles that indicates if NSCLC tumors are likely to metastasize. This discovery could lead to the development of an early diagnostic test for patients at high risk of cancer spread.
A study of 30,180 patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma found that nearly 20% had pathological signs of aggressive disease, increasing the risk of distant metastasis. The research emphasizes the need for new preoperative tests to identify high-risk tumors and thorough patient counseling on all treatment options.
Researchers have discovered that breast cancer cells change their metabolism to move to other parts of the body, a finding that could lead to new strategies for preventing the spread of cancer. This shift in metabolism may be targeted with drugs to prevent metastasis and improve survival rates.
Cancer cells exploit a protein to break through tissue boundaries, increasing motility and invasiveness.
A new radiopharmaceutical, [55Co]Co-DOTATATE, has been developed to aid in the diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumor metastases. It resulted in superior image contrast and enhanced detection compared to commonly used imaging agents.
A pilot study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati shows that radiation therapy before immunotherapy may increase patient survival for those with brain metastases. The combination therapy was found to be superior to radiation alone, with genes associated with cell death signaling and inflammation present in tissue.
Research reveals some extra chromosomes in cancer cells can inhibit metastasis and even increase survival rates for patients. A study published in Developmental Cell found beneficial aneuploidies associated with increased survival, contrary to the long-held notion that aneuploidy always skews gene activity towards aggressive cancers.
Researchers found that WDR74 protein enhances the ability of circulating tumor cells to metastasize in both lung cancer and melanoma. The protein's presence increases oncogenic properties, while its absence decreases metastatic potential.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center identified an adaptation by cancer cells that facilitates their spreading to distant sites. Targeted therapies disrupting the ribosome function and inhibiting cancer cell growth slows the spread of breast cancer in a mouse model.
Cancer cells can change their developmental identity, enabling them to spread and evade the immune system. Researchers identified specific cell types involved in lung development that are also present in cancer metastases.
A new biomarker for detecting liver metastases has been identified by a Georgia State University research team. The breakthrough uses a targeted MRI contrast agent that can pinpoint tiny instances of cancer cells, overcoming major barriers in early diagnosis.
A Cedars-Sinai team will investigate the interplay between dietary fat and fatty liver disease to understand how cancer spreads to the liver and find ways to block it. The study aims to identify key mechanisms that allow cancer to spread to the liver and develop potential treatments.
A new study suggests that targeting Hsp47 could block cancer cell-platelet interaction and inhibit metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer patients. The protein is often amplified in the genes of metastatic breast cancer tissue, potentially serving as a biomarker for metastasis.
A team at Tohoku University discovered that BACH1 facilitates pancreatic cancer spread by reducing cell-to-cell adhesion. Silencing or overexpressing BACH1 in pancreatic cancer cells reduced metastasis and improved survival rates.
Researchers found improved survival times of 13.6 months and 17.8 months for uveal melanoma patients with liver metastasis treated with new therapies, compared to 5.3 months in earlier years. The shift from systemic chemotherapy to targeted liver treatments has led to significant benefits.
A new study published in Nature Communications found that sevoflurane anesthesia leads to more metastatic burden in the lung after breast tumor resecting surgery than propofol. The findings may guide clinicians in optimizing anesthesia choice for breast cancer surgery to achieve best long-term outcomes.
A study found that increased LOXL2 protein levels in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma cells promote metastasis. The protein's role in regulating metastatic function remains unclear, but it interacts with vimentin, a cytoskeletal protein involved in cell migration.
Chronic exposure to interleukin-1-beta promotes lung cancer metastasis by altering gene expression, enabling cancer cells to adopt a phenotype that facilitates distance organ colonization. The study provides new insights into the role of chronic inflammation in tumor progression and metastasis.
Researchers found that protein AKAP8 inhibits breast cancer metastasis by interfering with proteins that promote metastatic behavior. AKAP8 also predicts metastatic breast cancer outcomes in patients and can inhibit progression in animal models.
Isolated limb infusion (ILI) is a new method for treating melanoma metastases confined to an extremity, offering a more targeted and less exhausting alternative to systemic chemotherapy. The study found an overall response rate of 76% and long-term limb salvage rate of 90%, comparable to high-volume centers in the US and Australia.
Cancer cells store lipids in vesicles called lipid droplets, making them more invasive and prone to forming metastases. The researchers found that TGF-beta2 is the switch responsible for both lipid storage and aggressive cancer cell behavior.
Researchers developed a new compound that targets microRNA-21, a molecule linked to aggressive breast cancer, awakening its self-destruct system and killing cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected. In mouse models, the compound showed promise in reducing breast cancer spread and decreasing invasiveness in other cancers.
Researchers found that estrogen regulates accumulation of immune cells in the liver, promoting tumor growth and immune suppression. The study suggests exploring sex hormones in female cancer patients and using anti-estrogen drugs to improve immunotherapy outcomes.
Researchers discovered that restoring BMP4 activity blocks distant metastasis in multiple organs, including the lung and bone. High levels of BMP4 are associated with better patient outcomes.
Researchers have found that MYC and TWIST1, two genes that promote cancer development, work together to recruit immune cells to tumors, creating an environment that facilitates cancer cell spread. Blocking a key step in this process may help prevent metastasis.
Scientists identified a new biological pathway (RICTOR/mTORC2) as a potential therapeutic target for colon cancer. Targeting this pathway could enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatments. The study also highlights the importance of SMAD4 gene mutations in colon cancer progression.
Fibroblasts play a crucial role in wound healing but also facilitate tumor growth and metastases in breast cancer. Inhibiting inflammatory signaling pathways may prevent metastatic relapse, say researchers from Tel Aviv University.