Research on the cell biology of tumors. Covers cancer-cell vulnerabilities, tumor spread, nanoreactor therapies, and AI-guided cancer research.
Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke reprograms lung stem cells, making them vulnerable to specific cancer-causing gene alterations. Researchers found that cigarette smoke altered both epigenetic programming and gene expression in lung stem cells, creating distinct precancerous cell states.
Tony Hunter, PhD, receives the 2026 Albany Prize for his identification of tyrosine phosphorylation, a molecular switch that has been targeted to create over 100 cancer drugs. This discovery has saved millions of lives worldwide and transformed cancer biology and treatment.
A Mount Sinai study reveals that loss of p53 can reorganize Wnt signaling into a radial gradient, allowing mutant cells to expand through normal tissue. The researchers found that the spatial organization of Wnt signaling, rather than its overall activity, plays a critical role in this process.
Researchers developed a mass spectrometry method to analyze tissue during brain tumor surgery, distinguishing glioma from non-tumor tissue with high confidence. The method, which takes roughly three minutes, provides actionable molecular information during surgery, potentially guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine identified a metabolic weak point in exhausted immune cells in head and neck cancer. The study found that blocking this weak point in laboratory experiments reactivates the cells, suggesting a potential target for future treatment.
A new study found that cancer cells selectively chip away gene-rich sections of the Y chromosome, triggering ripples that regulate tumor growth. The Y chromosome erosion was found to be acquired over time, rather than inherited, and was linked to increased mortality from certain cancers.
Researchers found that the loss of the Y chromosome in healthy-seeming tissue can serve as an early indicator of cancer development. The study analyzed 1,000 tissue samples from 405 men and discovered that Y chromosome loss increased in normal tissue adjacent to tumors, particularly in organs like the colon, rectum, and esophagus.
Researchers developed a compact, handheld mid-infrared imaging spectrometer that produces high-resolution chemical maps without stains or labels. The device holds promise for various applications, including clinical diagnosis and forensic analysis, by providing label-free chemical imaging.
By creating virtual cells from 4D AI models and digital twins, researchers can predict how mitochondria respond to drug treatment, grouping cells that respond similarly together. This technology has the potential to speed up drug discovery and accelerate research for diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's.
The Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology is hosting a public webinar highlighting key findings from Alliance and Alliance Foundation Trials studies presented at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting. The webinar will feature treatment advances for breast, lung, and prostate cancers, and will include patient representatives to provide insigh...
A new screening method using machine learning identified new potential drug compounds and a target specific to AML cells. The method exploited unique features of cancer cells, including a vulnerability in glutathione reductase proteins, to selectively target AML cells.
Researchers used a rapid autopsy program to analyze 104 tumors from 20 patients, revealing the genomic architecture and natural history of metastatic bladder cancer subtypes. The study identified distinct differences between subtypes, including how they develop metastasis and respond to treatments.
A study from the University of Cologne identified a critical dependency in small cell lung cancer that can be exploited therapeutically. Targeted inhibition of the NMD pathway offers a promising approach to treat SCLC by accumulating mutated proteins and presenting abnormal peptides on the cell surface, making it detectable to the immu...
Researchers at ISTA discover that chaotic environments around tumor cells can trigger specific behavior, leading to increased detachment and invasion. Computer simulations and experiments confirm the findings, shedding new light on the complex interactions between cancer cells and their microenvironment.
Researchers developed a bio-based Fe-MOF nanoreactor that combines natural-ligand chemistry with multimetallic redox catalysis, biomimetic targeting and MRI visibility. The nanoplatform produced a strong ROS response, increased apoptosis, and tumor inhibition in breast cancer cells and mice.
Rice University bioengineer Michael King joins the Texas Cancer Institute's AI advisory panel to explore AI's potential in cancer research and prevention. The panel aims to ensure responsible and ethical use of AI in biomedical research, with King's expertise in cancer bioengineering playing a key role.
A University of Helsinki research group has discovered a weakness in aggressive breast cancer cells that can be exploited, targeting the MYC protein's metabolic grip. By inhibiting energy production and glutamine uptake, researchers were able to slow breast cancer growth in mice, paving the way for new and personalised treatments.
Cyclin D1, a protein linked to cancer, paradoxically promotes chronic inflammation in non-proliferating senescent cells, which can lead to age-related disease. Research suggests that targeting cyclin D1 may be a promising strategy to reduce inflammation and promote healthier aging.
Researchers at the University of Turku discovered a molecular mechanism that regulates the spread of aggressive colorectal cancer. The mechanism involves the secretion of mucus onto the surface of tumour spheres, which facilitates their migration and invasion of tissue.
Researchers discover a subset of clear cell ovarian cancers responsive to immunotherapy, driven by inflammation-related protein IL-17. IL-17 acts directly on cancer cells, creating an immune-permissive tumor microenvironment, enabling prediction of treatment response and contributing to personalized medicine.
Researchers from NUS uncover a mechanism that helps cancer cells hide from the immune system by suppressing natural danger signals. Targeting this 'hidden switch', DDX6, could make tumours more visible to the immune system, improving existing or new immunotherapies.
A Cornell University-led research group has devised a strategy for capturing cancer-specific protein-to-protein interactions using a photochemically driven labeling technique. They identified SLK as a driver of cancer in certain contexts, which can be co-opted by cancerous cells to drive growth.
Researchers developed a method to predict how different types of breast cancer will respond to treatment using lab-grown mini tumors. The organoids mimicked a tumor's response to treatment and identified candidate combination therapies for cancers that don't respond to standard treatment.
A comprehensive compendium of patient-derived models paired with their original human tumors has been developed, providing powerful tools for understanding tumor biology and predicting treatment response. The resource includes rich molecular profiles that help researchers identify and understand the biological mechanisms driving indivi...
Researchers have identified a promising strategy to improve the effectiveness of targeted therapies in advanced prostate cancer. By combining ADCs with a drug that blocks BCL-XL, they triggered greater cancer cell death and slowed tumor growth. The approach could offer a new strategy for improving antibody-drug conjugates against metas...
Researchers validated an AI-powered blood test that detected liver cancer in people from Guatemala and Romania with high accuracy, revealing new biological signals. The study builds on earlier research using a liquid biopsy platform and demonstrates the approach's effectiveness across different patient populations.
A new study found that fructose increases the spread of aggressive ovarian cancer by suppressing cholesterol production in neighboring cells. This discovery raises the possibility that simple dietary changes could influence cancer progression and potentially lead to new treatment strategies.
Scientists found that inherited genes interact with acquired mutations to shape tumor evolution, influencing cancer risk and treatment responses. The study suggests a personalized approach to cancer prevention and screening strategies may be necessary.
Research reveals that patients' inherited genetic variants can impact the benefits and toxicity of CAR-T cell therapy for blood cancers. Variants in genes such as STXBP2, ADAMTSL3, and PTPN22 were found to correlate with treatment-related toxicity or enhanced therapeutic activity.
Scientists at UVA have developed a new method to target glioblastoma, the most common and deadly brain cancer, by delivering microRNAs through the brain's natural barrier. The approach shows promise in slowing tumor growth and extending survival in animal models.
Researchers developed a KRAS-targeted vaccine and found it generated significant immune responses in participants with a hereditary predisposition to pancreatic cancer. The vaccine was safe and produced memory T cells that persisted over time.
Researchers developed nanoparticles that retain their protective coating in normal tissue but shed it upon reaching tumor tissue, releasing anticancer drugs. This technology reduces systemic side effects and enhances treatment efficacy.
Researchers uncover the role of DNA hypomethylation in driving glioma progression from slow-growing to aggressive tumors. The study's findings offer new insights into the biology of IDH gliomas, which can inform future treatments and prognostic measures for patients.
A new AI model called COMPASS improves the prediction of which patients are most likely to respond to cancer immunotherapy drugs, outperforming existing approaches by 8.5 percent. The model makes predictions based on tumor gene activity and provides a rationale for its output.
Researchers at the University of Calgary have developed a novel CAR T-cell therapy called GCAR1, showing strong preclinical and early clinical promise in treating sarcoma and other cancers. The therapy has been tested on two Canadian patients, with one patient experiencing significant prolongation of life expectancy by 18 months.
KAIST researchers have discovered a new way cancer 'hijacks' the blueprint for blood vessel development to fuel its growth. By reactivating a pre-existing gene regulatory program, tumors can drive angiogenesis without evolving entirely new mechanisms.
Researchers at UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center receive $1.7M grant to advance CAR T-cell therapies for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. They will investigate a new approach combining engineered nanovial technology with single-cell analysis to rapidly evaluate and optimize dual-targeted CAR T-cell therapies.
A research team from the University of Liège uncovered a previously unrecognized mechanism that promotes cancer cell survival under therapeutic pressure. Cancer cells reprogram their lipid metabolism to sustain proliferation, with key enzyme SCD1 cooperating with epigenetic regulator HDAC2 to support tumor growth.
Researchers found that GATA6 expression is reduced in liver metastases, correlating with poorer clinical outcomes. Losing GATA6 allows cancer cells to change their identity and become more adaptable, leading to metastasis.
Researchers at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center have achieved high response rates in patients with hard-to-treat acute myeloid leukemia (AML) using an all-oral combination therapy. The study also provides insights into the origins of cancer, revealing that tumors evolve rapidly through bursts of genetic changes.
A team of researchers has identified a previously unknown vulnerability in KRAS-mutated pancreatic cancer cells, making them susceptible to necroptosis. Blocking the tumor cells' defense mechanism by inhibiting caspase-8 leads to significant cell death and reduced tumor growth.
A recent study reveals that cancer cells within tumors are genetically diverse, yet all carry the same core genetic changes. The research found that these changes occur in sudden bursts, creating distinct subpopulations that influence tumor aggressiveness and treatment response.
Researchers developed a metal-free carbon monoxide prodrug that significantly reduced metastatic tumor growth in pancreatic and triple-negative breast cancer models without signs of toxicity. The prodrug, CO-116, works by disrupting a signaling pathway that promotes cancer cell migration and metastasis.
Researchers have developed a new method that can detect cancer with low levels of DNA in the blood, providing more detailed information about tumour composition. This could lead to better care for cancer patients, enabling closer monitoring of treatment progress and more informed decision-making.
Researchers discover that breast cancer cells exploit protective systems in bone marrow to remain dormant, using Notch2 signaling and genes like CXCR4 and TIE2. This dormancy allows cells to reactivate years later, leading to secondary tumors.
Researchers have tested a new experimental cancer drug called gamitrinib in its first-in-human study. Gamitrinib is designed to target the mitochondria of cancer cells, where it can disrupt their energy systems.
Researchers from University of Galway developed an AI accelerated computational model to investigate the theory behind why physical forces slow cancer growth. The study suggests that harnessing pressure on a tumor could open new roles for treatments known as mechanotherapies.
A new study by UC3M researchers reveals how extracellular acidosis destabilizes microtubules, the 'avenues' that organize internal cellular traffic, leading to disruptions in cellular function. This finding holds significant implications for understanding pathologies like cancer, diabetes, and certain infectious processes.
A Dartmouth Cancer Center study reveals that the location of immune cells within a tumor can determine whether they aid or hinder the anti-cancer response. Macrophages, often seen as helpful in clearing debris, have been found to play complex roles depending on their location and signals produced.
Researchers identified four distinct mutational clusters in oral cancers lacking traditional risk factors, with two linked to endogenous processes and unique driver gene mutations. The study suggests a potential role of the oral microbiome in tumor development and highlights opportunities for precision medicine approaches.
Researchers have discovered that precursor lesions in the pancreas, often considered a step towards cancer, do not undergo malignant transformation if they lack a specific microenvironment. The team used advanced technologies to isolate and analyze single cells from over 150 donated pancreases, finding that the microenvironment surroun...
Scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research captured 'housekeeping' immune cells actively attacking and engulfing live melanoma cells. These macrophages patrol the edges of melanoma tumours, steadily engulfing cancer cells and slowing tumour growth. The discovery has big implications for immunotherapy.
A new nanoscopy technique developed at ANU has uncovered hidden networks used for communication between cells. The breakthrough allows researchers to observe how living cells interact with their environment over several days, revealing three-dimensional behaviours that were previously invisible to conventional microscopes.
Researchers have identified a mechanism by which genome-doubled breast cancer tumors evade the immune system, using epigenetic modifications to silence antigen presentation. This discovery opens up potential therapeutic strategies combining epigenetics and immunotherapy.
Researchers have identified a hidden mechanism explaining why breast cancer can return years after successful treatment. Slow-growing breast cancer cells can form microscopic tumours that silently tick away in distant organs, evading detection for decades.
At ASCO 2026, City of Hope experts will present research on innovative treatments for various types of cancer. Their findings include the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy combinations, as well as the potential use of CBM588 to enhance immune checkpoint blockade in metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Cancer cells with abnormal chromosome numbers are more resistant to treatment due to reduced PARP1 levels. This abnormality rewires how cancer cells grow and spread.
Researchers discovered that activated T cells secrete vesicles carrying DNA that enters immune and tumor cells to enhance the immune response against tumors. Preclinical experiments showed that this approach can boost T cell attacks against tumors and improve treatment outcomes.
Researchers examined two mechanisms of whole genome duplication in cells, finding that cytokinesis failure leads to more stable and viable cells, while mitotic slippage results in uneven chromosome distribution and reduced viability. The study suggests targeting chromosome separation could help limit survival of abnormal cells.
Researchers visualize immune synapse and cytotoxic granules with unprecedented level of detail, revealing new perspectives in immuno-oncology. The study uses cryo-expansion microscopy to provide a near-native view of T lymphocyte mechanisms.