Research on the cell biology of tumors. Covers cancer-cell vulnerabilities, tumor spread, nanoreactor therapies, and AI-guided cancer research.
Researchers have discovered that a small percentage of drug-resistant cancer cells were already present before treatment, relying on alternative genes for survival. Understanding this mechanism is key to developing new treatments to eliminate both AXL- and EGFR-dependent cells from the start.
Researchers identified LAPAS1 as a novel E2F-regulated lncRNA that plays a role in human cancer and regulates cell-cycle progression and cell proliferation. Inhibition of LAPAS1 expression delays cell progression through S phase and inhibits proliferation of human cancer cells.
Scientists from University of Sussex have determined the structure of R2TP-TTT nanomachine, crucial for constructing mTORC1 - a complicated regulator of energy metabolism. The new findings were made possible by state-of-the-art cryo-electron microscopy, providing detailed images of protein arrangements and molecular interactions.
Research at Kumamoto University found that LSD1 produces unique metabolic profiles depending on the type of acute myeloid leukemia cells. LSD1 inhibitors may be effective in treating erythroleukemia (EL) with high LSD1 expression levels, and could lead to personalized therapies for various leukemia types.
Cancer cells exploit macropinocytosis to repair damaged membranes, allowing them to survive. This technique may also enable cancer cells to recycle membrane material, increasing their resilience.
Researchers at TU Graz developed the world's first digital model of a cancer cell, simulating rhythmic oscillation of membrane potential during cell cycle phases. The model enables prediction of changes in membrane potential caused by drug-induced switching on and off of ion channels.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are naturally produced during biochemical reactions within cells. They can induce apoptosis by activating cell death pathways, but high levels can promote cell proliferation and tumor progression.
Researchers identified T cells that are paralyzed and ineffective in preventing LCH lesion formation, instead being tricked into entering an exhausted state. A new therapeutic option combining immunotherapy targeting PD-1 receptors with MAPK inhibition demonstrates promising results.
Researchers have developed an anti-cancer prodrug that targets cancer cells while minimizing toxicity to normal cells. This innovation improves the effectiveness of immunotherapy by boosting patient immunity. The drug exhibits anticancer effects when activated in cancer cells, inducing an active anticancer immune response.
Researchers have developed a novel synthesis method using peptides to create green gold nanoparticles, which can target and destroy cancer cells using near-infrared light. The findings provide an easy and eco-friendly protocol for Au nanoparticle synthesis, opening doors to non-toxic nanoparticle therapeutic agents.
A microfilter device capable of detecting trace amounts of cancer cells in one mL of blood has been developed by a Kumamoto University research group. The device uses dynamic deformation and nucleic acid aptamers to separate and capture CTCs, achieving a high detection capability and selective detection rate.
Researchers discovered that pancreatic cancer cells use a backup protein complex to survive when KRAS is blocked, allowing them to continue growing and dividing. This finding highlights the need for drugs that can target multiple molecules in cancer cells to improve treatment outcomes.
Researchers found that extracellular mRNA is taken up by natural killer cells and transported to the nucleus, enhancing migration activity and interferon gamma production. This mechanism inhibits cancer metastasis in animal experiments.
A single gene mutation can slow down cell division, preventing proper brain development and leading to microcephaly. This process involves the dysregulation of microtubules, which are essential for distributing genetic material between new cells.
The Pew Scholars Program in Biomedical Sciences has selected 22 early-career researchers to investigate timely questions surrounding human health and disease. These scientists will receive funding over four years to uncover new solutions to significant biomedical challenges.
Scientists at UC Santa Barbara and Regenerative Patch Technologies have developed a new cryopreservation method for stem cell-based therapy for age-related macular degeneration. The method allows for long-term storage and distribution of the implant, extending shelf life and increasing accessibility to patients.
A team of scientists has developed a new method for tracing the lineage and gene expression patterns of metastatic cancer cells at the single-cell level. The researchers found that a spectrum of aggression exists in cancer cells, with some cells more likely to remain in place and others more likely to spread to other tissues.
Researchers found that autophagy and the G2 checkpoint are interrelated processes in pancreatic cancer cells, helping them survive radiotherapy. Inhibiting the G2 checkpoint suppresses tumor growth, suggesting new tools to combat radiation-resistant PDAC cells.
Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital studied enhancers that regulate Foxp3 gene expression to control effector and killer T cells. They found that these enhancers work together to curb the immune cells' activity, ensuring they only attack cancer cells.
Researchers discovered that natural killer cells ramp up aerobic glycolysis about five days before T cells respond, shedding light on their role in mounting a rapid immune response. The findings have implications for using NK cells as immunotherapy in cancer treatment and cell therapy.
Researchers discovered that acute myeloid leukemia cancer cells depend on the Fanconi anemia pathway, which can be inhibited to kill cancer cells. This finding could lead to more effective and safer cancer treatments.
Researchers found radiotherapy induces consistent genomic damage through DNA deletions, which can lead to poor outcomes. Targeting error-prone DNA repair mechanisms may enhance radiotherapy efficacy.
Researchers discovered that head and neck cancer cells subvert adjacent normal tissue to promote aggressive invasion and metastasis. The study found that two proteins secreted by cancer cells suppress a key gene, DMBT1, in nearby healthy tissue.
A team of researchers at Texas A&M University used experimental cellular evolution to study how cells respond to controlled mechanical properties. They found that cellular mechanosensing is not optimal but a tradeoff, and that cells can evolve under selection pressure from biomaterials of controlled stiffness.
Researchers developed two experimental drug approaches targeting cancer cell metabolism, showing promise in treating highly aggressive pediatric brain cancer. The treatments extended survival and enhanced effectiveness of standard chemotherapies in patients with MYC-amplified medulloblastoma.
Researchers propose a new atavistic model of cancer, suggesting that ancient genes and reversions to ancestral forms are responsible for cancer's ability to survive and proliferate. The Serial Atavism Model challenges the conventional standard model of cancer, offering a novel perspective on the disease.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed a non-contact probe that enables the analysis of single cells within tumors without disrupting their spatial configurations. The tool can also introduce foreign materials to selected cells, facilitating advanced studies on complex diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's.
A groundbreaking study by University of Minnesota researchers shows how engineered immune cells can move faster and more effectively through tumors, improving cancer therapies for millions worldwide. The research uses advanced gene editing technologies to modify T cells, enabling them to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
A retrospective study found that CT features can help select patients with stage IA non-small cell lung cancer for sublobar resection. Peritumoral interstitial thickening and pleural contact were independently associated with pathologic lymphovascular invasion, predicting recurrence-free survival after the procedure.
A team of researchers has created a nanostructured microscope coverslip that allows high-contrast pseudo 3D images of unstained biological cells to be obtained. This breakthrough method enables the visualization of cell shape and nucleus details, crucial for disease detection.
Scientists discovered esophageal cancers reactivate ancient retroviruses hidden in the human genome, which can make cancer more susceptible to immunotherapy. Researchers found a specific enzyme called ADAR1 degrades toxic double-stranded RNAs produced by ERV expression, and inhibiting it may enhance treatment efficacy.
Researchers discover how cancer cells reorganize DNA in 3D structure to ramp up activity of cancer-promoting genes. Epigenetic marks alter chromosome structures, leading to novel local interactions and over-expression of oncogenes.
Researchers found that purines can trigger a functional disturbance of BRD4 and impact chromatin accessibility. Adenine restores BRD4 functionality, suggesting its potential as a new therapeutic approach for BRD4-induced cancer types.
Researchers found that about half of pancreatic cancer cell lines are dependent on peroxiredoxin 4 for survival. Targeting PRDX4 led to DNA damage and cell death in cancer cells, but not normal cells. This discovery reveals a potential therapeutic window with less toxicity.
Epithelial cells line organs and tissues, using two languages to communicate with neighboring cells. The discovery could help understand cancer spread and develop new treatments.
A UMass Amherst research team has engineered a nanoparticle that can deliver cancer-fighting drugs to specific cells, reducing side effects. The innovation combines biologics and antibody-drug conjugates, enabling safer treatments for various genetic diseases.
A team of scientists at the Paul Scherrer Institute has discovered 27 binding sites on tubulin, a critical protein in the cell cytoskeleton. Eleven of these sites were previously unknown and hold promise for developing new cancer-fighting agents.
Researchers developed nanosized cargo packages that can deliver water-soluble proteins into cancer cells while keeping them intact. The 'nanobrushes' use polymer strands with antibodies on the outside and protected proteins within.
MIT biologists discovered that cells are squeezed out of tissue when they can't replicate their DNA during cell division. This process, called extrusion, may serve as a way to eliminate cancerous or precancerous cells.
A new combination treatment targeting two proteins may improve survival for T-ALL patients who don't respond to standard chemotherapy. By inhibiting Kinase C and Notch1, researchers aim to overcome drug resistance and enhance treatment efficacy.
Biomedical engineer Chase Cornelison is exploring ways to harness cancer cells to treat spinal cord injuries and restore function following brain damage. His research aims to retrain neural cells to suppress inflammation and promote repair, potentially reversing the damage caused by paralysis and diseases.
A new study has identified a genetic mutation in the CUX1 gene that contributes to the development of acute myeloid leukaemia. Targeting this pathway could lead to new targeted therapies for patients with poor-prognosis AML, which affects people of all ages and often requires intensive chemotherapy.
A University of Guelph study identifies a compound in avocados that targets an enzyme critical for cancer cell growth, offering a potential route to better leukemia treatment. The compound, derived from avocado, has been shown to inhibit the enzyme VLCAD involved in leukemia cell metabolism.
A study has found that sperm development is linked to testicular cancer in men. Germ cells that fail to undergo sex-specific differentiation and retain pluripotent features are more likely to transform into cancer cells.
Researchers at Umeå University used neutron reflexometry and NMR spectroscopy to study full-length human Bcl-2 protein, revealing its membrane localization and conformation. The results suggest that Bcl-2 exerts its cell-protective function by inhibiting cell-killing proteins at the membrane interface.
A new study found that a non-pungent synthetic capsaicin analog, arvanil, made small cell lung cancer cells more responsive to chemotherapy. The compound enhanced the anti-cancer activity of SN38, a commonly used treatment for relapsed small cell lung cancer.
Research reveals that cell connections and surrounding tissue stiffness dictate cellular behavior, leading to cancer development. Cells can switch between contractile and extensile modes of motion, affecting their interactions and overall movement.
A team of researchers at RIKEN CPR has demonstrated a successful cancer therapy using artificial metalloenzymes to deliver targeted drug therapies. In mouse tests, they found a 40% survival rate for mice treated with selective cell therapy and a higher survival rate over 77 days when targeting tumors that had already formed.
Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt discovered that Nox4, an enzyme producing H2O2, prevents cancer by keeping phosphatases out of the cell nucleus, thus allowing DNA damage to be recognized and repaired. In its absence, mutated cells multiply uncontrollably, leading to tumour formation.
Researchers discovered that cells can migrate robustly on soft, viscoelastic substrates, using thin filopodia and molecular clutches to drive movement. This finding challenges traditional views of cell migration and highlights the importance of material properties in cellular behavior.
A comprehensive review of neuropilin-1 research reveals its role in cancer development and proliferation. Inhibiting NRP-1 activity is an attractive idea for treating cancers, with various therapeutic strategies already developed.
Researchers found that patients with high levels of PDL-1 and a KRAS gene mutation lived longer when treated with immunotherapy alone compared to those without the mutation. Patients without the mutation had better survival with combination therapy, suggesting preferred treatment approaches for this patient group.
A recent study from Dartmouth College has uncovered the mechanism behind how cells determine their size, a crucial process that regulates cell division in growing organisms. The research found that histone H3 plays a key role in this process, releasing an enzyme called Chk1 to bind with another protein and stop cell multiplication.
Researchers discovered that up to 60% of observed enhancers have coordinated binding events, indicating transcription factors work together to regulate gene expression. This cooperation may enable cancer cells to exploit existing enhancer systems, leading to changes in cellular identity.
Researchers discovered that protein DNAJC9 actively engages cellular protein folding machinery to release trapped histones. This process is crucial for proper chromatin organization and is essential for cancer cell viability.
A new algorithm can predict which genes cause cancer without DNA sequence changes. Researchers have identified 165 previously unknown cancer genes using machine learning technology, interacting closely with well-known cancer genes.
Researchers found that a specific gene called MPP8 suppresses the activity of 'jumping' genes, which can protect against certain blood cancers. This discovery may lead to new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for acute myeloid leukemia, the deadliest type of blood cancer.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory found that a protein called Asterix/Gtf1 suppresses small specific regions of mobile genetic elements by binding to tRNA molecules. This discovery could lead to understanding how cells protect themselves against these elements and potentially tame an overly restless genome.
Researchers have found a way to make cell cultures respond more closely to normal cells, allowing drugs to be screened for toxicity earlier in the research timeline. By changing two components of the media used to culture the cells, they can make liver cancer cells behave more like normal liver cells.
Researchers discovered a direct link between Parkin and the activation of mitophagy in Parkinson's, as well as its role in type 2 diabetes and cancer. The study found that AMPK, ULK1, and Parkin form a crucial pathway in cellular stress response.