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Penn engineers show key feature for modeling how cells spread in fibrous environments

A team of engineers at the University of Pennsylvania has developed a new model that better simulates how cells interact with their environment and form focal adhesions. This understanding is crucial for diagnosing and combating cancer, as it reveals the importance of dynamic processes in cellular behavior.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 15, 2017

Cancer cells send signals boosting survival and drug resistance in other cancer cells

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that cancer cells exploit the unfolded protein response (UPR) to activate Wnt signaling, promoting tumor survival and drug resistance. This mechanism enables cancer cells to cope with nutrient deprivation and therapies, contributing to intra-tumor heterogeneity.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScience Signaling·DateJun 6, 2017

Revealed: How polyomavirus tricks our cells into helping it build its invasion route

Researchers from the University of Michigan have discovered how polyomaviruses hijack cellular molecular motors to build a portal for itself, allowing it to reach the nucleus and cause problems. The findings could aid in the development of new treatments or preventive strategies against polyomavirus diseases such as Merkel cell carcinoma.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 24, 2017

Tumor-trained T cells go on patrol

New study reveals that immune cells trained to recognize cancer can exit one tumor and move to another to attack cancerous cells. The research sheds light on how immune therapies for cancer might work and suggests new approaches to developing anti-cancer immune therapies.

SourceGarvan Institute of Medical Research·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 15, 2017

E-cigarettes do not promote cancer growth in lab tests

A new study by British American Tobacco found that commercially available e-cigarettes did not promote the development of cancer in laboratory cells. In contrast, smoke from a reference cigarette was positive for cancer-promoting activity at very low concentrations.

SourceWiley·JournalEnvironmental and Molecular Mutagenesis·DateApr 27, 2017

Mapping DROSHA's cleavage sites

Researchers developed fCLIP-seq to analyze DROSHA's impact on miRNA fragments, revealing hundreds of new cleavage sites and alternative processing patterns. The study uncovers additional end modifications important for miRNA biogenesis, shedding light on its regulation in diseases like cancer.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalMolecular Cell·DateApr 20, 2017

Amino acids in diet could be key to starving cancer

Researchers found that removing serine and glycine from the diet of mice slowed lymphoma and intestinal cancer development. The special diet also made some cancer cells more susceptible to reactive oxygen species, which could boost conventional treatments' effectiveness. Next steps include clinical trials with cancer patients.

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalNature·DateApr 19, 2017

How randomness helps cancer cells thrive

A study published in Nature Genetics reveals that large regions of the human genome have built-in variability in reversible epigenetic modifications, which enables cancer cells to proliferate and adapt. This variation can make cancer cells more resistant to chemotherapy and treatment.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Genetics·DateMar 27, 2017

Structural knowledge of the DNA repair complex

Researchers at Aarhus University have described the structure and organization of the DNA control protein Rad26, revealing how kinase Rad3 is recruited to damaged DNA. This new knowledge may lead to the development of Rad3 inhibitors that make cancer cells more susceptible to chemotherapy.

SourceAarhus University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMar 21, 2017

A better way to measure the stiffness of cancer cells

Researchers at Duke University have developed a new laser technique to measure the stiffness of individual cancer cells, which is correlated with cellular disorder. This technique has the potential to enable high-throughput screening for early cancer detection, allowing for rapid and accurate diagnosis.

SourceDuke University·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateFeb 28, 2017