Research on the cell biology of tumors. Covers cancer-cell vulnerabilities, tumor spread, nanoreactor therapies, and AI-guided cancer research.
Increasing the spacing between integrin-ECM binding domains on the extracellular matrix can boost the efficiency of ultrasound treatment applied to kill cancer cells. A new study found that this increased spacing triggers myosin forces, pumps more calcium inside, and promotes cell death.
Osteosarcoma cells often have extra copies of the SETDB1 gene, making the cancer more aggressive and harder to treat. Blocking SETDB1 may help the immune system recognize and attack osteosarcoma cells, offering a promising new way to treat this type of bone cancer.
Researchers found that aggressive lung cancer cells can generate their own electrical activity, building an independent network within the tumour. This property is distinct from most other cancer types and may drive the tumour's ability to grow and spread.
New cyanine-carborane salts show promise in eradicating metastatic breast cancer tumors with minimal side effects. The therapy targets specific proteins in cancer cells, allowing for precise killing of diseased cells while sparing healthy tissue.
Researchers at University of Melbourne and Pfizer discover new insights into a dual-target drug that may supercharge cancer-fighting immune cells, potentially leading to improved outcomes for breast cancer patients. The study found that this approach can enhance anti-tumor immunity by intratumoral CD8+ T cells.
A team of international researchers found that tumor cells become drastically diverse when exiting the bone marrow, affecting immune cells in the cancer lesions. This discovery could contribute to more precise diagnostics and therapy for multiple myeloma, a incurable bone marrow cancer.
Researchers identified a method to enhance CAR-T cell therapy by modifying the CUL5 gene. This approach improves T cells' growth and longevity, making them more effective in fighting cancer. The study suggests a new way to create targeted cells using a virus to deliver genetic material.
Researchers at KAIST have discovered a molecular switch that can induce cancer reversal by capturing the moment of critical transition before normal cells become irreversibly cancerous. The technology uses single-cell RNA sequencing data and computer simulation analysis to identify the molecular switch.
Researchers discover how an anticancer drug triggers an 'outside in' signal to get sucked into a cancer cell, providing insights into adhesion regulation and potential drug design targets. The study reveals a new mechanism for delivering drugs using P-cadherin protein.
Researchers developed a novel microscopy technique to study metabolic changes in individual cancer cells at the single-cell level. They found that radiation treatment caused significant metabolic shifts in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells, particularly through the activation of HIF-1α.
The foundation has awarded eight recipients of the 2025 Damon Runyon-Rachleff Innovation Award, including five early-career researchers with initial grants of $400,000 over two years. The awardees aim to develop novel cancer therapies using innovative approaches such as engineered skin bacteria and small molecule-boosted drug delivery.
The team's novel technique enables high-throughput screening of nanoparticle shapes, sizes, and modifications, reducing associated screening costs. The research demonstrates the distinct preferences of tumour cells for certain nanoparticle configurations, enabling personalized cancer treatments that are safer and more effective.
Researchers reveal senescence's impact on liver health, from repair and regeneration to chronic disease progression. Emerging therapies, such as senolytic treatments, aim to selectively eliminate senescent cells while preserving healthy tissue.
Scientists at German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have found that blocking Aldolase A enzyme can trap energy in liver cancer cells, leading to slowed tumor growth. The team demonstrated this in mouse and human cancer cell lines, suggesting a promising strategy for combating cancer cells.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a non-toxic bacterial therapy, BacID, to deliver cancer-fighting drugs directly into tumors. The therapy uses genetically engineered strains of Salmonella that can target tumors and control the release of cancer-fighting drugs inside cancer cells.
The phase 3 KATHERINE clinical trial found trastuzumab emtansine to be an effective adjuvant treatment for high-risk HER2-positive breast cancer patients, reducing the risk of death or invasive disease by 46% and improving survival. The study showed consistent benefits across patient subgroups, supporting T-DM1 as a new standard of care.
Researchers discovered that the protein PIN1 drives bladder cancer by triggering cholesterol synthesis, which fuels out-of-control cell growth. A combination of statins and a PIN1 inhibitor effectively blocks tumor growth in mice, offering a promising therapeutic approach for this deadly disease.
Researchers developed an AI model to detect brain cancer spread in surrounding tissue using MRI scans, showing 85-per-cent accuracy. This non-surgical method offers insights into patients' cancer without aggressive surgery, potentially improving treatment and survival.
A recent NUS Medicine study found that a molecule called DUSP6 plays a major role in helping colorectal cancer grow, with higher levels linked to poorer prognosis and decreased survival. Researchers suggest blocking DUSP6 could lead to new therapies for CRC treatment.
A three-drug cocktail of drugs has been identified as a potential booster of CAR-T cancer therapy by researchers at the University of North Carolina. The cocktail preserves a critical cell subset called T-memory stem cells, which are crucial for long-term persistence of CAR-T cells.
Researchers discovered that DNA repair determines how cancer cells die following radiotherapy, with specific pathways triggering cell death noticed by the immune system. Blocking these pathways can force cancer cells to die in a manner that alerts the immune system, leading to new potential treatments.
Researchers developed a new super-resolution microscopic method to investigate the interactions of therapeutic antibodies with target molecules on tumour cells. The study reveals that all four antibodies crosslink CD20 molecules independently of type I or II classification, and that B cells take on a hedgehog shape after treatment.
Researchers discovered a key role for neutrophils in cancer cell colonization of abdominal fat through the release of DNA webs called NETs. Additionally, a new biomarker study found that dose-dense chemotherapy improved disease-free survival by 20% and overall survival by 15% for women with early-stage ER-positive breast cancer.
A new study has identified macrophage activity as a key predictor of which skin cancer patients are most likely to respond to immunotherapy. The findings aim to improve personalized medicine for cancer patients and enable clinicians to select effective treatments, reducing side effects and costs.
Early detection of breast cancer can lead to less intensive treatments, saving the Canadian healthcare system $459.6M over women's lifetimes and 3,499 breast cancer deaths. Screening mammograms and diagnostics costs are easily offset by earlier stage treatment.
The study found that high levels of aspartate in the lungs are associated with aggressive lung metastases, triggered by an alternative translation program driven by aspartate signaling. This discovery suggests a common feature of cancer cells growing in the lung and provides a potential target for new therapeutic interventions.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have uncovered a mechanism behind cancer progression: the stiffening of tumor cell's environment. This spreading causes increased cell proliferation and tumor growth.
Researchers identified YTHDF2 as a key player in advancing blood cancers, which can help cancer cells evade immune system detection. A new compound CCI-38 targets and suppresses YTHDF2, reducing aggressive blood cancer growth.
A new blood test developed by RMIT University researchers could help personalize cancer treatments, making them safer and more effective. The test assesses how well different nanomedicines target cancer cells in the blood of leukemia patients, allowing for more tailored therapies.
Scientists at Monash University have discovered the structure of how LAG-3 interacts with its main ligand, providing a new targeted approach to improve immunotherapy's effectiveness for certain forms of cancer. This breakthrough could lead to the development of blocking LAG-3 therapeutics and further enhance cancer treatment.
A new study found that a low omega-6, high omega-3 diet with fish oil supplements significantly reduced prostate cancer cell proliferation in men. The findings suggest that dietary changes could potentially delay or prevent the need for more aggressive treatments.
A new study shows targeted delivery of energy-disrupting gene therapy using nanoparticles shrinks glioblastoma brain tumors and aggressive breast cancer tumors in mice. The technology, mLumiOpto, induces light-activated electrical currents inside cells to disrupt mitochondria, leading to programmed cell death and DNA damage.
Glioblastoma brain tumors synchronize their growth with the daily release of steroid hormones like cortisol, according to new research. Blocking these signals slows tumor growth and disease progression in animal models.
Researchers combine a precision cancer drug with an antibody and radiation therapy to eliminate tumors without causing side effects. The approach uses the cancer drug as a molecular flag for cancerous cells, allowing immune cells to target them. This method has shown promise in eliminating lung cancer in mice with minimal side effects.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys found that pancreatic cancer cells rely on a specific nutrient, glutamine, to fuel their unchecked growth. The study identified two enzymes, aPKC zeta and iota, that play a regulatory role in the process of macropinocytosis, allowing cancer cells to scavenge alternative resources.
A phase 3 study demonstrated nearly 75% complete cancer remission in patients with high-risk bladder cancer unresponsive to BCG therapy. The novel treatment, cretostimogene grenadenorepvec, was well-tolerated and did not require bladder removal surgery.
A study published in Nature reveals that dietary fructose promotes tumor growth in animal models of melanoma, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. The liver converts fructose into usable nutrients for cancer cells, a finding that could lead to new treatment avenues.
Combining PVA with a boron-containing compound improved the effects of radiation therapy for cancer, making it more selective of tumor cells and prolonging drug retention. This breakthrough could lead to more effective treatment options for challenging cancers.
Scientists create a molecule that tethers BCL6 to CDK9, switching on apoptosis genes in cancer cells. The approach aims to eliminate cancer cells with high specificity and avoid treatment resistance.
A new gold-based compound has been developed that slows tumour growth in animals by 82%, targeting cancers more selectively than standard chemotherapy drugs. It also blocks cancer cells' ability to form new blood vessels, a promising approach to reducing toxic side effects.
Researchers found that a type of cancer cell death called necroptosis can release a molecule called interleukin-1α, weakening the immune response and allowing tumors to grow faster. By blocking this molecule, cancer treatments like chemotherapy and immunotherapy may become more effective.
Researchers discovered that cancer grows uniformly throughout its mass, with every region equally active and potentially harboring aggressive mutations. This finding challenges the traditional 'two-speed' entity model of tumors, where rapidly dividing cells on the surface and slower activity in the core were thought to exist.
Researchers explore adapting agricultural techniques, such as integrated pest management, to treat cancer. By managing cancer as a chronic condition, adaptive therapy aims to overcome treatment resistance and improve patient outcomes.
Researchers at University of Toronto have developed a new microfluidic platform, ReSCUE, that allows for unprecedented control and manipulation of tumor shapes. This enables the formation, release, and transfer of patient-derived tumoroids, providing insights into how tumor shape predicts cancer cell behavior and aggressiveness.
Researchers explore potential synergies between chemotherapy, cannabinoids, and intermittent serum starvation in treating colorectal cancer. Combining these therapies could create a strong synergy by depriving cancer cells of glucose, making them more susceptible to treatment.
A recent study from Uppsala University found that genetic variation in cancer cells can enhance the effects of an already approved cancer drug, talazoparib, against liver cancer cells lacking a functional CYP2D6 enzyme. This suggests a potential for more individually tailored and effective cancer therapies.
Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University are investigating the complex relationship between fat tissue and colorectal cancer. The study aims to enhance knowledge of the tumour microenvironment, uncover new molecules crucial for cancer growth, and develop more effective treatments.
Researchers developed a new AI-powered diagnostic system, FastGlioma, which reveals invisible cancerous tissue in brain tumor surgery. The technique may delay or prevent recurrence of high-grade tumors and improve patient survival.
Researchers successfully delivered anti-cancer ASO molecules to lung tumor sites using human red blood cells, demonstrating potent anti-cancer effects against NSCLC. The approach utilizes EGFR-targeting moieties to home in on cancerous cells, offering a potentially powerful treatment modality for personalized cancer medicine.
This review explores the anticancer mechanisms of selected medicinal plants, discussing their potential for therapeutic development. The plants exert effects through cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and disruption of signaling cascades, offering promising alternatives to conventional therapies.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that blocking the uptake of lactic acid, a key factor in T cell exhaustion, can reinvigorate these cells. This new approach shows promise for improving tumor control and treatment outcomes in various cancers.
A new University of Cincinnati Cancer Center study reveals how copper helps clear cell renal cell carcinoma cells grow and advance. Copper accumulation is associated with worse outcomes for patients with ccRCC, and it boosts energy and growth in cancer cells.
Researchers found higher levels of CD47 expression linked to more aggressive tumors, immune cells, and oncogenic signaling. Targeting CD47 could lead to improved outcomes with immunotherapy drugs, especially in cases where existing treatments are ineffective.
A new mechanism has been found by which tumor cells escape the immune system, involving a protein called IRGQ. Studies have shown that suppressing IRGQ can trigger a stronger immune response against cancer cells, leading to improved survival rates in liver cancer patients.
A new study by MUSC researchers reveals how cancer cells develop resistance to hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug repurposed for cancer therapy. The findings suggest that targeting specific metabolic and export pathways can prevent resistance, opening the door for novel combination therapies.
Researchers have developed a new tool that collects and analyzes extracellular vesicles to detect cancer cells more accurately. The digital approach allows for simultaneous analysis of multiple biomarkers, enabling earlier detection of cancer at curable stages.
A new anti-cancer agent has been developed that targets glutathione in cancer cells, switching it off and causing tumor shrinkage. The catalyst-based therapy accumulates specifically in tumor tissue, showing promising results in animal studies and potential for further human trials.
Researchers discovered that INPP4B drives the movement of lysosomes to the periphery of pancreatic cancer cells, releasing their contents into the extracellular space and disrupting the structural support network. This process enables the cells to migrate and invade other tissues, making it easier for the cancer to spread.
Scientists have identified a molecular mechanism that eliminates defective cells during faulty cell division, shedding new light on the fundamental processes involved. The discovery could lead to more effective treatments for blood cancer by targeting cells with multiple centrosomes, which are a hallmark of disrupted division.
Researchers discovered that tumor dormancy in breast cancer can be triggered by specific signaling changes within small cell clusters, called tumor emboli. Key mechanisms include reduced activity of mTOR and structural shifts in E-cadherin, which are regulated by the PI3K pathway.