Research on the cell biology of tumors. Covers cancer-cell vulnerabilities, tumor spread, nanoreactor therapies, and AI-guided cancer research.
Researchers have identified key factors in cancer cell development and reconstituted the first step in the process in a test tube. The study, published in Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, found that DNA breaks are a major instigator of cancer cell development.
Researchers used computer models to illuminate protein behavior in crowded cells, revealing enzyme activity was 15 times more active. This discovery can aid in designing efficient therapeutic means for diseases like Alzheimer's and cancer.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins have identified a glutaminase inhibitor that slows cancer cell growth by blocking the sugar-based building blocks. The compound has shown promise in reducing cancer cell growth by 30% and may be used for many types of primary brain tumors.
University of Illinois researchers developed microsensors that can track individual cells' masses and divisions over time. They found that cells grow faster as they grow heavier, rather than at a fixed rate throughout the cell cycle. The sensors also allow for imaging and tracking of cellular processes in conjunction with changes in mass.
A study found that targeting HDMX overcomes p53 suppression and resistance to selective HDM2 inhibition, restoring tumor suppressor pathway in cancers expressing both proteins. The research enables new therapeutic strategies for human cancer, including those resistant to current treatments.
Researchers at the Centenary Institute discovered a new death pathway that can break drug resistance in ovarian cancer. The treatment, FTY720, kills ovarian cancer cells through necrosis, making it resistant to relapse. Further clinical trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness.
Researchers at UNC identify cellular communicators for cancer virus, revealing a new mechanism by which the Epstein-Barr virus manipulates cells and induces uncontrolled growth. The study shows that infected cells can produce altered exosomes that enter recipient cells, changing their growth patterns.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University have been awarded a $100,000 grant from the W.W. Smith Charitable Trust to investigate why African-Americans respond poorly to common chemotherapeutic agents used to treat pancreatic cancer.
Researchers at Northwestern University have found that a soy-based drug can prevent the movement of prostate cancer cells from the prostate to the rest of the body. The experimental treatment, genistein, has shown beneficial effects on human subjects with localized prostate cancer in a recent phase II study.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College have found a combination therapy that is more effective than traditional treatments and can kill cancer cells without harming surrounding tissues. By targeting BCL6 and EP300, they were able to suppress and eradicate human DLBCL in mice.
Researchers have successfully visualized the human immune system's assassin protein perforin, revealing how it punches holes in cancerous or infected cells. The study provides insights into the protein's structure and function, which could lead to new ways of fighting cancer, malaria, and diabetes.
A team of researchers has identified how the protein perforin kills rogue cells, which could lead to new treatments for cancer, malaria, and diabetes. The study reveals that perforin assembles to punch holes in cell membranes, allowing toxic enzymes to destroy infected cells.
Researchers found that BAFF interacts with c-MYC gene, promoting aggressive leukemias and lymphomas. High levels of BAFF in CLL microenvironment may lead to improved treatment options by blocking its effects or inhibiting signaling pathways.
Researchers found that the Reaper protein triggers apoptosis by interfering with inhibitor of apoptosis proteins and delivering its death sentence to the mitochondria. By targeting the protein to the mitochondrial membrane, it can be made more effective at killing cells, providing a potential new approach for cancer treatments.
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have discovered a new pathway involving multiple cell types that contributes to the development of Type 1 Gaucher disease. This knowledge could lead to more effective and less expensive treatments, including a small molecule substrate inhibitor in pill form.
Research suggests a connection between vitamin D levels and skin cancer risk in individuals with basal cell nevus syndrome. Patients with this condition are found to be more likely to have low vitamin D levels, even when taking sun protection measures.
Researchers found that proteins importing structural material and regulating its import determine cell size. By manipulating these proteins, they can make a smaller species' nuclei balloon up to the size of a larger one. This discovery could lead to new insights into nuclear size regulation in cancer cells.
Researchers have uncovered a key mechanism in which leukemia cells trigger a protective response when exposed to histone deacetylase inhibitors. By disrupting this pathway, the cancer-killing capacity of HDACIs can be increased dramatically.
Researchers at Rice University used gold nanoparticles with laser pulses to create tiny vapor bubbles that selectively destroyed cancer cells in zebra fish implanted with live human prostate cancer cells. This technique avoids damaging healthy tissue and demonstrates a new approach to cancer treatment.
A team led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists created a molecule that prevents cancer genes from 'hearing' instructions, stifling the cancer process at its root. The research targets proteins issuing stop and start commands to a cancer gene, known as epigenetic reader proteins, for future cancer therapies.
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have discovered a new cell signaling pathway that controls cell growth and development. This pathway, part of a global DNA damage response, turns off 136 genes that can promote aberrant cell division and cancer.
Weiguo Cao's research aims to understand the mechanisms of DNA repair and its contribution to cancer prevention. The study will investigate two DNA repair pathways and explore how defects in these processes can lead to cancer.
Researchers develop electronic biosensing technology that can detect gene mutations indicative of cancer, potentially leading to faster and more accurate diagnoses. The new platform uses disposable arrays containing thousands of electronic sensors connected to powerful signal processing circuitry.
MIT researchers found cancer cells use an alternative glycolytic pathway to speed up metabolism and build new cells, which could be exploited to develop new anti-cancer treatments. The discovery sheds light on how cancer cells adapt to rapidly proliferate and highlights potential targets for therapy.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have identified cells in mice that prevent the immune system from attacking own cells, potentially leading to improved therapies for autoimmune diseases. The discovery highlights the importance of balancing the immune response, with CD8+ Treg cells playing a key role.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that overexpressing microRNA-21 promotes the formation, growth and survival of new tumors in mice with non-small-cell lung cancer. The study suggests that inhibiting miR-21 could be a therapeutic approach to treating the disease.
A study by Heike Allgayer's team found that micro-RNA miR-200c inhibits the motility and invasive capacity of non-small cell lung cancer cells. Higher miR-200c levels were associated with increased tissue-anchoring molecules and lower metastasis rates.
Researchers have created a new cancer treatment that uses conditional small RNA molecules to selectively kill cancer cells. The approach exploits characteristics of DNA and RNA to separate diagnosis and treatment steps, potentially eliminating unwanted side effects.
Researchers identified thousands of proteins involved in compacting DNA, a crucial process for cell division. This discovery could help explain why cell renewal can go wrong, leading to cancer or miscarriage.
CDX2 is an identity gene that tells a cell it is in the epithelial tissue of the intestine, enabling it to perform its job correctly. Cancer cells deactivate this gene, leading researchers to identify five anti-cancer genes and discover CDX2's role in suppressing colon cancer.
Researchers use fruit flies to study protein modifications that can contribute to cancer development. The study aims to unravel the role of enzyme San in tissue proliferation and cancer growth.
A study found that patients with basal cell carcinoma who have multiple lesions are at higher risk of developing more cancers. Red hair and a higher socioeconomic status were associated with an increased risk of multiple lesions.
Researchers have discovered a protein called Salt Inducible Kinase 2 (SIK2) that plays a key role in regulating cell division and may be an attractive target for treating ovarian cancer. Combination therapies targeting different phases of the cell cycle are highly desirable for optimal cancer treatment.
Researchers discovered that SUMO modifies RPA70, essential for DNA repair by homologous recombination. The connection offers a potential target to short-circuit repair, making cells more vulnerable to chemotherapy and ionizing radiation.
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have uncovered a new role for polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPASE) in regulating the import of RNA into mitochondria. Reducing PNPASE expression impairs mitochondrial energy production and cell growth.
Research published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology defines timeframes for declaring early stage lung cancer cured. Patients with stage IA NSCLC without vascular invasion can be considered cured after five years, while those with vascular invasion require longer follow-up until at least nine years.
University of Pennsylvania researchers describe a novel mechanism involving calcium transfer between cell components to regulate cell energy. Without this transfer, cells undergo autophagy, or self-eating, as they struggle to produce enough ATP.
Scientists have developed a novel method to deliver therapeutic molecules, proteins, and DNA directly into living cells using laser-activated nanoparticles. The technique, which uses bursts of near-infrared light to create tiny holes in cell membranes, shows promise for gene-based therapies.
Scientists discovered that inhibiting a protein called N-cadherin prevents cancer cells from forming groups and migrating. This new approach could lead to more effective therapies for cancer treatment.
A Michigan State University researcher is using $1.7 million in federal funding to study the role of microRNAs in regulating genes that control cell behavior. The goal is to determine how arsenic exposure leads to tumor development and identify potential treatments.
A recent study suggests that Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.) infection may contribute to the chronicity of inflammatory disorders leading to oral cancers. The research found that P.g. induces expression of immune-regulating receptors B7-H1 and B7-DC in squamous cell carcinoma cells, facilitating immune evasion.
Researchers found 323 unique genes influenced by smoking, with a strong involvement in processes related to cancer, cell death, and metabolism. The study's results indicate that exposure to cigarette smoke alters gene expression, leading to a sobering scale of influence on human disease risk.
Researchers discover Lgl and Mahjong proteins help identify how healthy cells fight cancer cells. Normal cells surround cancer cells, leading to their death, while cancerous cells break free and divide.
Researchers identified the Mahjong gene, which determines the winners of a life-or-death
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University create method for pinpoint delivery of molecules to individual cells, enabling targeted cancer treatment. The technique uses gold nanowires coated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which triggers specific cellular responses without affecting surrounding cells.
Researchers at NUI Galway have discovered a protein that enables cancer cells to withstand intense stress. Understanding this interaction could lead to the development of more effective anticancer drugs by blocking its function and encouraging tumor cell death.
Researchers developed a groundbreaking laboratory model of hormone-induced human prostate cancer initiation and progression, offering new insights into the disease's hormonal mechanisms. The model enables the study of cancer development from normal tissue to initiation and progression, facilitating preventive therapy testing and accele...
Researchers at Brandeis University found that DNA repair mechanisms can increase mutation rates and alter gene expression in cancer cells. The study suggests that these mutations may be a key factor in the development of cancer.
Three scientists from Scripps Research will receive funding to develop advanced cancer therapies. Glenn Micalizio, Thomas Bannister, and Douglas Kojetin will explore novel protein targets and cancer treatment pathways.
Researchers discovered that different cells respond differently to stimuli, contradicting previous uniformity assumptions. The study used microfluidics to monitor individual cells' reactions and found nuanced variations in responses.
Engineered allosteric regulation provides precise control of kinase activity in living cells, enabling scientists to understand cellular processes and dissect the functions of kinases. This new method has exciting applications in basic research and promises to open doors to new scientific insights into cancer and other human diseases.
Rice University researchers developed a method to use an off-the-shelf digital camera to distinguish cancerous cells from healthy ones. The device uses fluorescent dyes and fiber-optic cables to capture images of tissues, allowing doctors to identify abnormal cells quickly and accurately.
A recent study published in Nature Cell Biology suggests that 3D cell culture may provide more accurate information to develop drugs preventing cancer's spread. The research found that cells behave differently in 3D environments compared to traditional 2D lab dishes.
Researchers deciphered a key pathway used by Myc oncogene, finding that disabling it can restore cellular senescence and prevent cancer growth. This discovery offers new potential for treating various types of cancer by targeting the oncogene's dependence on Miz1.
Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute have discovered a new application for the painkiller Sulindac as a potential anti-cancer treatment. By binding to the truncated form of nuclear receptor RXRα, Sulindac shuts down cancer cell growth and initiates cell death.
A new study reveals that a protein called Flower marks weaker cells for elimination, allowing fitter neighbors to dominate. This process of cell competition may provide insight into pathological conditions like cancer and aging.
Researchers at University of Illinois College of Medicine found that adding ARC to anti-cancer agent ABT-737 makes it effective against a wide range of cancers. The combination of agents shows tremendous synergy, reducing the dose required while lessening side-effects.
Researchers at University of Florida have developed a two-pronged therapy targeting both leukemia cells and their environment. The therapy, called Oxi4503, uses an agent that poisons leukemia cells and destroys blood vessels supplying them with oxygen and nutrients.
Cancer cells form clusters of centrosomes to distribute chromosomes correctly, a trick that can be targeted for destroying them. Researchers identified 82 genes responsible for this survival strategy and found that silencing specific proteins disrupts tension in spindle fibers, leading to cancer cell death.
Scientists identified a novel enzyme, PEAK1, that regulates cell proliferation, shape and migration. The discovery may provide a new target for future anti-cancer therapies.