Research on the biology of tumor cells. Covers tumor spread, cell-particle diagnostics, new anti-tumor molecules, and cancer-killing immune cells.
Research suggests stress hormones and immune cells may contribute to tumor recurrence by reactivating dormant cancer cells. Targeting stress hormones with approved drugs like beta-blockers could potentially prevent tumors from returning.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital developed a small-molecule inhibitor targeting SerpinB9 protein in cancer cells, weakening its defense mechanisms and triggering cell death. The approach shows promise for treating 'cold tumors' that evade immunotherapies.
A study by Harvard Medical School scientists reveals a transient, cooperative interaction between ovarian cancer cells that allows nonmetastatic tumor cells to invade distant sites. The team identified amplified ERBB2 levels in a specific cell population, which was activated by amphiregulin, a signaling protein found in advanced ovaria...
The new WEHI-TV animation explains how the 'tumour suppressor' protein p53 prevents cancer-causing changes in cells. More than half of human cancers involve faulty p53, and researchers are still working to develop better therapies for these cancers.
Researchers have identified a gene, VSIG1, that prevents the development of metastatic tumour cells, enabling targeted therapies to be developed. The study validates the use of spiked-scRNAseq technology for testing drugs against metastases, including personalized approaches.
Researchers from Tokyo Medical and Dental University identify TruB1 as a regulator of the microRNA let-7, which has significant implications for cancer development and suppression. The study reveals that TruB1 promotes maturation of let-7 and suppresses cell growth and division.
Pancreatic cancer cells use nerve growth factor to signal nerves to grow into dense tumors and secrete nutrients like serine. This allows the cancer cells to multiply despite nutrient starvation, highlighting a unique adaptation that contributes to their deadliness.
This study examines the effects of talc on mesothelial and neoplastic cells, revealing high levels of IL-6 and TNFRI. The results suggest that normal mesothelium is the main stimulus for the inflammatory process, with talc inducing higher rates of apoptosis in neoplastic cells.
Researchers at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Philochem AG describe four novel formats for L19-IL2 fusion proteins, featuring different arrangements of antibody and IL2, which exhibit superior tumor-targeting properties in vivo. The new format also reduces activation of regulatory T cells.
A new technique developed at Scripps Research isolates tumor-reactive immune cells in just one day, offering a platform for personalized cancer treatments. The method, called FucoID, detects and tags the surface of sought-after immune cells using an enzyme, enabling their detection with fluorescent probes.
A new study by Brown University scientists has identified vimentin as a potential target for treating aggressive cancer cells known as polyploidal giant cancer cells (PGCCs). PGCCs have been found to rely on vimentin to migrate and invade surrounding tissues.
Researchers have discovered that cancer cells use their nucleus to sense environmental compression and trigger responses to evade overcrowded areas. The study proposes a new mechanism by which tumor cells cope with the lack of space and compressive stresses, involving the unfolded and stretched nuclear membranes.
Researchers developed nanoparticles that release bursts of calcium inside tumor cells, inhibiting drug pumps and reversing MDR. The treatment showed significantly smaller tumors in tumor-bearing mice with no apparent side effects.
Researchers define two molecular subtypes of pancreatic carcinoma with distinct aggressiveness, differing in the origin and development. The study reveals a novel mechanism called viral mimicry that promotes cancer growth and metastasis.
Scientists from Germany and China combine chemotherapeutic and photodynamic agents in a nanocapsule to destroy cancer cells. The treatment is effective against resistant tumors and stops tumor growth in live mice, offering a promising new approach to cancer therapy.
Researchers discovered that immune system T cells can home-in on tumor cells independently of intermediary immune cells and release chemical signals that attract more T cells. This 'swarming' behavior could help develop new cancer therapies targeting solid tumors, currently less responsive to immunotherapies.
Researchers from RUDN University have developed a novel domino reaction for synthesizing chromenoisoquinolineamine derivatives, which showed promising antitumor activity against cancer cells, including drug-resistant strains. The new compounds were found to be toxic to tumor cells and efficient even at low concentrations.
This study reveals that hypoxic exosomes promote sphere formation and stem-like phenotype in EWS cells by delivering enriched miR-210. The knockdown of HIF-1α led to decreased exosomal miR-210 levels, while inhibition of miR-210 attenuated sphere formation.
Researchers at CNIO successfully applied CRISPR technology to eliminate fusion genes causing tumors, leading to the death of cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected. This breakthrough approach could lead to the development of targeted cancer therapies.
A new potential drug treatment has been discovered for a type of lung-cancer. Researchers have found that combining osimertinib with linsitinib can cure or delay tumor recurrence in EGFR-mutated lung cancer, even in AXL-low expressing tumors.
Researchers discover that the proteins transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) promote the development of cancer-associated fibroblasts, contributing to tumor progression. TGF-β induces endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), a process involving the conversion of endothelial cells to CAFs.
Researchers used single-cell sequencing to genetically identify cell types and subtypes in pancreatic tumors and surrounding stroma. The study identified distinct cell populations, including tumor cells, immune cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts, which correlated with patient clinical outcomes.
Researchers at University of Würzburg developed a drug that can disarm Aurora-A kinase, a protein that causes extensive damage in cancers like leukemias and neuroblastomas. The new PROTAC substance completely degrades the Aurora protein in cancer cells, leading to cell death.
Researchers at the Complutense University of Madrid found that childhood leukemia tumor cells hide in the choroid plexus of the brain, allowing them to escape chemotherapy and cause relapses. This discovery could lead to more effective treatment strategies to prevent these cells from colonizing the CNS.
Researchers found that Brat tumors in Drosophila are highly oxidative, with increased oxygen consumption rates compared to normal brains. Oxidative metabolism plays a key role in tumor cell immortalization, driven by mitochondrial fusion and increased efficiency in oxidative phosphorylation.
Scientists have identified a promising new system to attack tumors directly by combining a small biomolecule with a toxic metal complex. The molecule's luminescent properties allow for detection within cells and demonstrate its toxic effect, paving the way for further research into this innovative theranostic system.
Researchers found that EMT promotes successful rounding and cell division in tumor cells, making them stiffer while surrounding non-dividing cells become softer. The study suggests a new direction for understanding how EMT influences cancer cell behavior.
A new study found that tumor cells outcompete T cells for the amino acid methionine, impairing its function. Supplementing methionine can restore T cell function, suggesting a potential target for immunotherapy against more cancers.
Research found that cancer cells losing 'stickiness' allows them to move freely, but dense environments can still hold them back. This contradicts previous understanding of cell movement in cancer development.
Breast cancer cells can exist in different cellular states, ranging from stem-like cells to more differentiated cells. Researchers identified a complex spectrum of cell states between different tumor types, which can range from stem-cells to 'beginner cells' and more differentiated cells.
Scientists create genetically engineered, off-the-shelf therapeutic T cells that can recognize and kill specific cancer cells without requiring personalized training. The 'off-the-shelf' approach solves limitations of original cell immunotherapy methods by avoiding time-consuming processes and resulting in more potent cells.
A study found that younger and female patients accumulate more cancer-causing genetic mutations, making them less visible to the immune system. This selective pressure leads to poorer response rates to immunotherapy.
Breast cancer cells send pro-tumorigenic messages to normal cells through extracellular vesicles, reprogramming mitochondrial function and promoting migration. This process may provide a novel target for disrupting cancer progression.
Scientists discovered that identifying tumor-associated macrophage patterns in lung tumor tissue enables the prediction of disease progression. The study found that a higher number of tumor-promoting macrophages near the invasive margin is associated with lower patient survival rates.
Cancer cells release small vesicles called exosomes that can re-programme surrounding cells, driving tumour growth and metastasis. The newly discovered Rab11a-exosomes may help cancers evade treatments.
Tiny finger-like projections called filopodia play a crucial role in invasive behavior of rare lung cancer cells. The cells have longer filopodia than their counterparts, which is linked to the gene MYO10, stabilizing these structures. This discovery could help develop treatments that prevent cancer from spreading.
Researchers at MIT and Harvard University have mapped out an additional layer of control guiding tumor evolution through epigenomic alterations. They identified 11 chromatin states that cancer cells can pass through as they become more aggressive, and found a key molecule linked to advanced lung cancer forms.
A new approach combines CAR-T cell technology with natural killer cells to enhance tumor-fighting ability and reduce side effects. The merged immunotherapy shows promise in treating certain blood cancers, such as leukemia, and may be safer than traditional CAR-T cell therapy.
Cancer researchers identified a previously unseen cell state that enables tumors to develop resistance to chemotherapy, and found this adaptable cell type in every tumor they examined. This discovery offers hope for developing targeted therapies to combat cancer's adaptability and provide longer-lasting remissions.
Researchers have demonstrated the potential of a leukemia drug, arsenic trioxide, to treat medulloblastoma, a type of brain cancer most common in children. The drug made tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy and proved capable of killing tumor cells and preventing new colony formation.
Fox Chase Cancer Center and Ben-Gurion University have received a $320,000 grant to test an immune-stimulating antibody developed by BGU researcher Angel Porgador for treating multiple myeloma. The antibody helps the immune system kill multiple myeloma tumor cells and may work on many different types of tumors.
Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory found that interfering with cholesterol storage can stop pancreatic cancer cell growth in mice and lab-grown pancreas models. The study suggests a new strategy for treating deadly disease by targeting an enzyme called SOAT1.
Researchers developed engineered natural killer immune cells expressing a PD-L1 CAR that directly kill tumour cells in mice and humans. The treatment also reduces the numbers of immunosuppressive myeloid cells harbouring PD-L1.
Researchers found that a gene's checkpoint mechanism can sometimes allow cells to divide abnormally, leading to worse damage. This discovery has important implications for treating cancer and understanding the inner workings of cells.
Researchers discovered that platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGFB) plays a key role in maintaining the vascular barrier in tumors, reducing the spread of cancer cells. In mouse models, PDGFB deletion from platelets led to increased circulating tumor cells and metastasis.
Researchers developed a new single-cell DNA sequencing method to analyze the genetic diversity of individual cells within a tumor. The study revealed at least four major sub-populations of cells that are expected to have mutated from the original cancer cell, providing important insights into how cancer progresses and spreads.
The new technology uses low-frequency ultrasound to detonate tumor-targeted microbubbles, destroying up to 80% of cancer cells. An immunotherapy gene is co-injected to enhance the immune response, targeting and destroying remaining cancer cells.
Scientists at the University of Würzburg have identified thousands of cryptic HLA peptides in tumor immunopeptidomes using a novel bioinformatics method. These peptides may serve as effective targets for cancer immunotherapies and vaccines against virus-infected cells.
Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine discovered a new way to treat cancer by manipulating macrophages, immune cells found in tumor tissues. IRE1α, a molecule regulating the unfolded protein response, was shown to boost PD-L1 levels on macrophages, allowing tumors to evade the immune system.
Researchers at Nagoya University have developed a near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) treatment targeting podoplanin-positive cells in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). NIR-PIT has shown promise in reducing fluorescence from cancer-tagged cells and demonstrating anti-cancer effects.
A phase I/II clinical trial suggests that vaccines prepared from a patient's own tumor cells may prevent mantle cell lymphoma from returning after treatment. The vaccines are a safe and effective way to induce the immune system to attack any tumor cells that could cause disease relapse.
Researchers found that removing CAVIN1 from stromal cells allows prostate cancer cells to feed on lipids, fueling growth and spreading. This leads to aggressive tumor behavior, including invasive and metastatic behavior.
Researchers developed a new method, HT-DBP, to screen thousands of drugs in freshly collected human tumor cells, potentially leading to more accurate and personalized treatment. The technique indicates which drugs are most likely to be effective against specific cancers, improving physicians' ability to tailor treatment.
Researchers create sugar-tagged drug compounds to target chemotherapy-resistant prostate cancer cells, exploiting the Warburg effect. The new compound shows improved efficiency in killing cancer cells compared to traditional chemotherapeutic drugs.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have developed a new cell culture process that can replicate cancer cells from diseased bladder tissue in dogs, allowing for more efficient cancer research. This breakthrough method enables the diagnosis and treatment of cancer without using costly stem cell products or trad...
Researchers discovered resistance to tumor inhibitors arises from gradual adaptation to selective pressures, providing opportunity for effective therapies. The study advances in evolution of resistance and offers evolutionary-informed therapies for future treatments.
Researchers identified a type of cell fusion between cancer cells and white blood cells called tumor-macrophage fusion (TMF), where the size and number of TMFs may predict disease-free survival. Larger TMFs were linked to shorter disease-free survival rates.
Scientists at ChristianaCare's Gene Editing Institute have developed a new CRISPR advance that can safely target and disable the NRF2 gene linked to a bleak prognosis in lung cancer tumors. This approach aims to improve the efficacy of conventional chemotherapy and radiation treatments while minimizing harm to normal cells.
Piya Ghose, an assistant professor of biology at UTA, has established a new lab with $2 million in CPRIT funding. Her research focuses on programmed cell death, which can lead to cancer through tumor creation. Ghose's work aims to understand how tumors behave throughout the body and could lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment.
Research reveals that cancer clusters exhibit higher metastatic potential than single cells due to increased resistance to natural killer cell-mediated destruction. The study suggests enhancing the ability of activated NK cells to eliminate cluster metastasis could provide a complementary cancer therapy approach.