Research on the biology of tumor cells. Covers tumor spread, cell-particle diagnostics, new anti-tumor molecules, and cancer-killing immune cells.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have developed an antibody that selectively attacks cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. The antibody works by targeting a specific protein on cancer cells, disabling their defense mechanism and triggering an immune response.
A recent study at The Hormel Institute has uncovered a new molecular mechanism that detects missegregated chromosomes and prevents the formation of tumors. This discovery provides insight into the regulation of chromosome segregation and its role in cancer development.
A new University of Illinois study reveals that the shape of a tumor may play a significant role in determining whether cells can metastasize. The research found that curved edges and corners activate cancer stem cells, which are responsible for spreading cancer to other tissues.
Tumor cells switch to glycolysis, a form of anaerobic energy production, allowing them to continue growing even without new blood vessels. This discovery opens up new possibilities for long-term cancer treatments by inhibiting anaerobic energy production or transport of lactic acid.
Cancer cells' ability to slide past obstacles and travel out of primary tumors is enabled by abnormal protein fiber scaffolding and the agility of cancer cells themselves. The researchers developed a model environment that mimics protein fibers, allowing them to observe and quantify the behavior of breast cancer cells.
Researchers found that breast cancer cells spread by sliding around other cells blocking their escape route out of the original tumor. The study identified molecular pathways that regulate cell-sliding behavior and showed that increased levels of E-cadherin can diminish this behavior.
Researchers found that orchestrated cell death mechanisms in pancreatic cancer can induce the growth of tumor cells by suppressing the immune system. Inhibiting these pathways may reverse immunosuppressive environments and enable T lymphocytes to attack tumors.
A biomarker associated with basal cell carcinoma, EZH2, has been identified in a study published in JAMA Oncology. Higher levels of EZH2 and Ki67 were found in more aggressive tumors, suggesting that the protein may serve as a marker for increased cancer recurrence or tumor aggressiveness.
A new cancer treatment approach uses microparticles and mesenchymal stem cells to deliver chemotherapy directly to tumor cells, reducing systemic toxicity. The method successfully kills tumor cells via a strong bystander effect, offering hope for targeted treatment of prostate cancer and potentially other diseases.
PharmaMar showcases new compounds with unique mechanisms of action against solid and hematological tumors. Lurbinectedin attacks the microenvironment, Plitidepsin targets eEF1A2 protein, and PM184 disrupts blood vessels, cutting off nutrient and oxygen supply to tumor cells.
This special issue on cancer metastasis features groundbreaking research on tumor development, spread, and treatment resistance. Studies reveal the role of hypoxia, neutrophils, and genetic evolution in promoting metastasis, as well as potential therapeutic targets for prevention and treatment.
Researchers at CRI identified a new metabolic pathway that allows cancer cells to survive in conditions toxic to normal cells. The study reveals that cancer cells use an alternate version of the pentose phosphate pathway and the Krebs cycle to defend against reactive oxygen species.
Research shows that aged tumor cells in melanoma are more metastatic and resistant to treatment with targeted therapies due to changes in the microenvironment. Antioxidants, such as N-acetylcysteine, may be a better treatment strategy for older patients.
Researchers found that dozens of targeted therapies inhibit T cell activity, which can help fight tumors. However, pairing these drugs with an IL-15 superagonist stimulates T cell activity, preserving cancer-blocking effects. The study suggests a potential way to overcome immunosuppressive effects while maintaining anti-cancer benefits.
Researchers at Kyoto University's Yamada lab created a mouse model to study the EWS-FLI1 gene's role in bone cancer. The model revealed that other mutations are necessary for cancer development and that correcting osteogenic cell differentiation could prevent bone cancers.
Researchers used optogenetics to manipulate bioelectrical signals in cells, preventing tumor formation and inducing regression. This breakthrough provides proof of principle for a new class of therapies that use light to target tumors, potentially avoiding toxic chemotherapy.
Researchers have found a correlation between hypogonadism and high Gleason scores in prostate cancer patients. This association could help predict patient outcomes before surgery, allowing for more targeted treatment strategies.
Researchers identified a critical connection between the cancer-related gene Myc and cell-surface molecules that protect tumors from the immune system. The study found that reducing Myc expression led to lower levels of protective proteins CD47 and PD-L1 on tumor cells, enabling them to evade immune detection.
A recent study by MIT biologists found that cancer cells use amino acids to build new cell mass, contradicting the long-held assumption that glucose is the primary source. The largest contributors to cell mass were amino acids, making up 20-40% of total mass.
Researchers found PGK1 plays a key role in coordinating cellular processes for cancer metabolism and brain tumor formation. The enzyme promotes energy production through the Warburg effect, leading to rapid cancer growth.
A recent study shows that cancer cells work together with surrounding healthy cells to build new blood vessels, promoting tumor growth. Researchers found that collagen production is increased by a specific type of transfer RNA, allowing tumors to acquire the necessary resources to grow and spread.
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute have developed a new cancer treatment that uses nanoparticles to transport cytotoxin directly to cancer cells via the bloodstream. The treatment has been shown to be effective in targeting and destroying cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected.
Researchers developed a new screening protocol to detect human polyomaviruses in tumor samples, but found no association with various types of cancer. The technique will aid in studying diseases linked to polyomaviruses, such as Merkel cell carcinoma caused by Merkel cell polyomavirus.
Researchers have developed a new nanoparticle that kills tumor cells in the eye by mimicking an enzyme used by immune cells, extending survival of mice with advanced breast cancer. The treatment offers advantages such as producing toxins per hour and being activated by light.
A recent study published in Developmental Cell reveals that 68% of solid tumors are aneuploid, meaning they have an abnormal number of chromosomes. Aneuploidy contributes to genomic instability and cancer progression by triggering cell death and proliferation signals.
Researchers found that cancer cells kill off surrounding cells to make room to grow, but drugs that prevent cell death might be effective at fighting cancer. Manipulating genetic variants in surrounding cells can contain tumors and prevent their spread.
A recent study found that the presence of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) promotes the motility of elongated mesenchymal tumour cells in breast cancer cells, which migrate along collagen fibres. This increased persistence and moderate speed suggests that EGF contributes to modulating the mobility of tumour cells.
University of Iowa researchers track cancerous human breast tissue cells' motion and accretion into tumors, discovering that only five percent of cancerous cells are needed to form a tumor. The team finds that cancer cells actively recruit healthy cells by extending cables to grab their neighbors, forming a larger mass.
A new study published in Developmental Cell suggests that the KIF1Bβ gene plays a key role in determining whether neural crest cells live or die. The research team found that loss of KIF1B-β is associated with poor prognosis and reduced survival in neuroblastoma patients.
Researchers identified SGEF as a target for new brain cancer therapies in a study published by Molecular Cancer Research. The protein promotes the survival of glioblastoma tumor cells and helps the cancer invade brain tissue.
Scientists at University of California, San Diego discover protein Wnt5a stimulates CLL cell growth via ROR1 and ROR2 proteins. Experimental monoclonal antibody cirmtuzumab inhibits growth and spread of cancer cells.
Researchers discovered that aggressive tumors hijack an export pathway in cells to lay the groundwork for cancer progression and resistance to chemotherapy. Blocking this pathway may help restore tumor vulnerability to chemotherapy.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich create a highly active molecule that selectively targets the alphaVbeta6 integrin, a common marker in many types of cancer. This breakthrough could lead to patient-specific diagnoses and targeted therapies with minimal side effects.
Researchers used a novel approach to measure the forces exerted by tumor cells on their surrounding connective tissue. By analyzing tissue deformations, they calculated cell forces with high accuracy, revealing key insights into tumour cell migration and behaviour.
Researchers create spatiotemporal genomic analysis (SAGA) technique to study differences in cellular behavior, including cell migration and response to chemotherapy. This approach may lead to new treatments that hamper metastasis.
Research by Allison Cleary reveals that breast cancer cells work together to promote tumor growth, contradicting the long-held assumption of competitive interactions within tumors. Her findings have implications for developing novel treatments that target cooperative interactions in human breast cancers.
City of Hope researchers presented phase 1 clinical trial results for novel leukemia and lymphoma treatments, including targeted radiation and antibody therapy. The studies showed promising safety and efficacy outcomes, paving the way for future trials and potential improved patient outcomes.
A new study offers insights into how ovarian cancer grows, revealing a patterned hierarchy of cancer stem cells. The research identifies a key protein, BMP2, that regulates the growth of these stem-like cells. Targeting this protein could lead to more effective therapies for ovarian cancer.
Researchers have successfully combined an antibody-drug conjugate with immunotherapy to treat breast cancer. The therapy has shown promising results in attacking tumor cells and improving the body's immune response.
Researchers describe a new treatment option for glioblastoma multiforme, targeting malignant cells while leaving healthy cells alive with high-frequency pulsed electric fields. The therapy has shown promise in killing tumor cells by disrupting cell membranes and causing nuclear collapse.
A team of U of T engineers has developed a way to grow cancer cells in the form of a rolled-up sheet that mimics the 3D environment of a tumour, offering a way to speed up drug development and ask new questions about cell behavior. The single-layer design makes it easier for other lab researchers to adopt the process.
A new study by Siyuan Zhang and colleagues reveals that the microenvironment of tumor cells has a significant impact on cancer metastasis. The study suggests that the 'seed and soil' model, where tumors adapt to new tissues, can be used to prevent metastasis.
Researchers discovered brain cancer cells form a complex network to resist treatment and invade healthy brain tissue. The tumor cells use this network to communicate and repair damage, making it resistant to radiation therapy.
Researchers from NTU Singapore have successfully used dead bacteria to destroy colon tumour cells effectively. The study published in Scientific Reports shows that the secretions of dead Clostridium sporogenes bacteria can reduce the growth of colorectal cancer cells by up to 83%.
PharmaMar's novel Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) MI130004 demonstrates potent anticancer activity against HER2-expressing breast, gastric, and ovarian cancers. The ADC impairs tubulin polymerization, causing mitotic failures and halting cell division in tumor cells.
A TSRI team has been awarded a $1.8 million grant to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind cancer metastasis. The research could lead to new approaches to help patients by targeting specific molecules involved in tumor cell survival and metastasis.
A new study from TSRI found that high levels of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) encourage blood vessel growth in early tumor development, facilitating cancer cell dissemination and metastasis. The findings highlight the urgent need for new methods to diagnose cancers early and new treatments to fight growing metastases.
Researchers found that patrolling monocytes play a key role in blocking lung metastasis by recognizing and scavenging tumor cells. This discovery could lead to new treatments for lung cancer by augmenting existing immunotherapy approaches.
Researchers found that tumor suppressor protein PTEN is lost in brain cancer cells but restored once they migrate to other organs. This reversible loss enables brain metastases growth and protects against cell death.
A long-known tumor suppressor, pRb, works by restricting the activity of KDM5A, a molecule that regulates fuel burning in mitochondria. Cancer cells rely on fermenting sugars for energy, making them more vulnerable to metabolic therapies.
A team of researchers is using the Cray XK7 Titan supercomputer to simulate hundreds of millions of red blood cells in an attempt to develop better drug delivery methods and predictors for diseases like sickle cell anemia. The simulations are focused on understanding how these diseases interact with human blood vessels, particularly in...
Researchers have found a way to mobilize immune cells to attack and destroy malignant tumors by using a cell surface receptor called GITR. This protein can switch immature T-cells from becoming regulatory T-cells to tumor killers called Th9 cells, which produce the cancer-fighting protein interleukin 9.
Researchers discovered that cell programs controlling normal mammary gland stem cells differ from those regulating cancer stem cells, which arise in a distinct layer of tissue. This finding could lead to new cancer treatments by targeting the specific differences between normal and cancer cells.
Cancer cells can be made vulnerable to autophagy shutdown by combining an FLT3 inhibitor with an autophagy blocker. This combination prevents cancer cells from metabolizing glucose and mobilizing stored nutrients, leading to cell death. The study provides evidence that this approach could be a new way to treat various types of cancer.
Researchers found a core group of genes related to both viral defense and susceptibility to demethylating drug 5-azacytidine. The study suggests that triggering this pathway may improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy drugs in patients with certain types of cancer.
A Harvard University collaboration has developed a 3D model of solid tumors that reflects both their three-dimensional shape and genetic evolution. The model explains why cancer cells share an unusually high number of genetic mutations and how drug resistance evolves, shedding light on tumor growth and evolution.
Computer models of developing cancers show that small cell movements can quickly alter tumor composition. The models suggest treatments targeting these movements could slow disease progress by preventing certain cells from flourishing.
A new minimally invasive vaccine combines cancer cells with immune-enhancing factors, evoking an immune response in a simpler and more economical way. The approach has shown promising results in experimental animal models, shrinking tumors and protecting animals from tumor growth.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have discovered a way to potentially reprogram cancer cells back to normalcy by restoring the expression of specific microRNAs. This finding represents an unexpected new biology that provides the code for turning off cancer, offering a potential strategy for cancer therapy.
A new study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has found that tumor cells associated with pancreatic cancer often behave like communities, working together to increase tumor spread and growth. The research suggests that interactions between subpopulations of tumor cell types contribute to metastatic progression.