Research on the biology of tumor cells. Covers tumor spread, cell-particle diagnostics, new anti-tumor molecules, and cancer-killing immune cells.
Researchers found that lithium promotes DNA repair in healthy cells but not in brain tumor cells, protecting healthy hippocampal neurons from radiation-induced damage. This mechanism could provide a way to increase the radiation dose to kill tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue.
A new nanoparticle has been developed to deliver a tumor suppressor gene to cancer cells, restoring normal gene function and bypassing healthy tissue. This breakthrough method shows promise in reducing the probability of recurrent tumors.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have discovered that phenethyl isothiocyante (PEITC) can selectively deplete mutant p53 in tumor cells. This restoration of wild-type function increases the sensitivity of mutant p53-expressing tumor cells to PEITC-induced cytotoxicity.
Scientists studying a new cancer treatment discovered that protein levels, not genetics, determine the effectiveness of the medication. This finding offers an alternative explanation to the cancer stem-cell hypothesis and holds promise for designing more effective anti-cancer treatments.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have discovered the molecular interplay that enables invasive tumor cells to move and invade other parts of the body. By manipulating this process, they hope to develop treatments to stop cancer from spreading.
A new anti-cancer agent, BPH-715, has been developed that is highly effective at inhibiting multiple enzymes in the cancer pathway. The compound has shown promising results in cell culture and animal studies, demonstrating its potential as a treatment for various cancers.
Researchers at Brown University have created a twin nanoparticle that specifically targets Her-2-positive breast cancer cells, releasing chemotherapy drugs into the infected cells. The system successfully killed up to 80% of cancer cells in laboratory tests.
A new study reveals that standard brain tumor treatment may increase the number of cancer stem-like cells, making patients more vulnerable to tumor recurrence. Researchers found that a common chemotherapy drug, temozolomide, increases the aggressiveness of surviving cancer cells.
A new study suggests that green tea components may negate the effects of bortezomib (Velcade) in patients taking this medicine. The EGCG polyphenol in green tea bound to boronic acid-containing compounds like bortezomib cancels out their antitumor effects.
Researchers found that two proteins, Kif2b and MCAK, work together to ensure proper chromosome segregation during cell division. Increasing these proteins in tumor cells restored nearly normal accuracy of chromosome segregation, providing insight into mechanisms of cell division in tumor cells.
Canadian researchers have identified a new protein, ARF1, that plays a critical role in breast cancer cell growth and tumour spread. Targeting this protein with drug therapy may provide hope to women with invasive breast cancers.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center developed a gene therapeutic approach that results in tumor regression and long-term survival. The approach uses proteins to draw dendritic cells into the brain tumors, stimulate an anti-tumor response, and increase survival time by six months.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have developed a new glioblastoma mouse model that closely resembles human brain tumors. The model uses modified viruses to shuttle cancer-causing oncogenes into adult mice, allowing scientists to study the development and progression of glioblastoma.
Researchers discovered that compounds like sulforaphane inhibit cell proliferation and kill precancerous cells, similar to anticancer drugs. This finding suggests that consuming cruciferous vegetables like broccoli may help prevent breast cancer.
Researchers discovered that bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BM-DCs) pulsed with tumor lysates can stimulate T cells to attack and kill gastric cancer cells. This finding suggests a potential new approach for treating advanced gastric cancer.
Scientists use a special glass 'window' to visualize individually-labeled tumor cells as they move through the body's microenvironments. The technique allows researchers to identify critical interactions driving intravasation and develop microenvironment-specific drugs.
Scientists identified a protein called Akt as the key to exploiting a vulnerability in cancer cells. By targeting this protein, researchers were able to selectively kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine have identified a protein called Menainv, which is present in invasive cells within a breast tumor. This protein enables tumor cells to become invasive and metastasize to other parts of the body.
A new study reveals that cellular senescence, a natural process for fighting cancer in younger persons, can actually promote cancer in older individuals by triggering the secretion of proteins that cause inflammation. This process is linked to almost every major disease associated with aging, including many cancers.
A new study found that senescent cells secrete proteins into their environment, causing inflammation and setting conditions for the development of age-related diseases, including cancer. The research provides a molecular description of how this process drives aging and age-related disease.
Researchers found lactic acid is an important energy source for tumor cells and discovered a way to destroy hard-to-kill cells by preventing lactate delivery. Blocking lactate transport kills oxygenated cells that starve hypoxic cells, offering a novel approach to treating tumors.
Researchers identified a potential new target for anticancer therapeutics by showing that well-oxygenated tumor cells use lactate as a fuel source, which is released by hypoxic tumor cells. Inhibiting this protein MCT1 disrupts the symbiotic relationship between tumor cell types and leads to decreased tumor growth in mice models.
Researchers have identified a potential new target for anticancer therapeutics by showing that well-oxygenated tumor cells use lactate as a fuel, while hypoxic cells use glucose. Inhibiting this protein MCT1 disrupts the symbiotic relationship between the two cell types, leading to decreased tumor growth in mouse models.
A team of researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory has discovered 13 new tumor-suppressor genes in liver cancer, which can help improve diagnosis and treatment. The study used a powerful genetic screen to validate the functional contributions of these genes in living animals.
A study by UNC researchers found that palladin, a protein expressed mostly in invasive breast cancer cells, plays a crucial role in their ability to migrate and spread. Knocking down palladin expression reduced the ability of breast cancer cells to metastasize.
A recent study discovered that the Overexpressed in Lung Cancer 1 (OLC1) gene is consistently expressed at high levels in most lung cancers, particularly in smokers. OLC1 overexpression was also shown to induce tumor formation in tissue culture cells and mouse models of lung cancer.
Researchers from Universite de Montreal and Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital discovered a new biochemical pathway controlling DNA repair, which may lead to improved cancer treatment. The ATR protein plays a key role in this process, and its deficiency is often found in tumour cells.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have developed a new treatment approach for neuroblastoma using T-lymphocytes with an artificial receptor that targets cancer cells. The treatment showed promise in early clinical trials, with one patient achieving complete remission and others experiencing stable disease for over a year.
Researchers develop a novel designer molecule that targets malignant melanoma cells using two different routes: triggering the immune system to attack and switching off a specific gene, driving cancer cells to suicide. Initial experiments in mouse models show significant inhibition of metastasis growth and tumor shrinkage.
Researchers identified a molecular mechanism involved in the development of cancer stem cells, which can lead to malignant brain tumors. Targeting this signaling pathway with gene therapy may prevent tumor recurrence.
Researchers identified a molecular reason why MEK inhibitors are limited in their ability to kill B-RAF mutant tumor cells, suggesting a new antitumor approach. MicroRNA15a modulates the expression of Cdc25A and affects hepatic cystogenesis in a rat model of polycystic kidney disease.
Researchers have identified a new combination therapy that targets tumors with B-RAF mutations by combining MEK inhibitors with BH3 mimetics, showing promise in treating melanomas and other solid tumors.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that apigenin, a naturally occurring compound in fruits and vegetables, improves cancer cells' response to chemotherapy. By localizing tumor suppressor p53 in the cell nucleus, apigenin facilitates cell death and stops tumor growth.
Researchers create customizable biological computer using synthetic RNA that can detect tumor cells and respond to biochemical signals. The device has potential medical applications, including targeted gene therapies and cancer treatment.
Researchers have found that Hodgkin lymphoma cells produce the cytokine IL-21, which helps them evade immune system detection. This discovery could lead to new therapy strategies for the disease, including blocking IL-21 production.
Researchers have found a new technique to quickly and reversibly fine-tune protein activity in cells and living mammals, providing a powerful tool for identifying protein functions. The technique involves pairing specially engineered proteins with the drug Shield-1, which prevents their degradation.
Researchers found erlotinib to effectively block EGFR, improving survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. In vitro studies revealed erlotinib's ability to repress cell growth, induce apoptosis, and suppress angiogenesis.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have found that a virus, Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV), is the cause of Merkel cell carcinoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer. The virus infects normal cells before they turn into cancer cells, and its replication can lead to the death of cancer cells.
A new advance in cellular imaging allows scientists to track the movement of live cells in the area around tumors, providing insights into how certain immune cells help or hinder tumor growth. This study sheds light on potential drug targets and mechanisms to enhance the body's natural immune response to cancer.
A team of Fox Chase researchers has identified a single genetic mutation as a key factor in the development of colorectal cancer. By studying individuals with a inherited 'one-hit' gene mutation, they discovered molecular changes that signal cancer presence and potential targets for preventive drugs.
A new study reveals that tumor blood vessel cells have the potential to differentiate into cartilage- or bone-like tissues, making them remarkably atypical. The research also found that these cells can undergo calcification, a process that may facilitate metastasis and tumor cell entry into the bloodstream.
University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers have developed a gene therapy virus to target ovarian cancer cells. The adenovirus-based approach has shown anti-tumor effects that appear safe for most patients, according to Drs. David T. Curiel and Ronald Alvarez.
Researchers at Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a protein called Hsp104 that dramatically reduces alpha-synuclein aggregation and dopaminergic degeneration in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. The study suggests that Hsp104 could be considered as a potential st...
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified two types of cells in the brain that can give rise to medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor. The study provides critical insight into how cancers develop and may help develop more rational and effective approaches to treatment.
Researchers have developed a novel method to kill tumor cells using nanoparticles and light. The technique employs quantum dots that emit light when exposed to megavoltage x-rays, which triggers the cancer-killing activity of Photofrin. This approach could be more effective in treating deeply seated tumors than current methods.
Researchers have developed a novel therapy that utilizes magnetic nanoparticles to target and capture cancer cells, which can then be removed from the body. This technology shows promise in treating ovarian cancer, where free-floating cancer cells spread throughout the abdominal cavity.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine found that lowering levels of signaling molecule Myc to a specific threshold reverses cancer cell growth and returns tumor cells to their normal state. This breakthrough could lead to more effective cancer chemotherapy with fewer side effects for healthy cells.
Researchers at German Cancer Research Center discovered that tumor cells degrade HIPK2 to prevent programmed cell death. Blocking this degradation may increase effectiveness of radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The study suggests a new approach to cancer treatment by targeting the Siah-1 enzyme.
The Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation has awarded $2.25M to five outstanding young clinical investigators, including Dr. Ronald Buckanovich, Andrew Chan, Rachael Clark, Vassiliki Karantza-Wadsworth, and Elahe Mostaghel, to support their cancer research programs.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a new non-toxic treatment that targets both tumor cells and blood vessels, effectively reducing breast cancer cell growth. The combination of PRIMA-1 and 2aG4 has been shown to improve responses and reduce side effects in pre-clinical trials.
Researchers at MIT discovered a new compound, cDPCP, that targets colorectal cells more effectively than oxaliplatin, potentially sparing other body tissues from damage. The study found that cDPCP requires the assistance of organic cation transporters to enter cells.
Researchers use monoclonal antibodies attached to carbon nanotubes that heat up when exposed to near-infrared light, killing cancer cells. The technique shows promise for targeting specific sites on lymphoma cells and potentially delivering a deadly payload.
A synthetic cocoa chemical slowed growth and accelerated destruction of human tumors in laboratory studies, suggesting it may be used for cancer chemoprevention or treatment. The strongest response was seen in colon cancer cells, with growth cut in half and most tumor cells damaged.
Researchers at CSHL confirm DLC1 as a tumor suppressor gene that, when deleted or inactivated, leads to liver cancer. The team also identifies RhoA as a key signaling intermediary required for tumor formation, paving the way for new therapeutic targets.
Researchers have created the smallest magnetic nanoparticles to date that can be used to locate cancer cells during MRI scans. The particles are about 8.4 nanometers in size and emit a stronger signal for detection, making them ideal for detecting tumors without surgery.
Researchers at Weill Cornell discovered that cancer stem cells without the protein CD133 can initiate metastatic disease, leading to more aggressive tumors. This finding opens up new avenues of investigation and redirects cancer research.
A recent study has cast doubt on CD133's status as a colon cancer stem cell marker, finding that the protein is expressed by most cells in colon tumors, not just stem cells. Both CD133+ and CD133- cells can initiate tumors when transplanted into mice.
Researchers found that overexpressed midkine (MK) and its truncated form (tMK) significantly promote the proliferation of gastric adenocarcinoma cells and tumor growth in nude mice. This study suggests tMK as a promising therapeutic target for gastric cancer treatment.
New study identifies IKK(beta) protein as key driver of pro-tumor switch in macrophages, which halts production of anti-tumor genes. Inactivating IKK(beta) reprograms macrophages into tumor killers, attracting professional immune cells to shrink tumors.
A study led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center finds that a tumor suppressor protein called PML enables leukemia-initiating cells to maintain quiescence, making them resistant to conventional therapies. Inhibiting PML with an arsenic-based agent successfully treats chronic myeloid leukemia when combined with chemotherapy.