Research on the biology of tumor cells. Covers tumor spread, cell-particle diagnostics, new anti-tumor molecules, and cancer-killing immune cells.
A study published in Cancer Cell found that zebularine slows cancer-cell growth by up to 68%, but only 21% in normal cells. The drug works by demethylating specific genes, offering a promising new approach to cancer treatment with fewer side effects.
Researchers developed a novel treatment combining chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy to target genetic mechanisms protecting metastatic tumor cells. The treatment successfully induced apoptosis in tumor cells by blocking oncogene expression and DNA synthesis.
Researchers have discovered a potential immunotherapy strategy for cancer treatment by reactivating specific memory T cell subsets from cancer patients. These activated cells effectively recognize and reject xenotransplanted autologous tumors, reducing tumor size in mice.
A study by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers found that 36 out of 181 patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia had at least one first-degree relative with the disease. The study also found no discernible differences in age of onset, blood counts, or genetic analysis between family and non-family forms of the disease.
Researchers at UNC have identified a crucial role for a segment of Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) in activating the enzyme, which promotes cancer cell growth and metastasis. By making subtle changes to this region, they created a mutant protein that blocks FAK activity, suggesting potential therapeutic applications.
A new RNAi delivery system has been developed to target brain cancer cells, using antibodies to cross the blood-brain barrier. The treatment has shown promising results in mice with brain tumors, increasing survival time by almost twice as much as a control group.
Researchers have discovered a new way in which mutated Ras proteins contribute to cancer progression. They found that Ras interacts with an enzyme essential for the synthesis of GPI-anchored proteins, regulating their production on cell surfaces.
Researchers found that NKT cells are attracted to tumors producing the chemokine CCL2, leading to better patient outcomes. Neuroblastomas with abnormally high levels of the cancer-causing gene MYCN contained fewer NKT cells and produced less CCL2.
Researchers discovered that Nembutal suppresses colon cancer metastasis and improves post-radiation brain function. Additionally, erythropoietin was found to protect cognitive function after whole brain irradiation, while a new vitamin B12 molecule targets tumor cells.
Researchers discover IGF-1R inhibition significantly impacts tumor cell growth and sensitivity to chemotherapy, highlighting its potential as an anticancer therapeutic. Two selective inhibitors of IGF-1R are identified with potent antitumor activity against multiple myeloma and other hematological malignancies.
Researchers have discovered that protein cdk6 inhibits breast cancer cell growth, suggesting a promising avenue for diagnosis and treatment. Cdk6 levels were found to be significantly lower in breast cancer cells compared to normal cells, with increased expression of cdk6 linked to suppressed cell growth.
Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital found that cancer cells can compress both blood and lymphatic vessels within tumors. This compression limits the delivery of anticancer drugs to tumor cells. New strategies for improving cancer treatment may be developed by normalizing distorted blood supply within tumors.
A study published in Nature Biotechnology found that the Sindbis virus is effective at killing tumors in mice, with varying time and injection schedules required. The virus targets tumor cells by binding to a specific receptor, making it a potential tracking device for cancer.
Researchers found that colon cancer cells can revert to non-metastatic behavior when surrounded by other cells, reversing the invasive process. By targeting a specific gene called Slug, scientists hope to develop a drug to block metastasis in patients.
Scientists have developed a method that uses allicin, found in garlic, to selectively kill cancer cells in mice. The method involves injecting an antibody and enzyme combination that targets specific receptors on cancer cells, triggering the production of lethal allicin molecules that destroy tumors while leaving healthy cells intact.
New class of drugs targets specific molecules within brain cancer cells, slowing growth and reducing side effects. Three drugs - ZD6474, SB431542, and AEE788 - demonstrate significant promise in treating glioblastoma and other types of brain tumors.
Researchers found that a specific protein expressed by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is crucial for tumor cell proliferation and survival in Burkitt's lymphoma. Developing small molecules that target this protein could lead to effective therapies with minimal side effects, offering hope for patients with EBV-associated tumors.
Researchers have discovered a novel molecular mechanism that explains why certain Hsp90 inhibitors are effective against tumor cells while being non-toxic to normal tissues. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of targeted cancer therapies and may lead to new treatments for various types of cancer.
Researchers have discovered a potential new treatment for certain types of cancer by inhibiting sphingosine kinase. The study found that targeting this enzyme can reduce tumor growth and induce apoptosis in cancer cells, offering hope for new targeted therapies.
Research suggests that cutting off blood vessels to starve tumors of oxygen may not always be effective, as it can also make them harder to treat. Instead, feeding the tumor with oxygen may be a more viable option to kill cancer cells.
Researchers discovered that aggressive cancer cells form vascular-like networks, allowing for blood flow and potential nutritional exchange. This 'chameleon-like' ability raises clinical challenges in detecting aggressive tumor cells but offers new insights into targeting them more effectively.
The UGA research team has identified a molecular key to cell division, which could lead to new targets for cancer therapeutics. The study found that cyclin-dependent kinases drive the mitosis process and that molecules called oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes are controlled by novel mechanisms.
Researchers found that Cripto overexpression inhibits Activin signaling, leading to increased tumor cell growth. Antibody blockade of Cripto suppresses tumor cell growth in xenograft models, suggesting a central role for Cripto in tumorigenesis.
Researchers at Ohio State University found that endostatin can stop Kaposi's sarcoma cells from growing new blood vessels and migrating through the body. The study suggests a controlled release of endostatin could be an effective treatment option for patients with KS.
A new study connects a powerful cancer-causing protein to a gene associated with Werner syndrome, a disease causing premature aging. Researchers suggest developing drugs that interfere with the WRN gene's anti-aging properties to block Myc's tumor-promoting activity.
Studies found that increasing TBP levels can contribute to oncogenesis, while p53 acts as a tumor suppressor by reducing TBP's effective concentration. These findings have implications for the development of new cancer treatments and therapies.
Researchers found that increasing RKIP expression in metastatic prostate cancer cells decreased their invasiveness and reduced lung metastases in mice. The study suggests that RKIP may be a suppressor of prostate cancer metastasis, offering new targets for cancer control.
Researchers discovered that a lost protein called PEDF can inhibit angiogenesis, a crucial process for tumor growth, in prostate cancer cells. Treatment with PEDF also triggered increased cell death in cancer cells, suggesting its potential as a new treatment option.
A new study suggests that PTEN dysfunction is responsible for 30-60% of melanomas and offers a potential therapeutic approach to kill cancer cells. The introduction of PTEN into melanoma cells could be a useful treatment option, but the cancer cells may eventually learn to evade this approach.
Researchers genetically inactivated an enzyme, acid sphingomyelinase, to show that damage to endothelial cells is another way radiation kills tumor cells. Tumors without the enzyme were radioresistant, while those with it responded well to low doses of radiation.
Researchers developed new methods for diagnosing breast cancer based on gene expression signatures, correlating with traditional pathological classifications. The study found that early-stage lesions contain molecular signatures reflecting tumor aggressiveness, potentially changing the course of cancer progression.
Researchers create a hybrid compound combining an antibody with a traditional anticancer drug, effectively steering the hybrid towards cancer cells. The approach shows promise in preclinical studies and could be used to design hybrids against multiple cancers.
Women with circulating tumor cells in their blood have a median survival of less than 24 months, compared to over 24 months without them. The presence of cancer cells in the blood predicts prognosis more accurately than other factors, indicating a possible link between blood-circulating tumor cells and aggressive breast cancer.
Researchers found that JNK signaling suppresses tumor development, but its absence actually promotes tumor growth. This discovery could lead to new treatment strategies for certain types of cancer.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have developed a novel approach that turns on the immune system to attack brain tumor cells, potentially extending survival in patients with highly aggressive gliomas. The therapy uses dendritic cells to recognize and target dying tumor cells, triggering an immune response.
Researchers have identified stem cells in human breast cancer that can form new tumors and are resistant to treatment. The discovery may explain why current treatments for metastatic breast cancer often fail, and could lead to the development of new therapies targeted at these cells.
Researchers at Cyclis Pharmaceuticals have discovered a new mechanism for treating cancer, involving the activation of the E2F1 protein with small molecule drugs. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that this approach can selectively kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells.
Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in developing a cancer vaccine by attaching tumor material to antibodies, inducing an immune response against cancer in animal experiments. The vaccine's effectiveness may also be applied to other diseases such as arthritis and whooping cough.
A new vaccine technique has shown promise in boosting the natural immune response to tumors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The vaccine was found to be non-toxic and well-tolerated, with some patients remaining disease-free for over three years after vaccination.
Researchers found that the arginine variant of p53 is more efficient at killing cells and travels out of the nucleus to function in the mitochondria. This discovery could lead to personalized cancer treatment by tailoring therapy based on a patient's p53 variant type.
Researchers identified a protein called CUGBP2 that regulates the production of COX-2, a key culprit in arthritis and cancer. When CUGBP2 levels are high, it triggers cancer cell death by inhibiting COX-2 production.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center have developed a new approach for treating gliomas by engineering neural stem cells to deliver a cancer-killing protein. The treatment, known as NSC-TRAIL, successfully tracked and destroyed glioma cells in mice, while sparing normal brain tissue.
New tri-metallic supra-molecules can be positioned in exact parts of cancer cells and excited by therapeutic light to kill diseased cells. The system enables precise targeting, reducing side effects of chemotherapy.
Researchers have discovered a new genetic mechanism to prevent cancer development by targeting the Cdk4 gene. The study showed that knocking out this gene can make cells resistant to cancer even if their tumor suppressor defense is deficient. Cells then enter senescence, offering a promising new option for cancer therapy.
Researchers have found that Cdk4 expression is essential for Ras-induced cancer development, making it a potential target for therapy. Dr. Hiroaki Kiyokawa and colleagues showed that Cdk4-deficient cells can enter a protective state of senescence when exposed to oncogenes like Ras.
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh found that KSHV, a known carcinogenic virus, inhibits immune function and causes cancerous cells to grow through a hormone-like substance called vIL-6. This discovery reveals an overlap between the immune system and tumor suppressor pathways targeted by KSHV.
Researchers designed a DNA vaccine that stimulates the immune system to recognize and attack proliferating blood vessels in tumors, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients. The vaccine has shown promise in preventing effective angiogenesis and inhibiting tumor growth, offering potential for novel cancer therapies.
Researchers identified Ski's role in disrupting nuclear signaling proteins, preventing cells from slowing down and stopping division. This finding provides crucial insight into the development of cancerous tumors and offers a potential target for new anticancer drugs.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that pituitary tumor cells express abundant PPAR-gamma, a protein receptor linked to growth and metabolism. Treatment with common diabetes drug rosiglitazone effectively shrunk tumors and reduced hormone production in mice with Cushing's syndrome.
Researchers at UIC have identified a compound that inhibits cell migration, a process linked to cancer progression. The discovery uses a high-throughput assay and has the potential to be used in combination therapies against cancer.
A new study has found that a second set of immune cells, known as regulatory T cells, prevent attack cells from acting against cancer. The study discovered that these regulatory T cells communicate with the attack cells via a messenger chemical called TGF-beta.
Researchers at Howard Hughes Medical Institute found that a plant compound called cyclopamine effectively killed cultured mouse medulloblastoma cells and human tumors. The study showed promising results, with all seven tested human medulloblastomas responding dramatically to the treatment.
Researchers at Temple University have discovered that combining the Rb2 gene with gamma radiation treatment speeds up tumor cell death by upregulating p73 and downregulating Bcl-2. This study offers a promising new approach to treating glioblastoma, a malignant brain tumor.
Researchers at University of Illinois Chicago have discovered a way to render cancer cells more susceptible to immunological attacks and chemotherapy. By inserting the E1A gene into malignant cells, they can prevent tumor cells from blocking immune defenses, paving the way for new treatments.
Researchers discovered a compound that selectively inhibits the growth of breast cancer cells engineered to overexpress HER-2, a protein implicated in 20-30% of human breast cancers. The compound, F16, targets the mitochondria of cancer cells, causing them to swell and eventually rupture, leading to cell death.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute suggest administering an injection of fresh T cells after chemotherapy or irradiation to increase anti-tumor effect. This approach could potentially reduce collateral damage and improve treatment outcomes for various cancers.
The study found that the c-Myc protein has a key cancer-preventing mechanism, causing cell death, but also triggers the growth of invasive tumors when another oncoprotein is activated. Suppressing this mechanism can lead to rapid tumor regression and collapse of blood vessels.
CP461 acts against cancer cells selectively through both apoptosis and anti-angiogenic effects, preventing new blood vessel formation. The compound also disrupts microtubule organization and proper spindle formation, blocking mitosis and promoting cell death in cancer cells.
Researchers at UC Berkeley have developed a microsized microscope that can capture high-resolution images of living cells, shrinking the size and cost of conventional microscopes. The device has the potential to revolutionize medical research and diagnostics, enabling scientists to study genes and proteins in unprecedented detail.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have identified a new protein called Interleukin 24 (IL-24) that is expressed in colon cancer cells and promotes cell growth or prevents cell death. The discovery could lead to the development of molecules to interrupt an autocrine loop, potentially fueling tumor growth.