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The origin-of-life molecule, a key to cancer research

Researchers at the University of Seville have discovered a method to attack cancer cells using an origin-of-life molecule. The study found that inhibiting RNA production boosts the utility of radiation therapy in cancer cells, offering a promising approach to treating various types of cancer.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalNature Communications·TypeNews article·DateOct 28, 2022

Overcoming resistance to colon cancer treatment

Researchers at UNIGE have discovered a way to overcome resistance to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer, using an optimized combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This breakthrough opens up new avenues for developing targeted therapies that can effectively treat patients with low five-year survival rates.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalCancers·TypeNews article·DateOct 27, 2022

Disarming the body’s defenders

A study published in Science reveals that tumor cells with a specific mutation release a chemical metabolite that weakens nearby immune cells, rendering them less capable of killing cancer cells. The findings highlight the critical role of the tumor microenvironment in cancer growth and provide insights into developing targeted therapi...

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalScience·DateSep 29, 2022

Scientists identify unique breast cancer cells that control their ability to proliferate and colonize the lungs

Researchers discovered a type of triple-negative breast cancer cell that can trigger dormancy, evading therapies and allowing for efficient survival in distant organs. This finding highlights the need for more selective therapeutic strategies targeting both dividing and invasive dormant cells.

Tumor-infiltrating B cells and plasma cells influence early-stage lung cancer biology, immunotherapy responses

A new study provides valuable insights into the roles of B cells and plasma cells in early-stage lung cancer biology, highlighting their influence on tumor development and treatment outcomes. The research also reveals environmental factors and molecular features that contribute to the landscape of infiltrating immune cells.

Study reports blocking key enzyme boosts anti-cancer T-cell responses and resistance to immunosuppression

Researchers at LSU Health New Orleans have identified a critical immunosuppressive pathway and developed an experimental inhibitor to protect T-cells from weakening. The CBL-B inhibitors show great potential in enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy, making patients' T-cells more effective in killing cancer cells.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 29, 2022

Smart contact lenses for cancer diagnostics and screening

Scientists have developed a smart contact lens that can capture and detect exosomes, nanometer-sized vesicles found in bodily secretions, which hold promise for cancer diagnostics. The lens was designed to bind to antibodies capturing exosomes found in tears, offering a potential platform for non-invasive cancer screening.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 11, 2022

Oncotarget | Glypican-3 (GPC3) is associated with MCPyV-negative status and impaired outcome in Merkel cell carcinoma

Researchers found that Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) Glypican-3 (GPC3) is expressed in nearly 70% of MCC tumors and up to 90% of MCPyV-negative cases. GPC3 expression is associated with worse prognosis, including increased risk of death from MCC. This makes GPC3 a promising target for chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 11, 2022

Reinvigorating ‘lost cause’ exhausted T cells could improve cancer immunotherapy

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered that even terminally exhausted T cells retain some capacity to function again. They identified approaches to overcome exhaustion by targeting co-stimulation pathways and reprogramming T cells to be resistant to hypoxia, a common tumor microenvironmental signal.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalScience Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 5, 2022

Liver cancer’s supercharged metabolism offers a new treatment strategy, Penn study suggests

Researchers discovered that liver cancer cells modify their metabolism to leave them susceptible to disruptions in arginine supply, a key molecule. A three-pronged approach targeting tumor metabolism, blocking survival-promoting responses, and starving tumors of arginine can induce senescence, making cancer cells killable.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalCell Metabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 2, 2022

Destroying tumor cells: Targeted immunotherapy using injectable materials

Researchers at TIBI developed a minimally invasive method for targeted delivery of immunotherapeutic treatments, resulting in slower tumor growth and higher activation of T-cells. The injectable gelatin biomaterial containing silicate nanoplatelets showed sustained drug release and controlled ICI delivery.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 1, 2022

Finding a way to defend a self-attack

Osaka University researchers identified medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) expressing neuromuscular molecules in myasthenia gravis-thymoma samples. These findings suggest a new connection between the two diseases and may lead to novel therapeutic methods.

SourceOsaka University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 28, 2022

A common mechanism for cancer metastasis and atherosclerosis

A team of researchers has discovered that malignant tumors accumulate lipid delivery molecules called LDL and attract immune suppressor cells called neutrophils, leading to tumor progression. The study also shows that targeting the LOX-1/oxidized LDL axis may be a promising strategy for treating both cancer and cardiovascular disease.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalInternational Journal of Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 24, 2022

New material for surgical dressings shown to prevent recurrence of melanoma and enhance healing

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have developed a new dressing that can prevent the recurrence of melanoma by killing cancer cells while promoting healthy cell growth. The dressing is made with graphene oxide, elastin, and ethanol, and requires only 15 seconds of Near Infrared light every 48 hours to be effective.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 13, 2022

Male dogs four times more likely to develop contagious cancer on nose or mouth than females

A new study by University of Cambridge researchers found that male dogs are four to five times more likely than female dogs to be infected with the oro-nasal form of Canine Transmissible Venereal Tumour. This unusual cancer is infectious and can spread between dogs through contact, commonly affecting genitals but also the nose and mouth.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalVeterinary Record·DateJul 3, 2022

Cleveland Clinic researchers shed new light on importance of ecological cellular interactions in targeted therapy resistance in lung cancer

Researchers have found that tumor cells co-exist with normal tissue in a complex, heterogeneous mixture, leading to unexpected effects on therapeutic resistance. The study suggests that understanding these ecological interactions could lead to novel treatment strategies and improved patient outcomes.

SourceCleveland Clinic·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 1, 2022

Dynamic cells linked to brain tumor growth and recurrence

A study by Michigan Medicine researchers has identified oncostreams, highly active cells connected to brain tumor growth and invasion. The team found that eliminating Collagen 1 production from tumor cells reduces tumor aggressive behavior. This discovery could lead to novel therapeutic targets for treating lethal brain tumors.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 28, 2022

New approach to treatment of deadly kidney cancer

A new study from Karolinska Institutet has identified a key mechanism behind treatment resistance in a deadly form of kidney cancer. By increasing mitochondrial content in cancer cells, researchers found that these cells became susceptible to the cancer drug sorafenib. This breakthrough offers hope for more targeted cancer treatments.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalNature Metabolism·DateJun 27, 2022

New fluorophores could help fight cancer

Scientists have created new fluorescent chemical compounds for photodynamic therapy of cancerous tumors, which can stain affected tissues and destroy tumor cells without harm to healthy ones. The compound containing pyrene shows the highest fluorescent and anticancer activity.

SourceUral Federal University·JournalDyes and Pigments·DateJun 27, 2022

More than one way to skin a tumor

Researchers at Kyoto University identified the mechanism behind active inflammation and immunosuppression in tumor microenvironments. EP2/EP4 inhibitors suppress tumor growth by allowing regulatory T cells to infiltrate and activate within tumors, benefiting patients with certain cancers.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2022

Molecule that combines three distinct technologies against most aggressive type of brain cancer is tested

Researchers have developed a molecule that uses nanotechnology, chemotherapy and a monoclonal antibody to target glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive type of brain cancer. The treatment showed promise in isolated cells and animal models, with significant reductions in tumor volume and no increased toxicity.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics·DateJun 14, 2022

Estimating tumor-specific total mRNA level predicts cancer outcomes

Researchers developed a mathematical technique to measure total tumor-specific mRNA levels from bulk tumor sequencing data, associating higher mRNA levels with reduced patient survival. The study suggests this approach could serve as a prognostic biomarker for various cancers, guiding treatment selection.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNature Biotechnology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 13, 2022

AI identifies cancer cells

A new machine learning algorithm called 'ikarus' has found a gene signature characteristic of tumors, distinguishing between healthy and tumor cells in various types of cancer. The algorithm was trained on single-cell sequencing data sets and demonstrated an extraordinarily high success rate in distinguishing between different cell types.

SourceMax Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association·JournalGenome Biology·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 10, 2022