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An omega-3 that's poison for tumors

Researchers at Université catholique de Louvain discovered that DHA slows the development of tumors by poisoning cancer cells through a phenomenon called ferroptosis. This mechanism is triggered when acidotic tumor cells absorb excessive amounts of unsaturated fatty acids, leading to cell death.

SourceUniversité catholique de Louvain·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJun 11, 2021

Study shows how fungi and bacteria can activate genes associated with head and neck cancer

Researchers discovered that metabolites from fungi and bacteria biofilms can modulate gene expression associated with tumor growth and survival. The study found that these microorganisms can endanger homeostasis in normal and neoplastic oral epithelial cells, impairing cell viability and survival.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·DateMay 25, 2021

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor suppresses immunity to oral cancer through immune checkpoint regulation

Researchers discovered that deleting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor from oral cancer cells results in a robust tumor-specific immune response, allowing mice to reject the cancer. This finding provides a new target for cancer immunotherapy treatment, potentially leading to more effective treatments.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 4, 2021

A physics perspective on wound healing

Scientists from UNIGE and UZH used a statistical physics approach to study wound healing, identifying the scales of dominant cell interactions that govern tissue growth. The results allow for better analysis of cell front behavior in both healthy tissue and tumour development.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 3, 2021

XYZeq: A better map of cell diversity

A new method called XYZeq allows researchers to map variation across cells in a tissue or tumor, gaining insight into their spatial location and function. The technique enables the analysis of cellular patterns in complex environments like cancerous tumors and other organs.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalScience Advances·DateApr 22, 2021

New biomarkers of malignant melanoma identified

Scientists have identified new biomarkers in exosomes produced by cancer stem cells, which could help diagnose and predict malignant melanoma. These biomarkers were found to be present in the blood of patients with different stages of the disease, distinguishing them from healthy individuals.

SourceUniversity of Granada·JournalMolecular Oncology·DateMar 25, 2021

Exploiting cancer cells to aid in their own destruction

Researchers at the University of Chicago developed a new therapeutic vaccine that uses a patient's own tumor cells to train their immune system to find and kill cancer. The vaccine stopped melanoma tumor growth in mouse models and promoted a broad, robust immune response, preventing new tumor growth when tumor cells were re-introduced.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 24, 2021

Lower dose, less toxic radiopharmaceutical produces better outcomes

Researchers have developed a lower-dose radiopharmaceutical that improves treatment efficacy for neuroendocrine cancers while reducing side effects. The new medication uses reversible binding technology to extend its half-life in the blood, providing an extended therapeutic time window and improved treatment outcomes.

A gearbox for tumor cell identity changes

Researchers at Max Delbréck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association have made significant findings on the role of chromatin modulators in tumor cell identity changes. By using a combination of CRISPR and molecular reporter technology, they found that chromatin proteins significantly influence how tumor cells change t...

Good cop, bad cop

Researchers use zebrafish to study human cancer and discover that the innate immune system actively destroys cancer cells. However, tumor cells can adapt and evade immune detection through a process called 'Immunoediting', leading to immunotherapy resistance.

SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 19, 2021

Spontaneous cell fusions amplify genetic diversity within tumors, Moffitt researchers say

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center discovered that cancer cells can fuse and recombine their genetic material, leading to increased diversity and adaptability. This mechanism, similar to parasexual recombination in pathogenic microbes, enables cancer cells to rapidly evolve and acquire resistance to treatments.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateJan 20, 2021

Single-cell analysis of metastatic gastric cancer finds diverse tumor cell populations associated with patient outcomes

Researchers developed a gene expression signature that robustly predicts patient survival in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis, a form of metastatic gastric cancer. The signature is associated with tumor cell populations and lineage compositions, offering potential for tailored treatment strategies.

Scientists unlock promising key to preventing cancer relapse after immunotherapy

Researchers found that targeting the fas protein can prevent cancer cells from escaping immunotherapies, leading to longer-lasting positive responses and improved survival rates. By combining immunotherapies with small molecule inhibitors, bystander tumor cell killing may be potentiated to eliminate antigen-loss variants.