Research Advances

Researchers have identified a new metabolic pathway that helps cancer cells grow and spread. The study, published in Nature Communications, reveals how changes in cell metabolism can directly activate genes that drive tumor progression. The team found that under stress, two mitochondrial enzymes, ACO2 and IDH2, move into the cell nucleus and produce acetyl CoA. […]

A new study suggests that circulating IgG antibodies may help slow the growth and spread of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by maintaining the tumor’s surrounding tissue and supporting anti-cancer immune responses. Using genetically engineered mouse models, researchers found that mice lacking circulating antibodies developed pancreatic tumors twice as fast and survived only about half as

A small retrospective study suggests that nanoliposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and l-leucovorin (LV) may be an effective second- or later-line treatment for rare non-ductal pancreatic cancers after gemcitabine-based therapy fails. The study included nine patients with rare tumor subtypes, including acinar cell, adenosquamous, undifferentiated, and neuroendocrine carcinomas. The combination achieved an objective response

A long-term follow-up of the phase 3 EORTC 22033-26033 trial found that radiotherapy and dose-dense temozolomide provide similar survival outcomes for patients with high-risk, low-grade glioma. After a median follow-up of 13.1 years, overall survival was 6.6 years with radiotherapy and 8.0 years with temozolomide, while progression-free survival was 3.6 years and 3.1 years, respectively.

A new study has found that the ARF tumor suppressor gene plays a critical role in slowing the growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Researchers showed that many pancreatic tumors disable both ARF and INK4A, two distinct genes often grouped together as CDKN2A. In mouse models, loss of ARF significantly accelerated pancreatic cancer, even when the p53 tumor

Researchers have identified a blood protein signature that may help detect pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in people with new-onset diabetes, potentially allowing the cancer to be found at an earlier, more treatable stage. Using a low-cost blood test based on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and a machine learning model, the researchers achieved 85% accuracy in distinguishing diabetes caused by

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have discovered that the body’s cancer-fighting CD8-positive T cells begin preparing for their immune role much earlier than previously believed. Instead of developing these abilities only after leaving the thymus, the cells start this process while still maturing inside the thymus. The study also found that the PD-1 protein acts as an important

A new experimental targeted alpha-particle therapy (TAT) has shown strong anti-tumor activity against ovarian cancer in preclinical research. The treatment combines an antibody that targets Folate Receptor 1 (FOLR1), a protein highly expressed in ovarian cancer, with the radioactive isotope Actinium-225, which delivers powerful alpha radiation directly to tumor cells. Researchers found that ovarian cancer

After nearly four decades of research, scientists at the Mayo Clinic have uncovered the molecular structure of protein kinase C beta (PKCβ), an important protein that helps regulate cell growth and has been linked to diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. The breakthrough, published in the journal Nature Communications, was made possible by producing the

A Phase II multicenter study in China has found that the chemotherapy combination of nab-paclitaxel and S-1 (SnP) may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The regimen could provide an alternative for patients who are unable to tolerate more intensive therapies such as mFOLFIRINOX. Among 60 patients with