Research Advances

A new study shows that the loss of the TP53 gene in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) changes how cancer cells manage acidity, helping them survive in harsh tumor environments. Normally, acidic conditions are toxic, but p53-deficient cells raise their internal pH and ramp up acid-exporting transporters like MCT4 to stay alive. These p53-lacking tumors also […]

Researchers have developed a new preclinical platform using patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and xenografts (PDX) to test treatments for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and biliary tract cancer (BTC). They created 11 “mini-tumors” in the lab that closely mimic the structure, genetics, and biomarkers of the original patient tumors. These models remained stable for over a year,

A new study reports a promising cell therapy for osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that is especially difficult to treat once it spreads. While survival rates for localized disease are about 70%, they fall below 30% when the cancer metastasizes, most often to the lungs. Treatment options have remained largely unchanged for decades, relying on surgery

A new study reports a promising cancer treatment strategy using a peptide called 1H13, designed to target survivin—a protein that helps cancer cells avoid death. Survivin is highly expressed in tumors but largely absent in normal adult tissues, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Previous attempts to block survivin have had limited success, but this

Emerging strategies in renal cell carcinoma are focusing on new drugs and personalized approaches to improve patient outcomes. Next-generation kinase inhibitors like Zanzalintinib show promise with high disease control rates in early trials. The Phase 3 STELLAR-304 study is testing it with Nivolumab as frontline therapy for non-clear cell RCC. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α inhibitors are

Positive results from the Phase 3 TALAPRO-3 trial show that a new combination therapy can significantly delay disease progression in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer who carry HRR gene mutations. The study evaluated Talazoparib combined with Enzalutamide in patients whose cancer has spread but still responds to hormone therapy. This group represents about 25%

Two major phase 3 trials, CLL17 and FLAIR, are reshaping treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia by comparing continuous therapy with time-limited, personalized approaches. The CLL17 trial compared three chemotherapy-free options: continuous Ibrutinib, time-limited Venetoclax plus Obinutuzumab, and time-limited Ibrutinib plus Venetoclax. All showed similar effectiveness, with about 95% progression-free survival at three years. However, patients

Scientists have created a new hydrogel model that mimics how pancreatic tumors become stiffer over time, offering a more realistic way to study Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The advance could help researchers better understand why this aggressive cancer resists treatment and spreads so easily. PDAC tumors are surrounded by a dense, stiff environment caused by

New research has identified MAP4K2 as a key regulator of regulatory T cells (Tregs), offering a new way to control the immune system in both cancer and autoimmune diseases. The study shows that MAP4K2 controls the production of FOXP3, a protein essential for turning regular T cells into suppressive Tregs. It does this by interacting

A new study has identified the RNA helicase DDX5 as an important driver of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), blood cancers often caused by the JAK2V617F mutation. The research suggests that targeting DDX5 with the small-molecule drug FL118 could help eliminate cancer cells that current treatments fail to destroy. MPNs such as polycythemia vera and myelofibrosis are