Research Advances

Researchers at Duke University found that blocking a key enzyme not only kills multiple myeloma (MM) cancer cells but also boosts the effectiveness of existing therapies. MM is an incurable blood cancer, and drug resistance is an increasing problem. The study, published in Blood, focused on ferroptosis, a natural form of cell death triggered by […]

Researchers have identified how a hormone called SCG2 interacts with the LILRB4 receptor on immune cells to help cancer evade the body’s natural defenses. The study reveals that when SCG2 binds to LILRB4 on myeloid cells, it triggers a signaling cascade that turns these tumor-fighting immune cells into tumor-supporting ones and prevents them from recruiting

Researchers have discovered that pancreatic cells at risk of becoming cancerous show dementia-like protein clumping, shedding light on early pancreatic cancer development. Pre-cancerous cells exhibit defects in autophagy, the cellular recycling process, leading to the buildup of misfolded proteins similar to those seen in neurodegenerative diseases like dementia. These protein aggregates were confirmed in human

Breast cancer recurrence, sometimes decades after initial treatment, is driven by dormant cancer cells that evade therapy. Researchers are focusing on understanding these cells and the “treatment window” between initial therapy and potential reawakening. Dormant cells often reside in protective niches, like bone marrow, where surrounding cells shield them from treatment. Key survival mechanisms include

A daily low-dose aspirin may cut colorectal cancer recurrence in patients with PI3K pathway mutations, present in about one-third of cases. The ALASCCA trial found that 160 mg of aspirin daily for three years reduced recurrence risk by 55% versus placebo, benefiting patients across different PI3K gene alterations (PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PTEN) and cancer stages. Aspirin

An international research team has discovered that extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) rings, which float outside chromosomes, can drive the early development of glioblastoma, the most aggressive adult brain cancer. The study, published in Cancer Discovery, shows that ecDNA containing cancer-driving genes, especially EGFR, often appears before tumors fully form, fueling rapid growth, adaptability, and treatment resistance.

New research from Edith Cowan University shows that just one session of resistance training or high-intensity interval training can significantly benefit cancer survivors. The study fund that a single workout increases myokines—muscle-produced proteins with anti-cancer properties—which can reduce cancer cell growth by 20-30%. The study measured myokine levels in breast cancer survivors before, immediately after, and

New genetic markers have been developed by researchers in the UK and Spain to predict how well a person’s cancer will respond to certain types of chemotherapy. These markers, called CIN signatures, measure chromosomal instability in a tumor and can tell doctors if a patient is likely to be resistant to specific drugs. The biomarkers were

RRestricted blood flow, or ischemia, can accelerate bone marrow aging and weaken the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. In a recent study on mice with breast tumors, restricting blood flow to the legs caused tumors to grow twice as fast. This occurs because ischemia disrupts bone marrow function, shifting the production of immune cells

The cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV), a harmless plant virus that infects black-eyed peas, is emerging as a novel cancer immunotherapy. Rather than killing tumor cells directly, CPMV activates the immune system, turning the tumor microenvironment from immunosuppressive into highly inflammatory and responsive to attack. When injected into tumors, CPMV acts as a strong “danger signal,”