Research Advances

Researchers have discovered a new way that Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) hides from the immune system. Scientists had long believed that a protein called CD47 was the main signal preventing immune cells from attacking leukemia. However, this study found that CD47 plays a weaker role in humans than expected, which may explain why drugs targeting […]

The BRIDGE project, a collaboration between ITQB NOVA and IPOFG Lisbon, is working on new ways to better understand and treat aggressive breast cancer by studying how tumors interact with the immune system. Researchers are focusing on finding biomarkers—biological signals that can predict how quickly a cancer will grow and how it will respond to

Researchers have found that zeaxanthin, a natural compound commonly used for eye health, may help the immune system fight cancer more effectively. The study shows that zeaxanthin works by stabilizing T-cell receptors, allowing CD8+ T cells—the body’s main cancer-fighting immune cells—to better recognize and attack tumor cells. In animal studies, zeaxanthin slowed tumor growth and

A study has identified a key molecular pathway that helps explain why colon cancer becomes resistant to chemotherapy. Researchers found that a protein called SALL4 is highly active in colon cancer and is linked to more advanced disease and poorer survival. SALL4 turns on another gene called CRIPTO, which is normally inactive in adults but

New research highlights how sympathetic nerves interact with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) to fuel pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest forms of cancer. The study shows that these nerves actively signal to CAFs, creating a tumor-supporting environment. Analysis of human PDAC samples revealed that high sympathetic nerve density is linked to faster disease progression

A new international study introduces a precision medicine framework for Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML), a rare blood cancer that has lacked personalized treatment strategies. By combining genomic data with clinical information, the model improves diagnosis, survival prediction, and decisions about when to perform bone marrow transplants. Researchers identified nine genomic subtypes covering about 69% of

Researchers have discovered a new therapeutic target, PHIP, for cancers driven by SWI/SNF mutations, including aggressive pediatric rhabdoid tumors. These cancers are hard to treat because the mutations remove tumor-suppressor proteins, leaving no direct target. The team found that PHIP is essential for cancer cell survival when SWI/SNF is lost. Normally, SWI/SNF activates genes while

Researchers have discovered how T cells switch from a resting state to an active attack, revealing a hidden motion in T cell receptors that helps explain how the immune system detects cancer. Using advanced cryo-electron microscopy, the team found that T cell receptors remain tightly closed and inactive until they encounter an antigen. At that

A new study reports a promising nanotechnology approach to improve treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially after microwave ablation, which often leaves behind surviving cancer cells. These residual cells produce large amounts of lactate that both fuel tumor growth and weaken the immune system, making recurrence and spread more likely. Researchers developed a multifunctional nanoparticle

A new study finds that a circular RNA, circUBAC2, plays a key role in the growth and spread of lung adenocarcinoma. Researchers say it acts as a strong cancer promoter and may serve as both a prognostic marker and a future treatment target. CircUBAC2 is produced with the help of the protein EIF4A3, and higher