Cancer research

Study discovers promising immune response for early ovarian cancer diagnosis

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Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) announced the discovery of a novel immune-based biomarker that could pave the way for potential lifesaving early detection of high-grade ovarian cancer (HGOC). The findings were published today in the journal Cell Reports Medicine. High-grade ovarian cancer (HGOC) is the fifth-leading cause of cancer-related death among women. More than 90% of … Read more

Researchers discover new cell death pathway in response to DNA damage

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Chemotherapy kills cancer cells. But the way these cells die appears to be different than previously understood. Researchers from the Netherlands Cancer Institute, led by Thijn Brummelkamp, have uncovered a completely new way in which cancer cells die: due to the Schlafen11 gene. “This is a very unexpected finding. Cancer patients have been treated with … Read more

Aquatic Biology: Life in Water Environments

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Aquatic biology is a branch of biology that focuses on the study of life in water environments, encompassing a wide range of organisms, ecosystems, and processes that thrive in aquatic habitats. From the smallest microorganisms to the largest marine mammals, aquatic biology explores the diversity, adaptations, interactions, and ecological dynamics of aquatic life across freshwater, … Read more

Genetics of Cancer: Causes and Treatments

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Cancer is a complex group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth and proliferation. It can affect virtually any part of the body and is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. The genetics of cancer play a crucial role in understanding its causes, development, progression, and potential treatments. Genetic Basis of … Read more

Study reveals enzyme critical for maintaining stem cell function throughout life

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Nothing lives forever, but compared to other cells in the body, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are remarkably long-lived. HSCs are blood-forming cells—they give rise to rapidly dividing progenitor cells, which in turn generate hundreds of billions of cells to fulfill the daily demand of oxygen-delivering red blood cells, disease-fighting white blood cells and clot-forming platelets. … Read more

New 3D imaging technique identifies genes controlling melanoma cell shape changes

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Cancer cells can change shape to travel around the body and spread (metastasize), but how they know when to do this has remained elusive. Researchers have now used a new technique to identify two genes that control how melanoma skin cancer cells change shape in response to their environment—offering two potential drug targets to stop … Read more

Study links hereditary ALS to accumulation of non-functional ribosomal proteins

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Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a devastating neurodegenerative disease, remains a formidable challenge in medical science. Characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, ALS robs individuals of their ability to control muscles, ultimately leading to paralysis and, tragically, death. Despite decades of research, the underlying causes of ALS remain elusive, and effective treatments remain elusive. … Read more

New technique revives decades-old cancer samples for immune response studies

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Scientists have developed an improved technique for reading the genetic material associated with the body’s immune response to cancer, making it possible to study tissue samples that have been stored in archives for decades. Using this technique, which is much more sensitive than commercial equivalents and less costly, researchers are able to analyze archival cancer … Read more

New molecule shows promise in targeting SCLC cells and boosting immunity

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A molecule has demonstrated its ability to kill tumor cells and incite an immune response in preclinical models of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), according to UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers. The findings, published in Nature Communications, could lead to more successful treatments for SCLC, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the … Read more

Immune gene variation linked to lung cancer risk, especially in smokers

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Recent strides in cancer research have underscored the critical involvement of the immune system, particularly in the remarkable achievements of cancer immunotherapy. A groundbreaking investigation spearheaded by scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, in collaboration with the University of Helsinki and Massachusetts General Hospital, has shed illuminating insights … Read more

What is mitosis?

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Mitosis is a fundamental process in the life of eukaryotic cells, essential for growth, repair, and maintenance of multicellular organisms. It is the mechanism by which a single cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells. This intricate and precisely regulated process ensures that genetic information is faithfully transmitted from one generation of cells … Read more

Heart drug shows promise in killing pancreatic cancer cells

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Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine utilized a drug screening system employing lab-grown tissues known as organoids to unearth a promising target for future pancreatic cancer treatments. The study, published in Cell Stem Cell on Dec. 26, involved testing over 6,000 compounds on pancreatic tumor organoids containing a prevalent cancer-driving mutation. Among the compounds, an existing … Read more

Molecular biology

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Molecular biology is a branch of biology that explores the structure, function, and interactions of molecules that make up the essential components of living organisms. It delves into the molecular mechanisms underlying various biological processes, including DNA replication, transcription, translation, and cellular signaling. At its core, molecular biology seeks to understand the molecular basis of … Read more

New method could expand drug options for previously “undruggable” proteins

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Diseases often arise from proteins going haywire, yet conventional drugs have struggled to rein in these rogue elements. A promising frontier in pharmaceutical research lies with PROTACs, a novel class of drugs that show significant potential. These compounds tag proteins, earmarking them for disposal by the cell’s own protein degradation system. Recent breakthroughs by research … Read more

What is mitochondria?

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Mitochondria are dynamic and vital organelles found in the cells of eukaryotic organisms, playing a central role in energy production and numerous cellular processes. These double-membraned structures are often referred to as the “powerhouses of the cell” due to their primary function of generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cellular currency for energy. However, their significance … Read more

Marie Curie

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Marie Curie (1867–1934) was a pioneering physicist and chemist of Polish and French descent. She became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and remains the only person to have received Nobel Prizes in two different scientific fields. Curie’s groundbreaking research on radioactivity, conducted alongside her husband Pierre Curie, led to the discovery of … Read more

Healthy lifestyle linked to lower cancer risk, study finds

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Adhering to the cancer prevention guidelines set by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR), which promote a healthy lifestyle, is linked to a reduced risk of overall cancer and specific types such as breast cancer, according to a study published in BMC Medicine. The 2018 WCRF/AICR recommendations focus on minimizing cancer … Read more

New gene found to control stem cell differentiation in the intestine

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Stem cells possess the remarkable ability to transform into specific cell types, replenishing dead or damaged cells within our bodies. Unraveling the mystery of how these versatile cells determine their fate in various situations, a team led by Bon-Kyoung Koo at IMBA and the Institute for Basic Science identified a pivotal gene, Daam1, through their … Read more

New radiotherapy technique improves swallowing function in head and neck cancer patients

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Phase III trial results on a precision radiotherapy technique support a “new gold standard” for treating head and neck cancer patients. The research suggests the new approach can reduce the risk of swallowing problems after radiotherapy, without impacting the success of treatment. The Dysphagia-Aspiration Related Structures (DARS) trial compared dysphagia-optimized intensity-modulated radiotherapy (DO-IMRT) with standard … Read more

Novel immunotherapy bypasses tumor’s antigenic makeup to unleash anti-cancer response

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EPFL, UNIGE, and the German Cancer Research Center (Heidelberg) have introduced an innovative immunotherapy, a breakthrough in cancer treatment that doesn’t rely on knowing a tumor’s specific antigens. This advancement holds promise for groundbreaking clinical applications. At the forefront of the immune system, dendritic cells (DCs) are pivotal in capturing antigens—fragments of viruses, bacteria, and … Read more