Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have developed a new nanomedicine therapy that delivers anticancer drugs to lung cancer cells and enhances the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. The team showed promising results for the new therapy in cancer cells in the lab and in mouse lung tumor models, with potential applications for improving … Read more
In the global quest for effective cancer treatments, researchers are uncovering promising strategies in the most unexpected of places: the very viruses we typically strive to avoid. Pathogens such as the common cold and influenza, once seen solely as threats to our health, are now being studied for their potential to target and destroy cancer … Read more
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
Gene editing technologies have revolutionized the field of molecular biology and genetics by providing powerful tools to precisely modify DNA sequences, study gene functions, correct genetic mutations, and engineer biological systems. Among the most widely used and transformative gene editing technologies is CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) and its associated protein, Cas (CRISPR-associated … Read more
Immunotherapy represents a revolutionary approach to disease treatment that harnesses the power of the immune system to combat various ailments, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and allergies. Unlike traditional treatments such as chemotherapy or surgery, which directly target the disease, immunotherapy works by stimulating or enhancing the body’s immune response to recognize and destroy … Read more
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
Scientists from Scripps Research have enhanced an existing immunotherapy by removing the sugar coating surrounding solid tumors—such as in melanoma, breast, and prostate cancer—so T cells can more effectively kill tumor cells. They report in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering that this tweak allows T cells to get closer to their targets, which dramatically improves T-cell killing of tumor … Read more
Immunology is the branch of biomedical science that focuses on the study of the immune system, which is the body’s intricate network of organs, tissues, cells, and molecules that work together to defend against pathogens, foreign substances, and abnormal cells. The immune system plays a vital role in maintaining health and protecting the body from … Read more
Microbiology is the branch of biology that explores the world of microscopic organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and algae. These tiny life forms, invisible to the naked eye, play essential roles in ecosystems, human health, agriculture, industry, and environmental processes. Microbiology encompasses diverse areas of study, from microbial diversity and evolution to microbial ecology, … Read more
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
A groundbreaking study has recently identified a cluster of 140 genes that may serve as a predictive tool for improved disease-free survival among patients grappling with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing a combined treatment of immunotherapy and low-dose radiation. Published in Cell Reports Medicine, the findings propose that this distinctive “gene signature” could delineate … Read more
Successful immunotherapy for cancer involves activating a person’s own T cells to identify telltale proteins called antigens on the surface of a tumor and attack it. But some tumors have a trick: They hide themselves from the immune system by preventing their antigens from being displayed. A team led by Harvard Medical School researchers at … Read more
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
RNA polymerase is a key enzyme involved in the process of transcription, where genetic information encoded in DNA is transcribed into RNA molecules. This enzyme plays a crucial role in gene expression, as it catalyzes the synthesis of RNA strands complementary to a DNA template strand. Through its intricate structure and precise mechanism of action, … Read more
Scientists at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have built and demonstrated the potential efficacy of a new chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell-based immunotherapy specifically designed to treat patients with cutaneous and rare subtypes of melanoma. CAR T-cell therapy uses genetically engineered versions of a patient’s immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. … Read more
Some immune cells in our bodies see their “killer instinct” restricted after entering solid tumors, according to new research. In a new paper published in Nature Communications, a team led by researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Cambridge found how immune cells called natural killer cells (NK cells) rapidly lose their … Read more
Researchers from the University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center have uncovered a mechanism behind severe gastrointestinal issues associated with immune-based cancer treatment. Published in Science, their findings not only identified the cause of colitis induced by immune checkpoint inhibitors but also proposed an alternative therapy to maintain the cancer-killing impact while avoiding undesirable side … Read more
CD4+ T cells, also known as helper T cells, are a crucial subset of white blood cells that play a central role in orchestrating immune responses. While they are traditionally associated with assisting other immune cells in the defense against infections, emerging research highlights their significant involvement in antitumor immunity. The intricate interplay between CD4+ … Read more
Cell-mediated immunity, a vital component of the immune system, plays a crucial role in defending the body against intracellular pathogens, abnormal cells, and foreign substances. This type of immunity relies on the actions of specialized cells, primarily T lymphocytes, to recognize and eliminate threats. Understanding the mechanisms of cell-mediated immunity is essential for comprehending how … Read more
Cytotoxic T cells, often referred to as CD8+ T cells, are a crucial component of the adaptive immune system, playing a central role in the defense against intracellular pathogens, including viruses and certain types of bacteria. These specialized immune cells are characterized by their ability to directly recognize and eliminate infected or abnormal cells. The … Read more