Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have developed a novel antibody-toxin conjugate (ATC) designed to stimulate immune-mediated eradication of tumors. According to preclinical results published today in Nature Cancer, the new approach combined the benefits of more well-known antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) with those of immunotherapies.

The study, which examined the relationship between childhood exposure to trauma and vascular dysfunction among more than 400 Black adults in Atlanta ages 30 to 70, found that women who experienced childhood trauma had a worse vascular function, a preclinical marker of heart disease, while men had none. In addition, the findings indicated that women may be more vulnerable to a larger cumulative stress burden, eliciting varying physiological stress responses. Childhood trauma in women can cause arterial stiffness, or an impaired artery function of the cardiovascular system, contributing to major cardiac events, such as stroke and heart attack. It also contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, and a malfunctioning small blood vessel system, which could damage tissues in the kidneys or brain. 

A new peer-reviewed Perspective (review) article shows that many widely-used prescription medications unintentionally disrupt sterol biosynthesis, a critical process for brain development. This disruption could have significant implications for fetal brain development when medications are taken during pregnancy, particularly in individuals with genetic vulnerabilities affecting cholesterol production.