BUFFALO, NY – January 13, 2026 – A new hypothesis article was published in Oncotarget (Volume 17) on January 3, 2026, titled “Hypothesis: HPV E6 and COVID spike proteins cooperate in targeting tumor suppression by p53.”

AMOLF researchers discovered a mysterious interplay of insulin signals in the worm C. elegans. The insulin-driven protein DAF-16 does not only move in and out of the cell nucleus in a complex rhythm, it does so at exactly the same moment in all cells of the body. Because of the many similarities between C. elegans and humans, the research may contribute to a better understanding of diseases such as diabetes, cancer and ageing.

An international team of scientists analysed the ongoing colonization by two retroviruses of the germline of koalas and resulting deaths from cancer in multi-generational pedigrees of over 100 koalas in US and European Zoos. In the journal Nature Communications, they describe the genome sequencing of the koalas and their analysis of integration in or near genes involved in cancer, new germline integrations within a single generation, and deaths from cancer caused by the retroviral integration. Based on this work, the scientists calculated genetic risk scores (GRS) that can help guide koala breeding programs and thereby benefit koala conservation efforts.

The FXYD proteins (FXYD domain-containing ion transport regulators) are a family of seven distinct proteins that play crucial roles in regulating Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) activity. Each of these proteins is characterized by a conserved 35-amino-acid FXYD domain, essential for their functions, and exhibits tissue-specific expression, contributing to diverse roles in various tissues.

Research over the years has highlighted the role of the FXYD proteins in regulating numerous physiological processes, including ion transport, neuronal activity, cell adhesion, and migration; conversely, their altered expression has been implicated in the progression of various diseases, such as cancer, neurological, cardiovascular, and renal diseases, and others. Understanding the FXYD proteins and their underlying regulatory mechanisms may therefore aid in identifying novel therapeutic targets.

Scientists have discovered that blocking a key cellular enzyme thought to protect against fatty liver disease may instead increase the risk of chronic liver damage and cancer as we age.

A research team at The University of Osaka revealed that the loss of heterochromatin can cause a chain reaction leading to genetic changes and the subsequent development of diseases including cancer. Using fission yeast, the study specifically found that loss of Clr4, which encodes a methyltransferase, can induce an increase in R-loop levels at pericentromeric repeats, and the later conversion of R-loops into ADR-loops can prompt gross chromosomal rearrangements.