In a translational study led by the University of Leipzig Medical Center and the Fraunhofer IZI, researchers have examined how two innovative CAR T-cell therapies targeting the B-cell maturation antigen perform in patients with hard-to-treat multiple myeloma. Their aim was to determine which molecular mechanisms influence the therapeutic success of such living, cell-based therapies in this blood cancer. The findings have been published in the renowned journal Cancer Cell. The Leipzig research team led by Professor Maximilian Merz and Dr Kristin Reiche has now secured a further two million euros in funding for a new project to advance the development of next-generation immunotherapies for multiple myeloma.

Patients with stage 1 or 2, hormone receptor (HR)-negative breast cancer had similar five-year rates of locoregional recurrence whether or not they underwent preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to diagnostic mammography to determine the extent of their cancer, according to results from the phase III Alliance A011104/ACRIN 6694 clinical trial presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), held December 9-12, 2025.

A retrospective observational study found that valvular heart disease, detected by cardiovascular imaging, was common in patients with a previous cancer diagnosis. Interventions to treat valvular heart disease were infrequent; however, when performed, they significantly improved survival. These findings highlight the need to refer cancer patients for regular cardiovascular monitoring and also provide reassurance that interventions may be beneficial.