A new consensus provides an update on the use of molecular diagnostics for hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary tract cancer,which both present significant health challenges. The expert panel has developed evidence-based recommendations that emphasize personalized treatment strategies and key molecular markers to optimize therapy. The consensus also explores emerging biomarkers, such as tumor mutation burden and microsatellite instability, which are crucial for advancing precision medicine and improving patient outcomes.

Mitochondria are critical for cellular homeostasis, regulating bioenergetics, redox balance, Ca²⁺ signaling, and cell death. Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ (Ca²⁺_mito) plays a dual role in physiological processes like ATP production and pathophysiological events, including cell death and cancer. The balance of Ca²⁺ uptake and efflux, mediated by mitochondrial transporters and mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites (MERCS), is essential for maintaining Ca²⁺_mito homeostasis. This review summarizes current insights into mitochondrial Ca²⁺ regulation, its roles in physiology and neurodegenerative diseases, and explores therapeutic strategies targeting Ca²⁺ homeostasis, including innovative drug delivery systems and calcium-modulating agents.

University of California, Merced Professor Jeff Yoshimi says crowdsourcing millions of video gamers in the battle against cancer can accelerate research against a disease that claims 600,000 U.S. lives a year. His new book, "Gaming Cancer," is a roadmap for creating high-quality games that double as "intution bridges" that, in concert with AI, can help clinical scientists solve the disease's many mysteries.