Cancer cells interact with their neighborhood — which scientists term the tumor microenvironment — in many ways, including obtaining extra resources needed to fuel their unchecked growth. Like a fishing trawler deploying its net, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells reform their cell surfaces to grab additional nutrients from the jelly-like substance between cells called the extracellular matrix.

This cellular scavenging process — known as macropinocytosis — affects the area surrounding the tumor, making the connective tissue stiffer and preventing immune cells from reaching the tumor.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment, but not all patients respond equally. Now, researchers from Japan have explored why two anti-PD-L1 antibodies, which target the same immune pathway, produce vastly different therapeutic outcomes in a mouse cancer model. They found that an immune mechanism known as antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity can inadvertently destroy antitumor immune cells. These findings underscore the importance of selecting antibody drugs that minimize off-target effects to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting can severely impact patients’ quality of life and treatment adherence. In a major clinical trial, researchers from Japan tested whether a low, 5 mg dose of olanzapine taken at home after chemotherapy could reduce these side effects without causing heavy sedation. The study found that this approach significantly improved outcomes compared to placebo, offering a safer, more affordable strategy that could reshape supportive cancer care, especially in outpatient and resource-limited settings.