Professors Zhaoyang Zeng and Can Guo from the Xiangya School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, in collaboration with Researcher Wenjia Guo from Xinjiang Medical University, have discovered a novel circular RNA, circTP63-N, encoded by the TP63 gene, which suppresses the malignant progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This significant finding has been recently published in Science China Life Sciences.

Nanomedicine is revolutionizing cancer treatment through precise drug delivery and advanced therapies, but clinical translation requires scalable solutions. Researchers in Japan have developed bacteria-enhanced graphene oxide nanoparticles that integrate chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and immune activation, effectively suppressing tumors in mice. When combined with laser treatment, they achieved complete tumor eradication. This advancement offers a scalable, targeted approach, addressing the limitations of traditional therapies and paving the way for more effective cancer treatments.

Imagine a super-charged immune cell that can launch a focused attack on stubborn solid tumors — a smart fighter that destroys cancer cells for days without tiring. USC biomedical engineers have made this concept a reality, crafting what they have named the “EchoBack CAR T-cell,” which could soon be a game changer in the field of cancer immunotherapy.The work, published in the scientific journal Cell, is a groundbreaking new approach that could overcome major obstacles in treating tumors that are not usually candidates for immunotherapy, while keeping healthy tissue safe.

CSHL Professor David Tuveson and Research Investigator Claudia Tonelli have found a way to “intercept” pancreatic cancer. By inhibiting the cancer gene FGFR2, they were able to slow tumor formation. By targeting the FGFR2 and EGFR proteins, they were able to prevent pancreatic cancer from forming in the first place.

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has launched the AI Small Molecule Drug Discovery Center, a bold endeavor that harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize drug development. The new Center will integrate AI with traditional drug discovery methods to identify and design new small-molecule therapeutics with unprecedented speed and precision. Unlike conventional drug discovery, which can take years and cost billions, AI-driven approaches enable researchers to rapidly navigate a vast chemical landscape, including natural products, to pinpoint promising drug candidates. By leveraging Mount Sinai’s world-leading expertise in machine learning, chemical biology, and biomedical data science, the Center aims to bring innovative treatments to patients faster—particularly for diseases with urgent unmet needs, including cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.