Pancreatic cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality, with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounting for 90% of all cases. As most PDAC cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, surgical interventions are ineffective, and consequently, lymph node metastasis manifests in 70% of PDAC patients. Moreover, since the number of genetic mutations giving rise to PDAC are low, there are fewer available targeted therapeutic modalities. Analysis of gene expression at the single-cell level may help understand the tumor dynamics of PDAC.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite the success of immune checkpoint blockade therapies in various solid tumors, immunotherapy for CRC remains a challenge. Hence, there is a critical need to understand the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) of CRC and identify potential targets to develop new immunotherapies.

Cancer metastasis, the spread of cancer to organs, is a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Once cancer spreads to multiple organs, conventional treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy become less effective. Scientists at Shinshu University School of Medicine have developed a synthetic mRNA that, when injected, revitalizes the immune system to recognize and attack metastasizing cancer cells. This breakthrough could lead to new therapies to improve survival rates for cancer patients.

Researchers at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have uncovered how pancreatic cancer hijacks a crucial metabolism ‘switch’ to help it spread, revealing a potential new treatment strategy for this highly aggressive disease.