Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) at Kanazawa University have developed a way to observe how antibodies interact with a cancer-related protein carried on tiny membrane-bound vesicles released by cells. Using high-speed atomic force microscopy, they found that measuring how much of the protein is present does not necessarily show how accessible it is to antibodies. The findings reported in the journal Small Methods provide a new way to investigate differences between individual cancer-derived vesicles although further research is needed before the approach can be used clinically.

A world-first study by Australian researchers compared three mRNA-LNP vaccine platforms in human blood samples, generating findings that could revolutionise cancer treatment and vaccine design.

Molecular imaging with ⁶⁸Ga-HER2 PET/CT may provide an early, targeted measure of how well treatment is working in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. According to new research published in the October issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, ⁶⁸Ga-HER2 PET/CT can detect changes in HER2-positive breast cancer after only two cycles of neoadjuvant treatment, enabling physicians to potentially provide information that could support earlier discussions about subsequent treatment and surgical planning.

Exposure to common chemicals may alter how normal human breast tissue develops, according to a new study. The findings suggest that exposure to some chemicals—particularly multiple bisphenols at once—may create molecular changes in breast tissue that could influence susceptibility to breast disease later in life.

Overall ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption was not associated with increased colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence in a cohort of more than 400,000 U.S. adults, according to a study published October 15^th by Erikka Loftfield of the National Cancer Institute, U.S., and colleagues in the open access journal PLOS Medicine.

A study conducted at the Hubrecht Institute reveals that the intestines use the rhythm of a signal to decide which cells to make. Researchers from the Sonnen group discovered that chemical signals oscillate at different rhythms in different cells of the small intestine. In a new study published in Science, they show that altering the frequency of these oscillations changes the balance of cell types that form. The findings may improve our understanding of how tissues maintain a healthy cell type balance and how disrupted signaling dynamics contribute to conditions such as inflammation and cancer.

James LaBelle, MD, PhD, has been named the new Service Line Chief of Pediatric Cancer and Blood Diseases for the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance (CCHA) and Section Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Transplant and Cellular Therapy at UChicago Medicine.