Fusobacteria, which are part of the oral microbiome, are suspected of playing a role in cancer progression. Scientists at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) are working on innovative strategies to inhibit the spread of these bacteria. Antisense molecules, which could serve as programmable, targeted antibiotics, show great promise. In a recent study, a research team led by Jörg Vogel identified a compound that effectively halts the growth of five Fusobacterium species. The findings were published today in the journal mBio.

Patients with advanced solid tumors experienced significantly improved survival outcomes with tailored treatment guided by tissue plus liquid biopsies vs. individually, according to results presented by Paolo Marchetti, MD, at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025.

Breast cancer deaths among women ages 20-49 declined significantly between 2010 and 2020, according to a study presented by Adetunji Toriola, MD, PhD, MPH, at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025.

Cancer survivors who reported feeling cancer-related fatigue or depression reduced their recreational activities around twofold, according to a study presented by Simo Du, MD, at the AACR Annual Meeting 2025.

In a phase I trial involving ten patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma or T-cell lymphoma, a 100% overall response rate and a 50% complete remission rate were achieved, along with a favorable safety profile and high in vivo persistence of CAR30+ cells. The results of this pioneering study in Europe have been published in the prestigious journal Blood.

The development of HSP-CAR30 represents a significant breakthrough in the treatment of CD30+ lymphomas, thanks to its design to recognize the CD30 protein on tumor cells, and it has demonstrated high efficacy in refractory patients who had exhausted other therapeutic options.

The optimized design of HSP-CAR30 includes genetic enhancements and a combination of interleukins (IL-21, IL-7, and IL-15) to promote the expansion of memory T cells, which helps keep the treatment active for a longer period and reinforces the immune response in a sustained manner.

HSP-CAR30 is the first European study of a CAR-T30 therapy to successfully complete its initial phase, with promising results presented at ASH 2024 and an expanded trial underway to strengthen its robustness.

The Josep Carreras Foundation against Leukaemia and the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute have supported the project by acquiring a significant portion of the equipment and providing funding for the production of drugs.

A satisfying intimate relationship may help diminish chemotherapy-related cognitive problems experienced by patients with breast cancer, a new study suggests. General social support was also protective, but the association was less robust and lasting than a satisfying intimate partnership, which was characterized by fewer declines in both objective measures of cognitive setbacks and patient self-reports of subtle changes such as forgetting grocery list items and being unable to multitask.

YAP, a protein known to help cancer cells survive treatment, behaves very differently in cell culture models depending on how they are grown in the lab, highlighting the importance of mimicking tumour architecture to guide better drug strategies.

Researchers from the University of Seville and PharmaMAR have discovered two natural compounds, patulin and xestoquinol, that inhibit the first catalytic step of DNA topoisomerase 1—an essential enzyme for DNA function and cell proliferation. Published in PNAS, the study reveals a new class of inhibitors with promising implications for basic science and cancer research.