With colorectal cancer a growing concern among younger people, the American Cancer Society has endorsed two new types of stool tests to encourage people to get screened while also recommending a limited role for new blood tests many patients find appealing.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) today released updated guidelines for colorectal cancer screening. The new recommendations reaffirm that average-risk adults should begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45 and continue through age 75 for those with a life expectancy greater than 10 years. However, ACS is now adding guidelines for a blood-based screening test taken in a doctor’s office, as well as one updated and one new at-home screening option that looks for hidden blood and molecular markers in stool samples. The move reflects advances in disease detection and a critical shift in public health strategy to expand screening options and lower barriers to access. The update is published in a report in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the flagship journal of ACS.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how biomedical materials are discovered and designed. In a new review published in Science Bulletin, researchers summarize how machine learning and generative AI are helping scientists predict material behaviors such as drug release, biocompatibility, and catalytic activity, and even propose entirely new inorganic materials for biomedical applications. The review highlights emerging applications in drug delivery, cancer therapy, anti-inflammatory treatment, and tissue engineering, while also discussing the challenges that still limit clinical translation.

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling plays a critical role in prostate cancer progression and remains a primary therapeutic target. Despite the efficacy of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), most patients eventually develop castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), characterized by the reactivation of AR signaling through various mechanisms. While the role of AR as a transcriptional activator is well-documented, emerging research indicates that it also functions as a transrepressor for specific targets.

Long confined to their role in allergies and defense against parasites, eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, are now attracting growing interest in oncology. A recent publication led by researchers from the University of Liège, provides an overview of current knowledge and sheds light on their complex and sometimes ambivalent role in tumor development and treatment.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a multifaceted and devastating blood cancer characterized by frequent genetic mutations, mitochondrial dysregulation, and a high relapse rate following standard chemotherapy. While the mitochondrial uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) is known to facilitate tumor cell growth and promote metastasis in various solid cancers, its precise role in the development of hematological malignancies has remained elusive.

Artificial intelligence models using electronic health records and patient-reported outcomes may help identify cancer survivors at increased risk for emergency department visits, hospitalizations and worsening symptoms after treatment. Findings suggest AI-driven risk forecasting could help care teams intervene earlier with more proactive survivorship support.