Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, with a five-year survival rate of 13%. This poor prognosis stems from both late detection and the cancer’s notorious capacity to adapt and resist therapy. Now, a study led by researchers at the University of Verona, University of Glasgow, and the Botton-Champalimaud Pancreatic Cancer Centre uncovers a hidden driver of this adaptability: extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA).

Tracking targeted drug delivery is often a challenge due to limitations in the current imaging techniques. A recent study by Tokyo’s Waseda University reports a breakthrough imaging technique that allows direct and highly sensitive tracking of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) inside the body. This novel technique, which uses neutron activation of gold, could revolutionize cancer drug delivery by enabling real-time visualization of the gold nanoparticles without external tracers.

In the article appearing in the AACR Journal, researchers at the Henry Ford Health Pancreatic Cancer Center, found that Black patients showed a higher prevalence of PD-L1 overexpression, a marker often linked with aggressive cancer behavior and a key target for immunotherapy treatments. Additionally, Black patients showed higher frequencies of TP53 mutations and KRASG12R mutations compared to White patients. Those genes affect how quickly cancer grows and the body’s ability to fight cancer.

BUFFALO, NY – March 12, 2025 – A new editorial was published in Oncotarget, Volume 16, on March 10, 2025, titled “COMETgazing – interesting insights, lessons for clinical practice and a call for more precision using the biomarkerSCOPE.”

Experiencing five or more severe sunburns between the ages of 15 and 20 increases the risk of melanoma by 80% and nonmelanoma skin cancer by 68%. This study is among the few to examine the relationship between perceived cancer risk, concern about being diagnosed, confidence in health, sunburn history, and the prevalence of sun protection behaviors, all in relation to sociodemographic factors in U.S. adults. Findings reveal statistically significant associations between the number of sunburns and sociodemographic factors.

Excessive alcohol consumption is a significant public health concern, responsible for approximately 6% of all deaths and contributing to 5.1% of the global disease burden. Alcohol use is a major risk factor for over 200 diseases, including liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, and esophageal cancer, with a particularly high incidence of gastrointestinal diseases. More than 50% of alcohol-related deaths are caused by gastrointestinal diseases, highlighting the importance of understanding how ethanol affects the digestive system. This review aims to provide an overview of ethanol metabolism and the diseases caused by alcohol consumption, with a focus on the liver, gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, and gallbladder.

Targeted chemotherapy in the abdomen using a technique called PIPAC combined with systemic standard-of-care chemotherapy is shown to be safe, with promising activity for patients with colorectal and appendiceal cancer that has spread to the abdominal cavity 

Thymic carcinoma, a rare cancer, is often associated with poor prognosis in advanced or recurrent stages. However, its rarity has delayed the development of novel pharmacotherapy. Now, researchers from Japan have evaluated the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab plus carboplatin and paclitaxel in patients with advanced or recurrent thymic carcinoma. The findings revealed that this combination exhibited a manageable safety profile and may redefine treatment strategies, offering new hope for patients with recurrent thymic cancer.