Researchers have developed a compact, affordable intraoral device that integrates diagnostic imaging and photodynamic therapy to detect and treat early-stage oral cancer. Designed for use in low-resource settings, the handheld tool uses fluorescence imaging to identify lesions and delivers targeted light therapy to destroy cancerous tissue. Preclinical studies in tissue models and mice demonstrated effective tumor reduction and capability for treatment monitoring. This innovation could significantly improve access to timely oral cancer care in regions with limited medical infrastructure.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment, yet many tumors remain resistant. Now, researchers at Korea University identifies the protein kinase WEE1 as a key driver of this resistance. They discovered that, outside its traditional role in the cell nucleus as tumor suppressor, cytoplasmic WEE1 fosters tumor growth and immune evasion by  enhancing AKT hyperactivation. Targeting WEE1 with clinically available inhibitors may re-sensitize tumors to immunotherapy, offering new hope for treatment-resistant cancer patients.

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics and ETH Zurich have created the first comprehensive metabolic profile of human blood stem cells. This opens up new possibilities for therapies that can support the health of stem cells in old age and in disease. The study shows, for example, that the nutrient choline plays a crucial role in maintaining the youthful properties of blood stem cells.

In a recent publication in Medcomm-Oncology, a team of expert scientists specializing in immuno-oncology extensively outlined the complexities involved in the therapeutic targeting of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) inhibition as a strategy for cancer immunotherapy. They discuss the significant hurdles in translating preclinical successes into effective clinical treatments, such as robust anti-tumor immune responses observed in in vitro and animal models. The authors analyze the multifaceted biological roles of TGF-β in tumor progression and immune regulation, and propose strategies to overcome these translational challenges, thereby enhancing the efficacy and safety of TGF-β-targeted therapies in clinical settings.

Scientists at ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute and the University of Delaware have discovered a surprisingly simple explanation for how our bodies stay so well-organized, even as billions of cells are replaced daily. In a new study, they identified just five basic rules—like when and how cells divide and die—that seem to guide how tissues like the colon maintain their structure over time. Using computer simulations, the team showed how these rules work together like choreography to keep tissues healthy and functioning. This breakthrough, which researchers call a potential “tissue code,” could help explain how our bodies heal, how diseases like cancer form, and even support global efforts like the Human Cell Atlas. It’s a powerful example of how math and medicine can come together to reveal the hidden instructions that keep us alive and well.

A new strategy for treating a specific form of lung cancer: That is the goal of a research project led by José Pedro Friedmann Angeli. Financial support for the project is provided by the European Research Council.

Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a new method for cancer phenotyping using label-free optical microscopy coupled with a deep learning artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm. Using this new approach in patient samples of pancreatic cancer, the researchers showed that it was possible to identify tissue phenotypes defined by spatial transcriptomics to over 89 percent accuracy using label-free microscopy images alone. This new method using light-based imaging and AI offers an effective alternative to existing phenotyping methods, which rely on costly and time-intensive tests such as those based on genetic sequencing. This advance could ultimately make precision medicine more accessible and effective in the future.