Cancer remains one of the most pressing global health challenges, with millions of new diagnoses each year. While precision medicine and targeted therapies have transformed treatment strategies, many patients still face drug resistance and disease recurrence. A new review published in Genes & Diseases highlights the critical role of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, offering a powerful preclinical platform that more accurately mimics human tumors. These models could revolutionize drug development, improve treatment efficacy, and guide personalized therapies.

Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide, posing a critical challenge to global health. Amid the complexities of this disease, an emerging focus on metabolic reprogramming has shed light on novel treatment avenues. A newly published review delves into the intricate alterations in glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism that drive breast cancer progression and explores promising therapeutic strategies designed to exploit these metabolic dependencies.

A study from ETH Zurich shows that premature aging disrupts bone structure and osteocyte networks in an age- and sex-dependent manner. Using the PolgA mouse model, researchers found significant declines in bone density, osteocyte morphology, and lacuno-canalicular connectivity by 40 weeks of age. Male mice exhibited more severe deterioration. Advanced imaging and computational analysis confirmed the damage. The findings position PolgA mice as a valuable model for studying cellular mechanisms underlying age-related bone loss.

MCI is a serious health problem in China that will only worsen as the population ages if no widespread interventions are implemented. Preventive strategies that promote brain activity and support healthy lifestyle choices are required. We identified modifiable factors for MCI in older individuals. The easy-to-adopt solutions such as tea consumption and physical activity can aid in preventing MCI.

This study is a 6-month pilot three-arm randomised controlled trial. Eligible participants (n=108) were recruited and randomised to the AE group, RE group or control (CON) group with a 1:1:1 ratio. Interventions were delivered at home with remote supervision. We evaluated participants’ global cognition, memory, executive function, attention, physical activity levels, physical performance and muscle strength of limbs at baseline, 3 months (T1) and 6 months (T2) after randomisation. A linear mixed-effects model was adopted for data analyses after controlling for covariates. Tukey’s method was used for adjusting for multiple comparisons. Sensitivity analyses were performed after excluding individuals with low compliance rates.