Loss of one copy of the DNA Ligase I (LIG1) gene in triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) with TP53 mutations confers resistance to chemotherapy, but researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and collaborating institutions have identified a vulnerability in these cells and used it to their advantage. The team identified underlying molecular mechanisms of platinum resistance that they neutralized with combinations of available drugs to reduce tumor growth in animal models. This work also highlights LIG1 status as a patient stratification factor for ongoing and future clinical trials.

About The Study: In this cross-sectional temporal analysis, the marked reductions in excess mortality indicate meaningful progress achieved for several major cancer types through population-wide cancer control efforts. Persistent or worsening disparities in breast cancer and uterine corpus cancer and substantial residual disparities in prostate cancer highlight priorities for equitable interventions. These findings may guide more targeted and efficient cancer prevention and control strategies to further accelerate progress. 

Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s July tip sheet contains several story ideas, including cancer researchers training as firefighters, new pancreatic cancer research, sex-specific immune differences in GBM, and a sarcoma expert who is exploring AI to develop better predictive models for bone cancer.

Black African and Black Caribbean women in the UK want clearer and more accessible information about breast cancer screening, according to a study from the University of Surrey.