EurekAlert! In the Spotlight - Infectious Diseases

Welcome to In the Spotlight, where each month we shine a light on something exciting, timely, or simply fascinating from the world of science.

This month, we’re focusing on infectious diseases, a topic that affects lives and communities around the world. Here, you’ll find the latest research news, insights, and discoveries shaping how infectious diseases are being studied, prevented, and treated globally.

Latest News Releases

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 17-Jun-2026 09:15 ET (17-Jun-2026 13:15 GMT/UTC)

20-Apr-2026

Malignancies of ISCs and their niche emerge as frontiers in precision therapy for colorectal cancer

ELSP
Peer-Reviewed Publication

A new study reveals that malignant transformation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and their supportive microenvironment (niche) drives colorectal cancer initiation, therapy resistance, and relapse. Targeting the ISC–cancer stem cell (CSC) ecosystem offers a breakthrough strategy to overcome treatment failure and develop next‑generation precision care for colorectal cancer patients.

Journal: Advanced Cancer Research

17-Apr-2026

New biomarkers for detecting cancer

Uppsala University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In the study, the researchers identified two proteins that, when combined, could detect ovarian cancer, as well as a set of four proteins that could indicate colorectal and lung cancer. These protein markers performed comparably to, and in some cases better than, established blood- and stool-based cancer detection tests.

Journal: Molecular Cancer
Funder: Cancerfonden

16-Apr-2026

Sleep deprivation disrupts gut microbiota, worsening colorectal cancer outcomes

University of Florida
Reports and Proceedings

The gut microbiota drives changes to the immune system caused by chronic sleep loss. These changes promote cancer progression, disrupt circadian rhythm and weaken the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Meeting: American Association for Cancer (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026

16-Apr-2026

Young-onset colorectal cancer mortality by education

JAMA Network
Peer-Reviewed Publication

About The Study: Based on nationwide, high-quality, population-based mortality data supplemented with individual-level educational attainment, the increase in colorectal cancer (CRC) death rates among young adults was largely confined to individuals with 15 or less years’ education. As a result, the disparity in young-onset CRC mortality among individuals with 12 years or less vs 16 or more years’ education nearly doubled over the past 3 decades.

Journal: JAMA Oncology

16-Apr-2026

Link between male infertility and increased risk of cancer

Lund University
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Men with severely reduced fertility are at greater risk of developing other health conditions later in life. A research team from Lund University in Sweden has now shown that these men are also more likely to develop colorectal cancer and thyroid cancer.

Journal: European Journal of Epidemiology
Funder: Skania University Hospital research fund, Regional ALF fund, Swedish Cancer Society

14-Apr-2026

AACR: UT MD Anderson shares latest breakthroughs in cancer research

University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
Meeting Announcement

Researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center will present breakthrough studies at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026.

14-Apr-2026

Targeting stem-like cells in colorectal cancer

China Anti-Cancer Association
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Colorectal cancer often returns not because the main tumor survives, but because a small population of stem-like cancer cells can resist treatment, seed new growth, and drive aggressive spread.

Journal: Cancer Biology & Medicine