Knocking out a single gene reprograms part of the large intestine to function like the nutrient-absorbing small intestine. In a preclinical study, Weill Cornell Medicine investigators showed that the technique reversed the malnutrition that results when most of the small intestine is removed. The successful demonstration suggests that a similar strategy could be used to treat short bowel syndrome, a life-threatening disorder that can occur when very little of the small intestine remains after surgery to address chronic inflammation, cancer, trauma or congenital conditions.

In a study co-led by the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), researchers have identified a “master regulator” gene, ZNFX1, that may act as a biomarker to help guide treatment in future clinical trials involving patients with therapy-resistant ovarian cancer, according to a study recently published in Cancer Research.   

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and the NCCN Foundation announce four recipients for the 2025 NCCN Foundation Young Investigator Awards (YIA). 

Professors Zhaoyang Zeng and Can Guo from the Xiangya School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, in collaboration with Researcher Wenjia Guo from Xinjiang Medical University, have discovered a novel circular RNA, circTP63-N, encoded by the TP63 gene, which suppresses the malignant progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This significant finding has been recently published in Science China Life Sciences.

Nanomedicine is revolutionizing cancer treatment through precise drug delivery and advanced therapies, but clinical translation requires scalable solutions. Researchers in Japan have developed bacteria-enhanced graphene oxide nanoparticles that integrate chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, and immune activation, effectively suppressing tumors in mice. When combined with laser treatment, they achieved complete tumor eradication. This advancement offers a scalable, targeted approach, addressing the limitations of traditional therapies and paving the way for more effective cancer treatments.

Imagine a super-charged immune cell that can launch a focused attack on stubborn solid tumors — a smart fighter that destroys cancer cells for days without tiring. USC biomedical engineers have made this concept a reality, crafting what they have named the “EchoBack CAR T-cell,” which could soon be a game changer in the field of cancer immunotherapy.The work, published in the scientific journal Cell, is a groundbreaking new approach that could overcome major obstacles in treating tumors that are not usually candidates for immunotherapy, while keeping healthy tissue safe.

CSHL Professor David Tuveson and Research Investigator Claudia Tonelli have found a way to “intercept” pancreatic cancer. By inhibiting the cancer gene FGFR2, they were able to slow tumor formation. By targeting the FGFR2 and EGFR proteins, they were able to prevent pancreatic cancer from forming in the first place.

A University of Iowa-led study has revealed the unexpected structure adopted by the DNA repair protein RAD52 as it binds and protects replicating DNA in dividing cells. This new structural and mechanistic understanding of the RAD52-DNA complex may help researchers develop new anti-cancer drugs.