A type of ‘supercharged’ immune cell could be mass-produced to help fight cancer. The researchers behind the early-stage finding, from Imperial College London, say the development could mark the next generation of cutting-edge immunotherapy treatments, called CAR-T therapies. These personalised treatments involve reprogramming immune cells to kill cancer. NHS England announced on Friday it would […]
Theranostic complex with two toxic modules shows high toxicity for tumour cells
Emerging cancer nanotechnology enables targeted delivery of drug payloads to cancer sites with concomitant reduction of side effects due to reduced accumulation in critical organs. This prompts research into nanocarriers of therapeutic cargo and contrast agents, allowing combined cancer therapy and tumour visualization, respectively. Researchers from Lobachevsky University of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, have implemented such […]
Separated entry and exit doors for calcium keep energy production smooth in the powerhouses of heart cells
Stress demands the heart to work harder and faster. To keep pace, the muscle must make its fuel at an accelerated rate. Bursts of calcium entering mitochondria—the cell’s powerhouses—normally help control energy output, but too much calcium can overload the system and lead to cell death. Now research led by Jefferson (Philadelphia University + Thomas […]
Researchers develop mechanism for characterizing function of rare tumor cells
Scientists have long known that circulating tumor cells, rare cancer cells that are released into the bloodstream, have the potential to provide vital information about a person’s specific cancer. But until now, they have been unable to reliably access information on how these cells behave. UCLA researchers have created a quick and effective mechanism to […]
Immune cells destroy healthy brain connections, diminish cognitive function in obese mice
Obesity leads to cognitive impairment by activating microglial cells, which consume otherwise functional synapses in the hippocampus, according to a study of male mice published in JNeurosci. The research suggests that microglia may be a potential therapeutic target for one of the lesser known effects of this global health epidemic on the brain. Nearly two […]
Stem cells show promise as drug delivery tool for childhood brain cancer
The latest in a series of laboratory breakthroughs could lead to a more effective way to treat the most common brain cancer in children. Scientists from the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and the UNC School of Medicine reported results from early studies that demonstrate how cancer-hunting […]
Immune cells in the brain have surprising influence on sexual behavior
Researchers have found a surprising new explanation of how young brains are shaped for sexual behavior later in life. Immune cells usually ignored by neuroscientists appear to play an important role in determining whether an animal’s sexual behavior will be more typical of a male or female, according to research led by Kathryn Lenz, an […]
Team finds missing immune cells that could fight lethal brain tumors
Glioblastoma brain tumors can have an unusual effect on the body’s immune system, often causing a dramatic drop in the number of circulating T-cells that help drive the body’s defenses. Where the T-cells go has been unclear, even as immunotherapies are increasingly employed to stimulate the body’s natural ability to fight invasive tumors. Now researchers […]
New regulator in aggressive breast cancer cells discovered
Triple-negative breast cancer is a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer. Here, important receptors are missing, which often serve as targets for treatments. Thus, these tumors are unlikely to respond to current therapies. Researchers from the Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena now identified the protein TRPS1, which is commonly […]
Engineered cancer cells can fight primary and metastatic cancer
What if cancer cells could be re-engineered to turn against their own kind? A new study led by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital leverages the power of gene editing to take a critical step toward using cancer cells to kill cancer. The team reports promising results in preclinical models across multiple types of cancer […]