Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Targeting breast cancer senescence in 3D models of bone metastasis.
Hamburger EC, et al
Researchers investigated cellular senescence — a state in which cancer cells stop dividing but remain metabolically active — as a potential therapeutic target in breast cancer that has spread to bone. Using three-dimensional laboratory models designed to mimic the bone microenvironment, the study examined how senescent breast cancer cells behave within this complex tissue context. The work aimed to identify whether targeting senescent cells, sometimes called 'zombie cells,' could disrupt the progression of bone metastasis, which is a common and debilitating complication affecting many advanced breast cancer patients. These findings are significant because bone metastases currently have limited treatment options and senescence-targeting therapies, known as senolytics, represent a promising but underexplored avenue in metastatic breast cancer research.
Breast cancer (Tokyo, Japan)
Source →ERK-Mediated Phosphorylation of YAP Defines a Noncanonical FGF Signaling Mechanism in Stem Cells.
Zhao X, et al
Researchers investigated how two major cellular signaling pathways — FGF (fibroblast growth factor) and Hippo-YAP — interact in neural crest stem cells, a versatile population of embryonic cells that give rise to facial bones, heart tissues, and neurons. The study found that FGF signaling activates the protein YAP through a previously unknown mechanism: the kinase ERK1/2, activated by FGF, directly phosphorylates YAP at a specific site called S128, causing YAP to move into the cell nucleus and switch on genes that promote stem cell identity and cell division while suppressing bone formation. This noncanonical FGF-YAP axis was confirmed in both mouse and human cells and was found to be active in models of Apert syndrome, a congenital craniofacial disorder caused by gain-of-function mutations in FGF receptors. These findings redefine our understanding of how FGF controls stem cell behavior and open new avenues for therapeutic targeting in craniofacial abnormalities, bone repair disorders, and potentially cancers driven by aberrant FGF or YAP signaling.
Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
Source →Advances in Delta-like Ligand 3-Targeted Diagnosis and Treatment.
Cao C, et al
Researchers have published a comprehensive review examining the latest advances in targeting Delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3), a protein highly expressed in aggressive cancers such as small-cell lung cancer and small-cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer, for both diagnostic imaging and treatment purposes. DLL3 is an inhibitory component of the Notch signaling pathway and serves as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target in neuroendocrine neoplasms, a diverse and historically difficult-to-treat group of rare tumors. The review highlights the growing arsenal of DLL3-targeted agents, including novel antibody and ligand platforms designed for ImmunoPET imaging — a nuclear medicine technique that uses radiolabeled antibodies to visualize tumor targets non-invasively — as well as targeted radionuclide therapy, which delivers radiation directly to cancer cells expressing DLL3. A key finding is that ImmunoPET imaging can identify patients whose tumors express high levels of DLL3, enabling more precise patient selection for targeted treatments and reducing unnecessary exposure to ineffective therapies. The combination of imaging and therapy using DLL3-targeted strategies is mutually reinforcing, offering a theranostic approach that could significantly improve precision medicine outcomes for patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms.
Molecular pharmaceutics
Source →Targeting G3BP1-Mediated Stress Granules to Suppress SARS-CoV-2 Replication.
Aromokeye R, et al
Researchers investigated whether targeting stress granules — cytoplasmic protein-RNA assemblies that form during cellular stress and are linked to cancer, neurodegeneration, and viral infection — could suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication. The team demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein directly binds G3BP1, a master regulator of stress granule assembly, allowing the virus to hijack these structures and undermine host antiviral defenses. To identify drugs capable of blocking this host-virus protein interaction, the researchers developed a miniaturized high-throughput screening assay and tested 2,560 FDA-approved compounds, ultimately confirming 7 inhibitors with potencies ranging from 0.8 to 31 micromolar. Two drugs — dexlansoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor used for acid reflux, and citalopram, a common antidepressant — disrupted the G3BP1-N interaction in living human lung cells with minimal toxicity and demonstrated antiviral activity against both the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and the Omicron BA.1 variant. This work establishes G3BP1 as a viable therapeutic node and shows that repurposing already-approved medicines targeting host-virus protein interactions is a promising strategy for developing new COVID-19 treatments.
ACS infectious diseases
Source →Increasing Use of Wearable Devices for Health or Activity Tracking Among Adults with Chronic Diseases in the US.
Haridas C, et al
A new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons analyzed national survey data from 2019 to 2024 to track how wearable health and activity devices are being adopted across the U.S. adult population, with a particular focus on people living with chronic diseases. By 2024, an estimated 107 million U.S. adults were using wearable devices, a 58% increase compared to 2019, with around 74 million reporting routine use. Among those with chronic conditions, approximately 37 million wearable users had obesity, 31 million had depression or anxiety, 30 million had hypertension, 17 million had diabetes, and 8 million had a history of cancer. Notably, about 78 million users expressed willingness to share their wearable data with healthcare providers, suggesting strong potential for clinical integration. These findings highlight a major opportunity to incorporate continuous physiologic monitoring data into surgical care pathways, particularly for patients at elevated risk of perioperative complications.
Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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