A new study led by MUSC Hollings Cancer Center researchers Aaron Hobbs, Ph.D., and Rachel Burge, Ph.D., sheds light on why pancreatic tumors with the KRAS G12R mutation behave less aggressively than those with more common KRAS mutations. Unlike typical KRAS-driven tumors, those fueled by G12R fail to activate key growth pathways in the same way and send weaker signals to the cell nucleus, slowing tumor growth. These tumors also create a gentler microenvironment, with less collagen and reduced cell movement, making them more responsive to treatment and less likely to spread. The findings reveal biological reasons why pancreatic cancer patients with G12R often have better outcomes and point to opportunities for more personalized treatment approaches.

Increasing paternal age has been linked to elevated health risks for the next generation, including higher risks of obesity and stillbirth. But what drives this increased risk remains unknown. Now, new research from University of Utah Health has shown that the RNA contents of sperm go through similar shifts over time in both mice and humans, which may lead to a rapid, dramatic shift at mid-life. What’s more, “old RNA” seems to change cells’ metabolism—potentially contributing to the health risks of having kids later in life. 

Brain structures related to shifting between tasks or updating information about the environment show signs of deterioration in older adults as compared to younger adults.