For a long time, research on the tumor microenvironment (TME) has focused on the influence of immune cells and bacterial communities. However, in recent years, scientists have discovered that fungi may play a more critical role. A team from the Department of Breast Medicine, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University published a review (Doi: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2024.0240) in Cancer Biology & Medicine, systematically revealing the interactions between gut fungi and tumor-related fungi, as well as their profound impact on cancer development and treatment responses. This study has pushed fungi to the forefront of tumor research, particularly highlighting their unique role in cancers such as pancreatic cancer, providing theoretical support for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

The age at which babies take their first steps is strongly influenced by their genes, according to new research from the University of Surrey. In the first study of its kind, scientists analysed the genetic information of more than 70,000 infants. They identified 11 genetic markers influencing when babies start walking, thus offering multiple targets for future in-depth biological investigation.