Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and collaborating institutions in Texas developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that helps explain how immune cells find their way to specific locations in the body and why they avoid others. The findings could help scientists better understand cancer, autoimmune diseases and treatment response.

Scientists have developed a simple yet powerful strategy to overcome a long-standing challenge in cancer phototheranostics—the trade-off between imaging brightness, therapeutic efficacy, and biological stability. By systematically replacing hydrogen atoms with deuterium (a heavier isotope) in a near-infrared fluorescent molecule, researchers achieved simultaneous improvements in all three critical properties. The optimized nanoparticles delivered 26% higher fluorescence brightness, 14% more reactive oxygen species for killing cancer cells, and 20% better stability in blood. In mouse models, a single treatment completely eliminated breast tumors, and fluorescence-guided surgery enabled precise removal of colorectal cancer remnants that were invisible under white light—extending survival from under 20 days to over 60 days. The strategy is broadly applicable and does not require redesigning the molecular backbone, offering a versatile platform for next-generation cancer theranostics.

Scientists are highlighting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as promising targets in the effort to overcome one of cancer treatment’s most persistent challenges: therapeutic resistance. A comprehensive review published in Genes & Diseases examines how these RNA molecules can influence resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and explores their potential for improving treatment outcomes.

A new review in Genes & Diseases highlights FTO, an enzyme involved in RNA modification, as a potentially important biomarker and therapeutic target across gastrointestinal cancers. The article brings together current understanding of FTO in gastric, liver, colorectal and pancreatic cancers, revealing a complex role in which the enzyme can both promote and suppress cancer progression depending on biological context.

A deeper understanding of mitochondrial function could create new opportunities for treating triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of breast cancer. The complex relationship between mitochondrial dynamics, energy metabolism and cancer-cell survival is revealing potential targets that could support more personalized treatment strategies.

A new review published in Genes & Diseases highlights the expanding potential of DNA-based vaccines as a flexible platform for preventing infectious diseases, treating cancer and strengthening preparedness for future disease outbreaks. The article charts the evolution of DNA vaccination from early concepts in the 1990s to increasingly sophisticated technologies with applications across infectious disease, oncology and precision medicine.