John N. Weinstein, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology and professor of Systems Biology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has been elected to the 2025 class of Fellows of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Academy in recognition of decades of combined laboratory and computational work pioneering multi-omic molecular profiling, including the introduction of new laboratory techniques, clustered heat maps, and early innovations in artificial intelligence for cancer drug discovery.

Lung cancer (LC) remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, characterized by high mortality rates and limited treatment options. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of gene expression and play significant roles in the development of LC. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of oncogenic miRNAs involved in LC, focusing on their dysregulation, functional roles, and potential implications for diagnosis and therapy. In this review, we collected data from published literature, specifically selecting English articles closely related to the topic. We conducted a thorough review of studies published between 2013 and 2023, utilizing prominent academic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to gather relevant data. Our investigation highlights several oncogenic miRNAs that have been shown to play critical roles in lung cancer biology, including miR-9-5p, miR-21, and miR-31. These miRNAs are known to facilitate various key processes, such as tumor cell proliferation, enhanced migratory capabilities, and the development of resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Additionally, miRNAs present significant diagnostic and therapeutic potential. In conclusion, the unique roles and regulatory networks of miRNAs in LC warrant extensive further research. Further research is essential to uncover the complex networks of miRNAs and to develop innovative miRNA-based therapies for lung cancer.

A newly developed radiolabeled antibody that targets the cancer antigen IL13Rα2 has been found to be highly specific, binding only to cancer cells and not to the related antigen IL13Rα1, which is widely expressed in healthy tissues. Tested in multiple cancer types, the radiolabeled antibody was effective at delineating malignancies at a low injected mass dose and has the potential to be translated into radioimmunotherapy applications. This research was published in the April issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Swim Across America has funded more than $100 million in cancer research throughout the years. The nonprofit organization has also supported previous FDA-approved immunotherapy breakthroughs Keytruda, Opdivo, Yervoy and Tecentriq. Today, the nonprofit organization is announcing two innovative first-of-its-kind gene editing innovation grants given to Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy and Joseph Fraietta, PhD, at University of Pennsylvania, and Pietro Genovese, PhD, at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.