What are the recent trends in opioid prescribing for patients with cancer?
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 23-Dec-2025 17:12 ET (23-Dec-2025 22:12 GMT/UTC)
Ferroptosis, a regulated cell death mechanism, is emerging as a promising target for cancer therapy. The process is mediated by the activity of acyl-CoA synthetase family member 4 (ACSL4) protein. This study focuses on the role of protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), known for promoting various aspects of tumor progression in ACSL4 pathway regulation of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study can help in improving the therapeutic efficiency of immunotherapy in treating RCC.
A joint team has uncovered how soft, deformable particles, like cells, behave in microfluidic channels. Using precisely fabricated hydrogel particles and simulations on the supercomputer "Fugaku," they demonstrated that particle softness dramatically alters their focusing patterns, deviating significantly from rigid particle behavior. These findings reveal distinct "phase transitions" in focusing, shifting from mid-edge to eight-point, diagonal-edge, and finally center focusing as deformability increases. This breakthrough, explained by a new theoretical model incorporating inertia and deformability, offers crucial insights for designing next-generation microfluidic devices for highly efficient cell sorting and other biomedical applications like early cancer detection. The ability to control particle focusing based on deformability opens exciting possibilities for advanced particle manipulation and separation technologies.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide, with incidence rates continuing to rise. However, known risk factors, including genetics and lifestyle, do not fully explain the upward trend. Researchers are increasingly turning to metabolomics—the large-scale study of small molecules in biological systems—as a promising avenue for identifying new risk factors and improving prediction methods for breast cancer.
The principle of "food and medicine homology" (FMH), deeply embedded in traditional Chinese medicine, posits that certain natural substances can function as both food and medicine. A recent opinion piece posits that substances with FMH properties, recognized for their nutritional benefits and minimal toxicity, may present innovative opportunities in supplementary cancer treatment and prevention. The authors underscore the solid theoretical underpinnings and international acknowledgement of this approach, emphasizing how cutting-edge technologies can substantiate these age-old practices and facilitate their incorporation into modern, comprehensive cancer management programs.
A collaborative research team from Peking University has developed a novel method to enhance the tumor-targeting efficiency of γδ T cells through chemical engineering. By conjugating or gluing the cancer cell-targeting antibodies to γδ T cells via fast metabolic glycan labeling and click chemistry, the team achieved improved anti-tumor efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. This innovative approach holds significant promise for advancing adoptive cell therapy in cancer treatment.
Neoadjuvant therapies, or treatments given before surgery, are changing how doctors treat locally advanced colon cancer. In a recent review, researchers from the United States examined how pre-surgical chemotherapy and immunotherapy can shrink tumors, reduce recurrence, and improve surgical outcomes. They discussed clinical trials like FOxTROT and NICHE and highlighted the importance of using mismatch repair (MMR) status to guide treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes through personalized care strategies.