A naturally occurring byproduct of liver metabolism–the ketone body, β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)–can strengthen the fitness and antitumor activity of CAR T cells. The findings, reported on March 6, 2026 in the journal Cell, by Arc Institute and Stanford University scientists, together with colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania, highlight a potential new way to enhance cancer immunotherapies. The team, led by Maayan Levy, demonstrated that BHB—a metabolite produced after prolonged fasting or when on a ketogenic diet—can act as a powerful fuel source for T cells used in immunotherapy. BHB was found to reshape both T cell energy production and gene regulation in ways that improve tumor control across multiple cancer models.

More than two hundred metabolic enzymes, many of which are normally tasked with producing energy in the mitochondria, are also found sitting directly on top of human DNA, according to a new study. The research shows that different cell types, tissues and even cancers each have a unique pattern of metabolic enzymes compartmentalised inside the nucleus and interacting with DNA. It’s the first evidence of human cells having what the authors of the study call a “nuclear metabolic fingerprint”.

Researchers at the Cancer Research Institute and the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, have uncovered a critical mechanism that enables gastric cancer to spread to distant organs. Their study shows that cancer cells stimulate Wnt signaling in surrounding stromal fibroblasts to produce hyaluronan, creating a supportive microenvironment that promotes metastasis.

These findings provide new insight into how metastatic tumors establish themselves and suggest promising strategies to prevent gastric cancer progression.

Can the bend of a banana give us insight into cancer? What does the shape of a rice grain have to do with infertility? The proteins that give plants their shape and structure are also involved in human disease. A team led by researchers at UC Davis has now mapped out the structure of a key player, augmin, in exhaustive detail. 

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have identified a protein called tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) as a potential “switch” that can modulate a type of cancer cell death known as immunogenic cell death (ICD). A research team led by Professor ANG Wee Han from the NUS Department of Chemistry has discovered two platinum-containing compounds, namely Pt-NHC and PlatinER (Pt-ER) that can trigger ICD. In their research model study, tumour cells treated with these compounds were effective in helping to develop immunity protection against colorectal cancer. This work was carried out in collaboration with Associate Professor Maria BABAK from the City University of Hong Kong.

In time for Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March, the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology has launched a new clinical study aimed at helping improve how patients with colorectal cancer share information about the genetic risks to their family members. Supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute, the trial, “Family Communications After Genetic Testing,” seeks to enroll about 4,000 colorectal cancer patients and their at-risk relatives across the United States.