Most cells in the body send out little messengers called extracellular vesicles that carry proteins, lipids, and other bioactive molecules to other cells, playing an important role in intercellular communication. But healthy cells are not the only ones that rely on extracellular vesicles. Cancer cells do, too. Small extracellular vesicles that are shed from tumor cells contribute to how cancer spreads to healthy tissue.

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys and collaborators across the country published findings March 5, 2025, in Nature Communications showing that the mitochondria powering our cells also control the ability of a DNA repair protein to suppress the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which causes zombie-like cells to spew inflammatory molecules that can contribute to chronic inflammation in the body.

Faeth Therapeutics (Faeth), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on metabolism, and The GOG Foundation, Inc. (GOG-F), a not-for-profit organization with the purpose of promoting excellence in the quality and integrity of clinical and translational scientific research in the field of gynecologic malignancies, today announced the first patient has been dosed in its Phase 2 combination trial of PIKTOR, which is FTH-001 (serabelisib) and FTH-003 (sapanisertib) with paclitaxel. The trial is the most advanced of its kind to investigate a novel approach of dual PI3Kɑ-mTORC1/2 inhibition targeting cancer metabolism in patients with endometrial cancer.

Scientists at The University of Texas at El Paso are developing a less invasive portable device that would use blood samples to detect colorectal cancers. Their device is described in a new study published in the journal ACS Measurement Science Au.

Cancer continues to be a leading cause of mortality worldwide, highlighting the urgent need to develop more advanced, efficient, and early detection methods. Addressing this critical need, City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is leading a groundbreaking research project aimed at developing an innovative technology platform for early detection of cancer and personalised treatment. The project aims specifically to enhance the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), paving the way for significant advancements in cancer diagnosis and care. This is one of the first batch of projects that has secured funding by the RAISe+ Scheme.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas responded better to a combination of two immunotherapies than to one immunotherapy drug, according to a study in Cancer Cell. In addition, an analysis of the tumors after one month of immunotherapy identified which type of immune cells were activated to fight the cancer. These insights could help individualize treatment benefits.