Exosomes facilitate cell-to-cell communication and are involved in key biological processes. Understanding the mechanisms regulating exosome production could offer new therapeutic insights for various diseases. Here, Prof. Zhong’s team demonstrates that exosome secretion is significantly inhibited when glucose is replaced with galactose as the primary carbon source in the culture medium. This glycometabolic regulation of exosome secretion is dependent on the cellular hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). Inhibition of HBP via gene knockdown, pharmacological blockade, or metabolite deprivation markedly suppresses exosome secretion. Mechanistically, HBP regulates multivesicular body (MVB) outward trafficking and its fusion with the plasma membrane via synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP25). O-GlcNAcylation of SNAP25 promotes soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) complex assembly, thereby facilitating exosome release. In summary, these findings reveal a critical role of HBP and protein O-GlcNAcylation in exosome secretion, which may provide new therapeutic targets for exosome-associated diseases, including cancer and inflammatory disorders.

Burkitt's lymphoma is a highly aggressive blood cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. It is driven by a genetic alteration involving the MYC gene. Researchers have now developed a novel treatment approach in mice that combines CAR-T cell therapy with limited doses of a SUMOylation inhibitor, which can target MYC. This combination dramatically improved cure rates, paving the way for a potential new treatment strategy for this aggressive cancer.

A new “wipe test” on firefighter gear has been likened to “turning on a blacklight in a dark room,” and may lead to important safety protocols to help firefighters reduce their risk of cancer. In the study, invisible cancer-linked PFAS chemicals were detected on every set of firefighter gear examined. The findings offer a practical tool to help firefighters reduce exposure to these “forever chemicals” which linger on gear long after a fire is out.

A new multi-state project, led in part by Marvella Ford, Ph.D., at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center and funded by Stand Up To Cancer, is testing an innovative patient-navigation model to increase lung cancer screening among Black adults in the Southeast – a group disproportionately affected by lung cancer and underrepresented in screening trials. Through partnerships with federally qualified health centers, clinic staff identify eligible patients and connect them with trained navigators who help them overcome barriers such as transportation, cost and difficulty completing electronic forms. Early results from the program, called the Southeastern Consortium for Lung Cancer Screening (SC3), show strong engagement: 170 Black adults have enrolled so far, all receiving personalized support to complete lung cancer screening. The researchers say the community-driven model could serve as a national blueprint for improving early cancer detection and reducing health disparities.

Immune cells called B cells make antibodies that fight off invading bacteria, viruses and other foreign substances. During their preparation for this battle, B cells transiently revert to a more flexible, or plastic, stem-cell-like state in the lymph nodes, according to a new preclinical study from Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The results could help explain how many lymphomas develop from mature B cells rather than from stem cells, as many other cancers do, and guide researchers in developing better treatments.

Using machine learning and a large volume of data on genes and existing drugs, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have identified a combination of statins and phenothiazines that is particularly promising in the treatment of the aggressive form of neuroblastoma. The results from experimental trials showed slowing of tumour growth and higher survival rates.