Alliance Foundation Trials, LLC (AFT), a national leader in conducting innovative, practice-changing cancer clinical trials, and Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a global leader in cell-free DNA and precision medicine, today announced the launch of AFT-70 NAVIGATE, a randomized phase III trial evaluating a novel molecular residual disease (MRD)-guided treatment strategy for patients with intermediate and high-risk ER-positive/HER2-negative early breast cancer. The trial is sponsored and led by AFT, with collaboration and co-funding from Natera and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group.

Now, a small team of University at Buffalo researchers is working on a promising new strategy: creating salivary glands from human pluripotent stem cells (PSC) that could ostensibly be implanted into an individual’s mouth. Up until now, attempts to stimulate the salivary glands to produce more saliva or to create artificial saliva have been ineffective.

Researchers at the Cancer Epigenetics Institute (CEI) at Fox Chase Cancer Center have discovered how to control and stop the amplification of MYC - one of the most commonly altered cancer genes linked to aggressive tumor growth and treatment resistance.

A new Northwestern Medicine study has found patient navigators — trained guides who help patients access care and resources while working alongside the healthcare team — can ease the often challenging transition to motherhood for low-income pregnant individuals, leading to better health in their postpartum period and more consistent primary care for years to come. The goal is to increase patients' independence and comfort with engaging with the healthcare system. In cancer care, patient navigation has received widespread adoption, and is even funded by Medicaid, but has been largely underused and understudied in postpartum care. These findings lay the groundwork for future research and potential funding for patient navigation.

Rates of advanced stage colorectal cancer are climbing in young patients, marking a need for increased vigilance, according to data presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition Oct. 2-6, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center.

 

The research, “Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology of Pediatric and Adolescent Colorectal Carcinoma: A Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative Study,” retrospectively examined the medical files of 84 patients 21 years or younger.