Two new Cochrane reviews show strong and consistent evidence that HPV vaccines are effective in preventing cervical cancer and pre-cancerous changes, especially when given to young people before they are exposed to the virus.

Preclinical studies indicate that cavity-resident macrophages in the peritoneal and pleural spaces contribute to immunosuppression and cancer progression. While these macrophages typically accumulate on organ surfaces rather than deeply infiltrating into tissues, their behavior and function in tumors remains unclear. Using dual recombinase-mediated genetic lineage tracing in a B16F10 melanoma lung metastasis model, this study demonstrated that pleural cavity macrophages (GATA6⁺CD45⁺) infiltrate lung tumors and contribute to a significant proportion of tumor-associated macrophage. Genetic ablation or sequestration of these macrophages markedly suppressed tumor growth, underscoring their pro-tumorigenic function.

A new review published in Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences synthesizes evidence on how disruption of circadian rhythms alters the gut microbiome, leading to changes in the tumor microenvironment that promote cancer growth. The analysis highlights how sleep deprivation and jet lag reduce beneficial bacteria and key metabolites, fostering an immunosuppressive setting around tumors. The authors propose targeting the circadian-microbiome axis—through probiotics, fecal transplants, or timed immunotherapy—as a promising strategy to improve cancer outcomes.

UCLA researchers have developed a CAR-NKT cell therapy that has shown to be more effective than current immunotherapies at fighting tumors in several different mouse models of pancreatic cancer.

Unlike current personalized cell therapies, which require weeks to manufacture, this novel therapy can be mass-produced and stored ready-to-use at a fraction of the cost.

With all preclinical studies now complete, the team is preparing to submit applications to the Food and Drug Administration to begin clinical trials.

Researchers at WashU Medicine have developed a noninvasive medicine delivered through the nose that successfully eliminated deadly brain tumors in mice. The medicine is based on a spherical nucleic acid, a nanomaterial that travels along a nerve from the nose to the brain, where it triggers an immune response to eliminate the tumor.

A new combination therapy that may one day help overcome endocrine resistance in breast cancer, a new initiative that aims to eliminate cervical cancers, a new institute recognizing the vital role of survivorship efforts in cancer care, and more are included in this month's tip sheet. In addition, Sylvester researchers are authors or co-authors on more than 150 oral and poster abstracts to be presented at ASH 2025.

Despite recommendations for posttreatment surveillance in lung cancer patients, there is wide variability in the follow-up care that lung cancer patients receive. A recent study, led by senior author Leah Backhus, MD, MPH, Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Thoracic Surgery) in the Stanford Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, offers new insights on patient care and lung cancer surveillance rates.

The study, titled, Adherence to Posttreatment Surveillance Guidelines in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Retrospective Cohort Study, was published October 2025 in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR) Cancer. Its objective was to examine posttreatment surveillance to estimate the true surveillance rates and predictors of guideline-concordant care in patients with early-stage NSCLC.