If you have cancer, you expect to see an oncologist, but if you have heart failure you may or may not see a cardiologist. According to research published in the European Heart Journal, only around three out of five heart failure patients see a cardiologist at least once a year. The study also shows that patients who do see a cardiologist once a year are around 24% less likely to die in the following year.

In the largest clinical genomic profiling study of non-Hispanic Black men with metastatic prostate cancer to date, researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, University of California Los Angeles and the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Precision Oncology Program found key differences in tumor biology between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic white veterans, but similar survival outcomes when both groups had equal access to care.

A research team from Sun Yat-sen University Sixth Affiliated Hospital has made a groundbreaking discovery in colorectal cancer (CRC) research, identifying a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) named ESSENCE (EGF Signal Sensing CAD's Effect; ENST00000415336) as a critical regulator of tumor progression. The study reveals that ESSENCE stabilizes a key metabolic enzyme, CAD (carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase 2, aspartate transcarbamylase, and dihydroorotase), to promote cancer growth and suppress ferroptosis. The findings also propose a novel combination therapy targeting ESSENCE-high tumors, offering new hope for precision treatment.

A study published today in the Journal of Cancer Survivorship found that cancer survivors receiving high-cost immunotherapy treatments were more likely to face financial hardship, leading to increased instances of being unable to afford care and taking fewer medications due to cost.

The research, focusing on Medicare-enrolled patients, investigated the financial challenges faced by cancer survivors, particularly those receiving expensive immunotherapies.

“Although it’s well-known that many cancer patients experience financial hardship due to healthcare costs, there’s not much research available that specifically assesses the financial strain linked to immunotherapy treatments, particularly among Medicare enrollees,” said the study’s senior author Cathy Bradley, PhD, Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health on the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. “As more therapies are developed and the cost of drugs continues to increase, it’s important to determine if patients, even those who are insured, can afford out-of-pocket costs or if these costs are becoming a barrier to access life-saving treatment.”

Metastatic cancer remains a major cause of death. MT1-MMP is a key enzyme facilitating cancer cells' invasion and spread. Researchers from Yunnan University have made a surprising discovery: the VPS35/Retromer complex regulates MT1-MMP levels through a dual mechanism, both stabilizing the MT1-MMP protein and increasing its transcription via the STAT3 pathway. This leads to increased MT1-MMP levels and accelerates melanoma metastasis. The findings offer a potential new therapeutic target for preventing or treating metastatic cancer.