The University of Cincinnati Cancer Center’s Joan Garrett, PhD, has received a two-year, approximately $162,000 National Cancer Institute grant to study a new combination approach to treat KRAS-mutated colorectal cancers.

A study led by researchers at the National Cancer Institute-designated Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC) has found that mutations in blood-forming cells may explain the increased risk for leukemia and other blood disorders among first responders exposed to the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) disaster site and its toxic dust. The study also points to a novel strategy for use against inflammation and blood disorders associated with environmental toxins. The research was published today in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Researchers at the University of Vienna have developed fluorescent peptide tracers that can simultaneously visualise and activate the oxytocin receptor. This receptor–also known as the love/bonding hormone receptor–plays a key role in processes related to social behaviour, health and disease. These tracers create new possibilities for imaging and functional analysis in various biological systems–with far-reaching implications for fundamental research as well as for breast cancer diagnostics and therapy. The development of the tracers is described in the current issue of the renowned journal Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, and the tracers have recently been patented.

The American Association of Immunologists (AAI) today announced the launch of Immunology Explained, a public communications initiative designed to connect people everywhere with clear, science-based information about the immune system and its impact on health. Immunology Explained will cover a broad range of immunology topics including vaccines, autoimmunity, cancer immunotherapy, and infectious diseases.

People with Alzheimer’s disease are far less likely to develop cancer, and MUSC Hollings Cancer Center researchers may have uncovered a reason why. A protein that harms brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease appears to boost the immune system’s cancer-fighting power. By studying how this protein and a natural molecule called fumarate affect immune cell energy, the team discovered new ways to “recharge” aging immune cells. Their work could open the door to innovative therapies that not only fight cancer but also slow immune aging and possibly inform future treatments for Alzheimer’s.

The Herpes simplex virus is a widespread virus that often causes cold sores, and most people carry it. By removing a virulence gene, i.e. a gene that makes the virus harmful to humans, the herpes virus can be repurposed as a cancer vaccine. This modification prevents the virus from harming healthy tissue while allowing it to target cancer cells, which function differently from normal cells. These findings are presented in a new doctoral thesis at Åbo Akademi University, Finland.

Phospholipids, essential components of cell membranes, are increasingly recognized for their active roles in regulating innate immunity and inflammation. A new review is published to outline how phospholipid metabolism shapes immune cell behavior, influences the outcome of host defense and tissue homeostasis. The authors also discuss how dysregulation of phospholipid metabolism contributes to inflammatory diseases, such as autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancers, and highlight the potential strategies of restoring phospholipid homeostasis for disease treatment.