Analysis from one of the largest studies of its kind showed that circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing provided new insights that could better guide treatment decisions compared to the current method of counting lesions for patients with early metastatic cancers, according to researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University found that the protein MYC, which is overactive in most human cancers, plays a direct role in fixing dangerous breaks in DNA. By helping cancer cells survive chemotherapy and other treatments that damage DNA, the protein may contribute to tumor resistance and poor patient outcomes.

An experimental drug developed from research at the Medical University of South Carolina is showing early promise for some patients with advanced prostate cancer whose disease no longer responds to standard hormone therapies. In a Phase 2 clinical trial, researchers tested opaganib in combination with existing treatments and found that a subset of patients experienced encouraging signs that the therapy may be slowing the disease, including drops in blood markers linked to prostate cancer and periods of disease stabilization. Researchers are now analyzing blood samples from patients in the trial to identify biomarkers that could help predict who is most likely to benefit from the treatment. The findings could help advance a more personalized approach to prostate cancer care while opening the door to future therapies targeting the same biological pathway.

Researchers at Penn State developed a new class of 3D-printed bioelectronics made of soft, stretchy materials, as well as an adhesive component that helps the device painlessly stick to biological tissue. The team reported that their new design, which they call CaroFlex and tested in a rodent model, relieved hypertension while causing much less damage to surrounding tissue.