An experimental mRNA vaccine boosted the tumor-fighting effects of immunotherapy in a mouse-model study, bringing researchers one step closer to their goal of developing a universal vaccine to “wake up” the immune system against cancer.

Scientists have identified the human gene SDR42E1 as essential for the absorption of vitamin D from the intestine, its subsequent metabolic processing, as well as the production of lipids and steroids. Without the functional protein, the survival of cells dropped by 53%. This discovery has at least two potential applications in precision medicine. First, the experiments showed that the gene can be blocked to selectively kill cancer cells. Second, boosting SDR42E1’s expression could help treat many other diseases, for example, autoimmune and metabolic disorders, against which vitamin D and its related forms are thought to protect.

A new study raises concerns about a widely used shortcut in approving rectal cancer drugs, showing that the absence of detectable tumors after treatment—known as pathologic complete response (pCR)—does not reliably predict longer survival. The FDA-approved metric could be fast-tracking new rectal cancer drugs without evidence they help patients live longer. 

About The Study: In this retrospective cohort study, COVID-19 booster vaccinations were associated with significant protection against severe COVID-19, with a favorable number needed to vaccinate among persons with cancer. However, uptake of COVID-19 vaccine boosters was low, and interventions are therefore justified to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake in this high-risk population.

Vaccine boosters help keep cancer patients from being hospitalized or admitted to intensive care units due to COVID-19, according to a new study led by Cedars-Sinai investigators. Their findings, published in JAMA Oncology, offer real-world evidence to support vaccine recommendations for these patients.

At ADLM 2025 (formerly the AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo) from July 27-31 in Chicago, laboratory medicine experts will communicate the awe-inspiring power of this field to advance healthcare and transform lives around the globe. Presented this year in partnership with the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists (CSCC), the meeting will delve into a variety of timely topics, including urgent problems related to clinical AI integration, fake medical news, and the pervasiveness of plastics, as well as tapping into the promise of genomics and microbiome medicine for personalized healthcare.