A chain of immune reactions in the gut—driven by a key signaling protein and a surge of white blood cells from the bone marrow—may help explain why people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of colorectal cancer, according to a preclinical study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators. The findings point to new possibilities for diagnosis, monitoring and treatment.

The cancer gene MYC camouflages tumours by suppressing alarm signals that normally activate the immune system. This finding from a new study offers a promising way to improve existing cancer therapies as well as develop new ones.

Myosteatosis is associated with poor outcomes in various liver diseases. However, standardized methods for assessing, defining, and diagnosing myosteatosis in the context of liver diseases remain unclear. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms by which myosteatosis leads to pathophysiological progression and adverse health outcomes remain elusive. Therefore, in this review, we elaborate on the currently available measures, definitions, and diagnostic criteria of myosteatosis in the existing literature. We thoroughly clarify the recent evidence and data regarding the possible involvement of myosteatosis in the progression and deterioration of various liver diseases and resulting complications, including liver cirrhosis, chronic viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic/metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, liver transplantation, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Additionally, it synthesizes insights from basic research on the pathogenesis of myosteatosis, which involves multifactorial mechanisms, including insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic inflammation. Finally, from an operational and pragmatic perspective, several regimens, including physical, nutritional, and pharmacological therapies, have been discussed as potential treatments for myosteatosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), characterized by high aggressiveness and recurrence, poses a significant global health challenge. The interplay between the tumour microenvironment and exogenous exposures disrupts homeostasis, and tumour biological behaviours, then accelerating tumour progression. Sorafenib, a first-line targeted therapy, often faces resistance due to tumour heterogeneity and microenvironmental changes. Understanding the link between adverse exposures and drug resistance, identifying key molecules, and developing precise interventions are crucial for improving the management of advanced/drug-resistant HCC.

Chemotherapy exerts systemic effects that extend beyond direct tumor cell killing, according to a new study led by Tatiana Petrova, professor at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine at the University of Lausanne, and published in Nature Communications.

A new preclinical study from researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, published today in Nature Communications, identifies a powerful strategy to overcome drug resistance in breast cancer by simultaneously targeting two key cell-cycle regulators, CDK2 and CDK4/6.

A comprehensive review highlights significant advancements in the microbial biosynthesis of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), the vital sugars in breast milk that shape infant gut health and immunity. While key HMOs like 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) are now commercially available, researchers are overcoming technical hurdles to produce more complex HMOs at scale, including 3-fucosyllactose (3-FL) and sialyllactoses (SLs). These developments promise to enhance infant formula and open new doors for functional foods and potential therapeutic applications targeting gut health and immune disorders.