University of California, Merced's Nicotine and Cannabis Policy Center has embarked on an innovative partnership with researchers at the university who track an entire community’s health and habits with samples of human sewage.

Scientists have developed new light-sensitive chemicals that can radically improve the treatment of aggressive cancers with minimal side effects. In mouse tests, the new therapy completely eradicated metastatic breast cancer tumors. 

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers will present important research studies during the 2025 ASCO Genitourinary (GU) Cancers Symposium, on February 13-15, 2025, in San Francisco, Calif. The Dana-Farber led research exemplifies innovative and multidisciplinary expertise in prostate, kidney, and bladder cancers, and includes studies examining novel treatments and predictive biomarkers.

Immunotherapy, which uses programmed immune cells to selectively destroy cancer cells, has transformed cancer treatment. However, cancer cells have developed immune evasion strategies, leading to poor treatment responses. Now, researchers from Japan have identified the transfer of mitochondria with mutated DNA from cancer cells to immune cells as a key mechanism of immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapy. Targeting this transfer could enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.