A research team at KAIST has identified the core gene expression networks regulated by key proteins that fundamentally drive phenomena such as cancer development, metastasis, tissue differentiation from stem cells, and neural activation processes. 

A new consensus provides an update on the use of molecular diagnostics for hepatocellular carcinoma and biliary tract cancer,which both present significant health challenges. The expert panel has developed evidence-based recommendations that emphasize personalized treatment strategies and key molecular markers to optimize therapy. The consensus also explores emerging biomarkers, such as tumor mutation burden and microsatellite instability, which are crucial for advancing precision medicine and improving patient outcomes.

Mitochondria are critical for cellular homeostasis, regulating bioenergetics, redox balance, Ca²⁺ signaling, and cell death. Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ (Ca²⁺_mito) plays a dual role in physiological processes like ATP production and pathophysiological events, including cell death and cancer. The balance of Ca²⁺ uptake and efflux, mediated by mitochondrial transporters and mitochondria-endoplasmic reticulum contact sites (MERCS), is essential for maintaining Ca²⁺_mito homeostasis. This review summarizes current insights into mitochondrial Ca²⁺ regulation, its roles in physiology and neurodegenerative diseases, and explores therapeutic strategies targeting Ca²⁺ homeostasis, including innovative drug delivery systems and calcium-modulating agents.

University of California, Merced Professor Jeff Yoshimi says crowdsourcing millions of video gamers in the battle against cancer can accelerate research against a disease that claims 600,000 U.S. lives a year. His new book, "Gaming Cancer," is a roadmap for creating high-quality games that double as "intution bridges" that, in concert with AI, can help clinical scientists solve the disease's many mysteries.

With the recent surge in popularity of weight loss drugs like Ozempic, altogether called GLP-1s, there has been renewed scientific interest in understanding how our bodies regulate muscle growth. Salk scientists have linked the protein BCL6 to the maintenance of muscle mass and further suggested that BCL6-boosting therapeutics could help GLP-1 users retain muscle while losing fat. Similar therapies could also be used to treat other populations prone to muscle loss, such as older adults and patients with systemic diseases like sepsis or cancer.