BUFFALO, NY – March 24, 2026 – A new research paper was published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on March 17, 2026, titled “CREB5 regulates stem cell-like transcriptional programs to enhance tumor progression in prostate cancer.”

Chronic stress may significantly influence the course of cancer by affecting key biological mechanisms involved in tumor progression and immune response. Increasing evidence suggests that prolonged exposure to stress hormones can promote tumor growth, facilitate metastasis, and weaken the body's natural defense systems.

Researchers emphasize that stress is not only a psychological burden but also a physiological factor with measurable effects on cancer development and treatment outcomes. Stress-related processes, including inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, and immune suppression, may contribute to a more aggressive disease course.

These findings highlight the importance of integrating psychological support and stress management into standard oncological care. Addressing chronic stress could become an important complementary strategy in improving patient outcomes and quality of life.

UIC researchers have successfully repurposed an FDA-approved cancer drug, doxorubicin, to treat drug-resistant strains of herpes. Their work appears in the journal Drug Resistance Updates. 

Penn Engineers have redesigned a key component of lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), the delivery vehicles used in mRNA vaccines, to steer mRNA toward lymph nodes while reducing off-target accumulation in the liver. The modified “aroLNPs” delivered at least tenfold less mRNA to the liver than the lipid used in the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, while preserving strong immune responses. The advance could enable more precise, lower-dose vaccines and expand the potential of mRNA therapies for cancer and autoimmune disease.

TCF3::HLF-positive B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia is a rare and highly aggressive childhood cancer that causes severe damage to bones through mechanisms that remain unclear. To tackle this gap, researchers from Japan have developed a new mouse model that closely mirrors the disease as seen in humans. With it, they uncovered an inflammatory feedback loop that accelerates leukemia growth and bone destruction, highlighting a potential therapeutic target to combat disease progression and protect bone health.