Hepatitis B virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major global health burden, and new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches are urgently needed. Emerging research highlights the crucial role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in disease progression, offering promising avenues for early detection and innovative treatments. These non-coding RNA molecules, known for their stability and regulatory functions, are proving to be pivotal in tumor biology and immune response modulation.

The RNA-binding protein IGF2BP1 has emerged as a key regulator of cancer hallmarks, influencing tumor proliferation, metastasis, immune evasion, and resistance to cell death. As an m6A reader, IGF2BP1 binds to methylated mRNA, stabilizing oncogenic transcripts and promoting cancer progression. Its role in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level has positioned IGF2BP1 as a potential biomarker for cancer prognosis and a target for novel anti-tumor therapies.

A new review published in Genes & Diseases explores the intricate epigenetic regulatory network of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), shedding light on the profound impact of DNA methylation, histone modifications, RNA methylation, and microRNAs on lncRNA transcription. This analysis highlights how these regulatory mechanisms drive the progression of liver cancer, offering valuable insights for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Age-related and postmenopausal breast cancer progression remains a significant challenge, with growing evidence pointing to the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and CXC chemokines in tumor development and immune system modulation. As the global population ages, understanding the intricate connections between aging, inflammation, and cancer progression becomes increasingly critical.

This article provides a comprehensive review of the bone effects of the main anti-cancer therapies currently in use. The review goes beyond glucocorticoids and hormone therapies and discusses for each drug category what is known regarding cellular effects, BMD effects, and fracture incidence. The review was conducted by an international team of 14 experts across Europe, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the Middle East. It highlights the pressing need to address cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL), including in patients undergoing cutting-edge therapies.

Altum Sequencing, a start-up supported by the C3N-IA Science Park at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) and specialized in oncology, has developed a tool to monitor treatment response in patients with solid tumours from a simple blood sample. This advance could represent a turning point in post-treatment follow-up. 

In a paper published in MedComm - Oncology, an international team of scientists summarized the regulatory roles of MRPs in cancer. They further predict the clinical value of MRPs based on data from The Human Protein Atlas and the BEST to explore the correlation between all members of MRPs and the prognosis of patients with cancer. Finally, they provided novel insights regarding strategies targeting MRPs and future directions of research on MRPs and cancer.

This study is the first to reveal the dual regulatory role of copper metabolism imbalance and cuproptosis in the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC), providing novel molecular targets and therapeutic strategies for targeting the cuproptosis pathway and its key regulatory genes in the treatment of IBD and CRC. The related findings were published in Research under the title "Unveiling the Cuproptosis in Colitis and Colitis-Related Carcinogenesis: A Multifaceted Player and Immune Moderator."