Scientists led by UC San Diego have developed a new strategy to enhance pharmaceutical production in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, which are commonly used to manufacture protein-based drugs for treating cancer, autoimmune diseases and much more. By knocking out a gene circuit responsible for producing lactic acid—a metabolite that makes the cells’ environment toxic—researchers eliminate a primary hurdle in developing cells that can produce higher amounts of pharmaceuticals like Herceptin and Rituximab, without compromising their growth or energy production.

Communities exposed to drinking water contaminated by PFAS experience up to a 33% higher incidence of certain cancers, according to new research from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Data on cancer cases between 2016 and 2021 were obtained from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, while data on PFAS levels in public drinking water (2013-2024) came from the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule programs. Researchers found that between 2016 and 2021, counties across the U.S. with PFAS-contaminated drinking water had higher incidence of certain types of cancer, which differed by sex. Increases in incidence ranged from slightly elevated at 2% to substantially elevated at 33% (the increased incidence of mouth and throat cancers linked to perfluorobutanesulfonic acid, or PFBS). Males in counties with contaminated drinking water had a higher incidence of leukemia, as well as cancers of the urinary system, brain and soft tissues, compared to males living in areas with uncontaminated water. Females had a higher incidence of cancers in the thyroid, mouth and throat, and soft tissues. Overall, PFAS in drinking water are estimated to contribute to more than 6,800 cancer cases each year, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The results add to the mounting evidence that PFAS levels should be limited, and suggest that proposed changes may not go far enough.

A cross-sectional ecological study found that there are differences in travel distance to lung cancer screening (LCS) facilities by race and ethnicity, but those differences are only partially explained by rurality.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio) and other national leaders have published an online book, "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings," providing promising research findings and strategies to address the leading cause of Latino death.