New findings in a report led by the American Cancer Society (ACS) today reveal an urgent picture of a growing global cancer burden and underscore the life-saving potential of stronger prevention and equitable access to care. According to Global Cancer Statistics, 2026, nearly 21 million people were diagnosed with cancer and 9.8 million died from the disease globally in 2024. The estimates show about 1 in 5 people worldwide will develop cancer during their lifetime; 1 in 9 men and 1 in 13 women will die from the disease. The number of cancer cases is projected to reach 34 million by 2050, a 67% increase from 2024, solely based on population aging and growth.

A new platform developed by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center quickly finds and isolates rare, tumor-reactive immune cells that are especially good at recognizing and attacking cancer cells, even without knowing which tumor targets are recognized by the immune cells. This approach addresses a major bottleneck in immunotherapy development and could potentially accelerate the creation of personalized treatments.

UAB researchers report Phase 1 trial results showing a novel immunotherapy was well-tolerated and doubled the progression-free survival time in glioblastoma patients, offering new optimism for improving survival and quality of life.

Immune checkpoints (ICs) are receptors that regulate immune responses through both activating and inhibitory mechanisms. Inflammatory microenvironment modulates IC expression through cytokines, metabolites, and oxidative signals. Immune checkpoint inhibitors not only enhance antitumor immunity but also reshape systemic immune networks. This review summarizes the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which ICs regulate inflammatory responses and highlights their roles across diverse pathological conditions.

Physicists at The University of Texas at El Paso and Alexandria University in Egypt describe how to better harness heat against cancer using magnetic nanoparticles made from manganese ferrite.

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified why some patients with a rare type of leukemia, called blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN), eventually develop resistance to tagraxofusp, the first Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for this disease.