Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Current treatment modalities are few or ineffective due to PDAC’s heterogeneous molecular patterns, which cause it to respond variably to the same therapy. Understanding the molecular taxonomy of PDAC phenotypes may open avenues for therapeutic interventions.

Anemia is a common condition in premature infants, particularly those at risk for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). While the relationship between anemia and ROP risk remains complex, recent studies have explored potential mechanisms linking anemia to ROP progression. Now, a Pediatric Investigation review evaluates existing literature on iron deficiency and its molecular mechanisms in ROP development, highlighting the need for further targeted clinical trials to clarify the role of anemia in ROP.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer, accounts for about 75–85% of all liver cancer cases. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), despite yielding a superior therapeutic impact, have substantial drawbacks, including therapy-resistant patients and absence of biomarkers for predicting the response to ICIs. Hence, there is an urgent need to investigate dependable biomarkers to enhance patient prognosis while minimizing the adverse effects of ICIs.

An international research group led by Osaka Metropolitan University researchers conducted a large-scale online survey of clinicians in the Asia-Pacific region to investigate treatment policies for the gastric cancer-causing bacteria Helicobacter pylori.

Glioblastoma has remained one of the toughest cancers to treat, but new research suggests that suppressing a protein (ZNF638) triggers an antiviral immune response, making immune checkpoint inhibitors more effective. The discovery not only offers a potential new treatment strategy but also identifies ZNF638 as a biomarker that could help personalize immunotherapy.