Cancer cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) can travel from distant tumors through the bloodstream and kidneys and be excreted into urine, as reported by researchers at Science Tokyo. Using sophisticated molecular tagging systems in mouse models of brain, lung, and pancreatic cancer, the researchers directly traced sEVs from tumors to urine. They also revealed that the kidney’s glomerular cells actively transport sEVs across the filtration barrier, supporting their use in emerging urine-based cancer diagnostics.

A multidisciplinary team wanted to find the best diet to slow tumor growth after a breast cancer diagnosis. Instead, they found one that accelerated it: a high-fat diet. The researchers engineered a tumor model using a human plasmalike medium to re-create a more realistic microenvironment around tumors, and this allowed them to replicate the biochemical effects of nutrients from food. They discovered a high-fat diet accelerates tumor growth and invasion and causes an increase in the enzyme MMP1, which is associated with a poor prognosis.

Researchers led by  Dr. Xavier Salvatella have uncovered the mechanism by which an experimental drug is able to block intrinsically disordered proteins, which were previously considered “undruggable”.

Published in Science Advances, the study shows that the drug does not act on the protein in isolation, but instead takes advantage of the moment when they briefly group together into small complexes (oligomers).

This discovery forms the scientific foundation for the IRB Barcelona spin-off Nuage Therapeutics and will enable the design and optimization of treatments for cancer and other diseases associated with these types of proteins.