A team of researchers has developed a new type of imaging sensor that uses both light and sound to create detailed pictures of biological tissues. This marks the first successful use of an array of over 40 microscopic, polymer-based "microrings" to capture these types of images. It can track oxygen levels, blood flow, and how dense blood vessels are. Therefore, it is much more effective at spotting the early signs of cancer.

Paneth cell metaplasia (PCM), long viewed as a consequence of chronic inflammation in ulcerative colitis, may also help protect and repair the intestine, according to researchers at Science Tokyo. The study found that inflammation increases IL-22 signaling, which promotes PCM and the production of REG3A, a protein that helps heal the intestinal lining. The findings suggest PCM may be a protective response but should be monitored because persistent PCM could increase cancer risk.

Progesterone insensitive has long hindered fertility-preserving treatment for endometrial cancer. Now in Science Bulletin, researchers from Peking University People's Hospital and Peking University, in collaboration with Beihang University show that cholesteryl ester accumulation in the tumor microenvironment predicts response. Adding statins to standard therapy reverses progesterone insensitivity, significantly increasing the likelihood of both achieving endometrial cancer remission and preserving future fertility.

The study, published in Nature Communications, develops a new cellular model that reproduces the progression of NF1-associated tumours and enables the identification of new therapeutic opportunities.

A 72-year-old man developed aggressive skin cancer on his left thumb 30 years after a burn injury, illustrating the decades-long latency of Marjolin ulcer. This rare but deadly cancer behaves far more aggressively than common skin cancers, underscoring the critical need for lifelong monitoring of old scars and immediate biopsy of any suspicious changes.

In a paper published in Cell, a USC Stem Cell-led team reports a new way of generating a renewable and expandable supply of the progenitor cells that give rise to macrophages. These immune cells help drive the body’s response against pathogens, and they hold strong promise as the basis for immunotherapies against cancer and other diseases.