New study shows that aggressive cancer cells can be identified in a simple, new way; by how they physically behave, not just by their genes. Using specially textured Meta surfaces pattered with tiny immobilized particles, the researchers found that aggressive cancer cells grip more strongly, swallow more particles, and change shape in ways that less aggressive cells do not, differences that standard flat lab tests completely miss. This matters because it offers a fast, label-free and potentially low-cost method to distinguish aggressive cancer cells, improves our understanding of how cancer spreads, and opens the door to new diagnostic and research tools that could better predict which cancers are most likely to metastasize.

Lymphatic Drug Delivery System (LDDS) is an emerging type of cancer treatment, but its efficacy depends on how efficiently the drugs reach the lymphatic system. A research team from Tohoku University has clarified how the physical and chemical features of medicines affect how they move through the lymphatic and blood systems, helping to advance the clinical development of LDDS.

The cGAS‑STING pathway detects cellular DNA to trigger type I interferons and cytokines. This review integrates mechanistic immunology with clinical oncology perspectives, dissecting pathway components, regulatory factors, and therapeutic potential for cancer and diverse diseases, bridging fundamental discoveries to clinical applications.

 Researchers have developed a novel molecular classification system for endometrial cancer using network perturbation analysis. By analyzing 783 patient samples across four cohorts, the team identified three distinct subtypes with significantly different survival outcomes. The most aggressive subtype (C1) exhibits hormone signaling loss, immune exclusion, and specific sensitivity to paclitaxel and proteasome inhibitors, enabling precision treatment selection for high-risk patients.

We proposed a multidimensional, real-world framework to benchmark LLM versus physician decision-making in challenging lung cancer cases, using a curated set of 50 cases (complex/rare/refractory) and blinded three-dimensional Likert scoring (comprehensiveness, specificity, readability) to compare four LLMs, physicians across seniority levels, and AI-assisted juniors. DeepSeek R1 showed the most balanced overall performance, scoring between intermediate and senior physicians across dimensions. Performance was strongly case-type dependent: LLMs exceeded intermediate physicians in rare cases but underperformed—particularly in specificity—in refractory cases that require longitudinal reasoning. Notably, AI assistance substantially improved junior physicians in rare cases, while providing limited benefit and slightly reducing specificity in refractory cases; overall error profiling highlighted complementary strengths between clinicians and LLMs.

This review systematically analyzes the molecular mechanisms of five core DDR pathways (Homologous Recombination Repair, Non-Homologous End Joining, Base Excision Repair, Nucleotide Excision Repair, and Mismatch Repair) in mediating chemotherapy resistance in tumors, and thoroughly elucidates the correlation between key molecular events. The research presents an innovative molecular synergy model between DDR regulation and Immune Checkpoint Blockade. This article also provides perspectives on multidimensional intervention strategies based on the DDR network, including the development of inhibitors targeting novel DDR targets, the establishment of DDR pathway functional assessment systems based on multidimensional biomarkers, and the investigation of synergistic paradigms between DDR and novel therapeutic modalities.

 

A comprehensive review led by researchers from Southern Medical University and Fudan University uncovers how the body’s circadian clock regulates tumor biology, immune function, and the effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The study integrates molecular, cellular, and clinical findings to propose “chronotherapy” as a new strategy to optimize cancer immunotherapy outcomes through time-of-day–based dosing and tumor microenvironment modulation.