Imagine a super-charged immune cell that can launch a focused attack on stubborn solid tumors — a smart fighter that destroys cancer cells for days without tiring. USC biomedical engineers have made this concept a reality, crafting what they have named the “EchoBack CAR T-cell,” which could soon be a game changer in the field of cancer immunotherapy.The work, published in the scientific journal Cell, is a groundbreaking new approach that could overcome major obstacles in treating tumors that are not usually candidates for immunotherapy, while keeping healthy tissue safe.

CSHL Professor David Tuveson and Research Investigator Claudia Tonelli have found a way to “intercept” pancreatic cancer. By inhibiting the cancer gene FGFR2, they were able to slow tumor formation. By targeting the FGFR2 and EGFR proteins, they were able to prevent pancreatic cancer from forming in the first place.

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has launched the AI Small Molecule Drug Discovery Center, a bold endeavor that harnesses artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize drug development. The new Center will integrate AI with traditional drug discovery methods to identify and design new small-molecule therapeutics with unprecedented speed and precision. Unlike conventional drug discovery, which can take years and cost billions, AI-driven approaches enable researchers to rapidly navigate a vast chemical landscape, including natural products, to pinpoint promising drug candidates. By leveraging Mount Sinai’s world-leading expertise in machine learning, chemical biology, and biomedical data science, the Center aims to bring innovative treatments to patients faster—particularly for diseases with urgent unmet needs, including cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)—an alliance of leading cancer centers—celebrated 30 years of helping people with cancer to live better lives during the NCCN 2025 Annual Conference, March 28-30 in Orlando, Florida. The yearly event brings together leading minds and subject matter experts in front of a multidisciplinary audience to share the latest recommendations for cancer treatment and prevention.