A new study published in Engineering has identified enolase 2 (ENO2) as a key factor in the lymphatic metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The research reveals how ENO2 and its metabolite phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) promote cancer cell invasion and macrophage polarization, and shows that inhibiting ENO2 can potentially slow down HNSCC metastasis.

Researchers have discovered a groundbreaking use of terahertz (THz) imaging to visualize cochlear structures in mice, offering non-invasive, high-resolution diagnostics. By creating 3D reconstructions, this technology opens new possibilities for diagnosing hearing loss and other conditions. THz imaging could lead to miniaturized devices, like THz endoscopes and otoscopes, revolutionizing diagnostics for hearing loss, cancer, and more. With the potential to enhance diagnostic speed, accuracy, and patient outcomes, THz imaging could transform medical practices.

In an effort to find new treatments for castrate-resistant prostate cancer, a TTUHSC research team led by Srinivas Nandana, Ph.D., and Manisha Tripathi, Ph.D., recently completed a study focused on uncovering the molecular and signaling mechanisms that drive the progression of advanced prostate cancer. Their study (“A TBX2-Driven Signaling Switch from Androgen Receptor to Glucocorticoid Receptor Confers Therapeutic Resistance in Prostate Cancer”), published by Oncogene, emphasized overcoming resistance to androgen receptor signaling inhibitors.

Molecular biologist Yali Dou, PhD, holder of the Marion and Harry Keiper Chair in Cancer Research and professor of medicine and cancer biology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, has been elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). She is one of seven USC faculty members in the 2025 cohort of new fellows. Dou, the associate director for basic research at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, is a recognized leader in the study of epigenetics, the mechanisms that enable the singular instructions in DNA to be expressed as myriad cell and tissue types. She has made major contributions to the fundamental understanding of a family of enzymes that plays a vital role in fetal development by altering the coiled chromatin, which packages DNA to fit in the chromosomes of a cell’s nucleus, so that genes are activated. Because mutations of the founding member of this family of enzymes can also spur leukemia, they are known as mixed-lineage leukemia proteins, or MLL. MLL enzymes are among the most frequently mutated genes in cancer.

Cancer remains a leading cause of death globally, with lung cancer being particularly lethal. Despite advancements in diagnostics and therapies, the five-year survival rates for advanced tumors have seen minimal improvement, largely due to therapeutic resistance. This resistance can be genetic or nongenetic, with the latter being less understood but increasingly recognized for its role in treatment failure. Non-genetic resistance is associated with resistant cancer cells that have innate or acquired drug resistance traits. These cells are often found in heterogeneous tumors and include cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), cells undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), partial EMT cells, and drug-tolerant persisters (DTPs). NOTCH signaling plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance, with its activation linked to drug resistance in various cancers.

Using cutting-edge spatial and genetic tools, Singapore scientists have uncovered two gastric cancer tumour subgroups, characterising their unique cellular states, immune responses and interactions with their surroundings. Their discoveries can potentially revolutionise stomach cancer therapy by unveiling new targets for precision diagnostics and treatment.

The mechanism of anticancer activity of a pigment OR3 from Streptomyces coelicolor is explored in in vitro and in vivo metastatic breast cancer models.