In a study published in MedComm - Oncology, researchers report that the enzyme O-GlcNAc Transferase (OGT) plays a key role in driving liver cancer linked to Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD-HCC). The team found that OGT levels increase as the disease progresses. They also discovered that OGT modifies the tumor suppressor protein PTEN in a way that disrupts its normal function, this modification leads to PTEN degradation and reduced phospholipase activity, triggering a cancer-promoting signaling pathway and accelerating tumor growth. The findings suggest that targeting OGT could offer a new therapeutic approach for treating MASLD-related liver cancer.

A research team at the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) discovered that certain dietary fatty acids can supercharge the human immune system's ability to fight cancer. The team found that a healthy fatty acid found in olive oil and nuts, called oleic acid (OA), enhances the power of immune γδ-T cells, specialised cells known for their cancer-fighting properties. Conversely, they found that another fatty acid, called palmitic acid (PA), commonly found in palm oil and fatty meats, diminishes the ability of these immune cells to attack tumours. This groundbreaking study, published in the academic journal Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, offers an innovative approach using dietary OA supplementation to strengthen the antitumour immunity of γδ-T cells.

Abnormal cell proliferation is a major hallmark of cancer. Several proteins are involved in the cell cycle, and most of these regulate the positive or negative control of cyclin-dependent kinases. Previous studies have implicated cell-cycle proteins in regulating immune cells and factors of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), highlighting their role in regulating tumor immunity. 

Glioblastoma (GBM), a malignant tumor originating from glial, is the most common primary tumor of the central nervous system and the most aggressive form of glioma. Despite surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, recurrence is almost inevitable, and the five-year survival rate remains around 25%. A major reason for this resilience is the ability of GBM cells to adapt and resist therapy. Epithelial‒mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process in which epithelial cells undergo transformation into cells with a mesenchymal phenotype, has emerged as a central mechanism underlying this adaptability.

Breast cancer (BRCA) remains the most common malignant cancer in women worldwide. Although a range of treatments exists, options with fewer side effects are still limited. SIGLEC15 (sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectin 15), an emerging immunosuppressive transmembrane protein, is highly expressed across many solid tumors, including BRCA. Understanding its role could help design therapies that overcome the drawbacks of current standards.

A new fast and convenient approach to scintigraphy-based monitoring allows physicians to efficiently and reliably assess prostate cancer progression or regression during treatment. With this strong prognostic information, treatments for prostate cancer patients can be personalized according to tumor evolution, significantly impacting their overall survival. This research was published online in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Rice University’s Han Xiao has been awarded the David W. Robertson Award for Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry by the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) Division of Medicinal Chemistry, recognizing Xiao’s pioneering contributions to therapeutic discovery.