New results from an Alliance Foundation Trials (AFT) study reveal that a simple weekly electronic symptom check-in with care team, significantly improves the quality of life for individuals undergoing treatment for advanced cancer. The study found that the biggest improvements were seen among patient groups that have historically faced the greatest barriers to care, including Black patients and individuals with less formal education. The findings, published in JCO Oncology Practice, show that using remote check-ins help bridge communication gaps between patients and their treatment teams, offering a powerful way to make cancer care more effective.

Over the past 20 years, microrobots have moved from scientific vision toward biomedical reality. A perspective article by Bradley J. Nelson from ETH Zurich reviews how microrobots, typically ranging from about a millimeter down to a few microns in size, are being developed as intelligent microscale machines for future precision medicine. Inspired by the motility and adaptability of microorganisms, these systems are designed to function in low-Reynolds-number environments, where viscous forces dominate and conventional macroscale actuation principles are no longer applicable. The article discusses the physical constraints of microscale locomotion, major propulsion mechanisms, fabrication and material strategies, embodied intelligence, biomedical applications, and remaining translational challenges. It further suggests that advances in biocompatible materials, high-resolution imaging, magnetic navigation, and AI-driven control may support the future transition of microrobots from laboratory prototypes to clinically relevant tools for next-generation precision medicine.