• In a mice experiment, researchers from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory got an insight into the exact nature of the connection between cancer and psychological stress. The researchers discovered that stress hormones called glucocorticoids impacted the neutrophils (white blood cells), forming structures called NETs (neutrophil extracellular traps). Usually, NETs play a positive role in immune defense in the body, but “in cancer, NETs create a metastasis-friendly environment.” The study was published in Cancer Cell.
• Researchers at the University of Virginia Cancer Center identified a new, more efficient than existing methods, way to identify high-risk patients with acute myeloid leukemia. By measuring specific molecules in cancer cells, the new method helps identify patients at risk of poor outcomes and how well patients would respond to treatments. In the future, the technique may lead to more personalized treatments and better outcomes for patients with blood cancer. This research was published in Blood Advances.
• Researchers from UC San Francisco (UCSF) and Northwestern University borrowed from cancer stratagems to fight cancer by using a specific mutation found in lymphoma to drastically increase the potency of normal human T cells in killing cancer cells without triggering side effects. Also, while current immunotherapies are used only against hematological cancers, the T cells engineered by Northwestern U and UCSF could kill solid tumors – “tumors derived from skin, lung and stomach in mice.” Human trials can be expected in the future. An article reporting on this research was published in Nature.
• In a preclinical study, researchers from Columbia University and other institutions explored a molecule called Malat1, responsible for activating breast cancer dormant cells and triggering metastasis. By deleting the Malat1 gene, researchers were able to suppress cancer’s ability to metastasize. Extended to humans in the future, this research may eventually lead to better treatments and improved patient outcomes. The study was published in Nature Cancer.
• Researchers from Vanderbilt University developed a way to kill a tumor by “disrupting its acidic “microenvironment” without harming normal tissue”. The method targets hydroxyapatite (HAP), a naturally occurring mineral also produced by some tumors. The study was published in Cancer Medicine.

At the very end of 2023, new developments in different areas of oncology were reported in the literature; a few are highlighted below.

New about old in cancer diagnostics and treatment

Drug repurposing is one of the established practices in cancer therapy. Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai conducted an animal study aimed at using an allergy drug in cancer treatment. The study was published in Nature.

A new study established that needle biopsy, an indispensable tool for the diagnosis of breast cancer, itself triggered cellular changes that later promoted cancer spread. The study was published in Cell Reports Medicine.

A new retrospective cohort study showed that the use of proper diagnostic tools helped establish that patients with benign breast disease were more likely to get breast cancer than the general population. The study was published in JAMA Surgery.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly used for prediction of cancer patients’ outcomes

A new study by Northwestern University researchers employed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool that ensured more precision in predicting outcomes in breast cancer patients, thus sparing them unnecessary chemotherapy treatments. The study was published in Nature Medicine.

Another AI model created at UT Southwestern Medical Center analyzed cell spatial organization to increase the precision of patient diagnoses and prognoses, paving the way to improved personalized treatment approaches. This study was published in Nature Communications.

Interesting approaches emerge in cancer treatment

Researchers from the Rare Cancers Genomics Team at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and partner institutions created “mini-tumours”, small versions of a rare and “obscure” neuroendocrine cancer that can create a “test” environment for the investigation of the development of this cancer and the ways of treating it. The study was published in Cancer Cell.

Researchers from the U.S. found a way to destroy cancer cells by vibration, stimulating aminocyanine molecules with near-infrared light. That “caused them to vibrate in sync, enough to break apart the membranes of cancer cells.” The study was published in Nature Chemistry

A multi-institutional team of researchers has received federal funding to develop a bacterial therapeutic for precise and less expensive cancer treatment through a single dose.


New research into the dietary approaches to cancer was reported

Recent research into diet effects on cancer found that white navy beans had a beneficial effect on colon cancer survivors. This finding may have an impact on the prevention of colon cancer and better outcomes for colon cancer survivors. The results of a clinical trial were published in eBioMedicine.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies conducted by British researchers found that intake of raw carrots decreases cancer risk across different cancer types by 10-20%. The study was published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.

Another study on a dietary intervention established a beneficial effect of Flaxseed for decreasing breast cancer risk. The study was published in Microbiology Spectrum.

On the other hand, some foods may be harmful and increase cancer risk. A new prospective study found that higher intakes of alcohol and white bread are associated with increased colorectal cancer risk. This study was published in Nutrients.

And another study on the adverse effects of certain foods found that ultraprocessed foods may increase the risk of head and neck as well as esophageal cancers. The study was published in the European Journal of Nutrition.