(Press-News.org) Over the past decade, the advent of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has transformed cancer treatment. Unlike conventional cytotoxic and targeted therapies, immunotherapy leverages both the innate and adaptive immune systems to target and eradicate tumors within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME is a highly organized ecosystem shaped by the intricate interactions between its diverse cellular and non-cellular components, which include tumor cells, immune cells, microbiota, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and the extracellular matrix. Consequently, gaining a thorough understanding of the TME's diversity and complexity, as well as its genomic connections, is essential for enhancing the effectiveness of immunotherapy.
In a corresponding published in the journal Med Research, researchers from China introduced an innovative toolkit for immunology research they developed—IOBR. This toolkit investigates the interactions between tumors and the immune system while characterizing tumor cells and their microenvironment. One of the study's authors, Yiran Fang, remarked, "IOBR is an open-source tool designed for multi-omics analysis of the tumor microenvironment. By integrating transcriptomic, genomic, and single-cell transcriptomic data, it offers a multi-dimensional perspective on the tumor immune microenvironment, facilitating the discovery of precision medicine and new therapeutic targets."
IOBR includes six modules that encompass transcriptome data preprocessing, TME feature analysis, TME pattern recognition, ligand-receptor interaction analysis, assessment of genome-TME interactions, and visualization and modeling.
Dongqiang Zeng, the lead researcher, emphasized, "Looking ahead, we aim to be an indispensable tool in TME and immuno-oncology research by delving into additional omics. To support this vision, the tool will undergo continuous updates, incorporating enhancements such as TCR/BCR and spatial omics capabilities, which will greatly expand its potential applications in the field. With the progress in multi-omics technology and artificial intelligence, IOBR is set to become an essential resource for advancing our understanding of the dynamic interactions between tumor immunity and the tumor microenvironment."
END
Systematic investigation of tumor microenvironment and antitumor immunity with IOBR
2025-07-18
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Common feature between forest fires and neural networks reveals the universal framework underneath
2025-07-18
Researchers from the University of Tokyo in collaboration with Aisin Corporation have demonstrated that universal scaling laws, which describe how the properties of a system change with size and scale, apply to deep neural networks that exhibit absorbing phase transition behavior, a phenomenon typically observed in physical systems. The discovery not only provides a framework describing deep neural networks but also helps predict their trainability or generalizability. The findings were published in the journal Physical Review Research.
In recent years, it seems no matter where we look, we come across artificial intelligence ...
New R package revolutionizes gene set enrichment analysis visualization for biomedical research
2025-07-18
Scientists at China Pharmaceutical University have launched GseaVis, a groundbreaking R package designed to transform how researchers visualize and interpret Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) results in biomedical research.
Gene Set Enrichment Analysis is a powerful computational method widely used to determine whether predefined sets of genes show statistically significant differences between biological states, such as healthy versus diseased conditions. However, effective visualization of GSEA results ...
Benign uterine tumor resembling cancer highlights diagnostic challenges
2025-07-18
“This case highlights that lipoleiomyomas can present many years after attaining menopause.”
BUFFALO, NY — July 18, 2025 — A new case report was published in Volume 12 of Oncoscience on July 2, 2025, titled “Navigating diagnostic complexity: A case report on uterine lipoleiomyoma, unveiling its benign nature amidst characteristics resembling liposarcoma.”
In this report, Seetu Palo, first corresponding author Mishu Mangla and colleagues from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences describe a rare case where a benign uterine tumor closely resembles a malignant tumor in an elderly patient. ...
Diagnostic performance of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in discriminating normal breast tissue and breast tumors
2025-07-18
Background and objectives
Histopathology is the gold standard in cancer diagnosis. However, attenuated total reflectance (ATR)-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has shown diagnostic potential in other settings. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the sensitivity and specificity of the ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in evaluating breast lesions.
Methods
This study was conducted on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsy blocks received at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital between ...
Recent advancements in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration
2025-07-18
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) remains a leading cause of vision loss globally, with significant advancements in treatment options for both dry and wet AMD. As highlighted by Huang and colleagues, "Current therapies for dry AMD have limited effectiveness in halting the progression of geographic atrophy (GA), underscoring the need for innovative approaches".
One of the most notable breakthroughs is the FDA approval of pegcetacoplan and avacincaptad pegol, targeting the complement system to slow GA progression. Pegcetacoplan, a C3 inhibitor, reduced GA lesion growth by 19–22% ...
Comprehensive multi-omics integration reveals B cell-derived ELL2 as a novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in sepsis
2025-07-18
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by organ dysfunction resulting from the body's dysregulated response to infection. Annually, sepsis affects more than 31 million people worldwide, with a mortality rate of approximately 30%. The disease is characterized by rapid progression, poor prognosis, and high mortality, posing significant challenges in critical care medicine. Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for improving patient outcomes. In a study published in the journal "Med Research," a team of researchers ...
How tumor microbes shape cancer: New insights into microbial diversity in the tumor microenvironment
2025-07-18
Intratumoral microbiota—the microbial populations residing within solid tumors—have emerged as pivotal components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), influencing tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic outcomes. In a comprehensive review published in Med Research, researchers from Southern Medical University and collaborating institutions systematically examine the heterogeneity of these microorganisms and their multifaceted roles in cancer biology.
The authors categorize microbial heterogeneity at three distinct levels: among different ...
AI-powered biomarker system redefines thyroid cancer progression and subtypes
2025-07-18
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is typically indolent, and some patients may be managed conservatively without immediate surgery. However, it remains a clinical challenge to determine who is suitable for active surveillance and to identify when disease progression may occur.
A new study led by researchers at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University addresses this issue by developing an innovative dynamic biomarker system. Using an optimized dynamic network biomarker (DNB) algorithm, the team identified ...
Digestive cancers in China: A two-decade burden with uneven gains in life expectancy
2025-07-18
Digestive system malignancies (DSMTs)—including oesophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers—represent a major public health challenge in China. A recent national epidemiological study by Hu et al., published in eGastroenterology, analysed trends from 2004 to 2021, revealing complex patterns of burden and survival. While progress has been made in reducing mortality from some cancers, the overall impact remains significant, with notable disparities across demographic and geographic lines. Below ...
ANXA2+ migratory hepatocytes identified as key players in human liver regeneration
2025-07-18
Acute liver failure (ALF) represents a life-threatening condition marked by rapid deterioration of liver function, often necessitating urgent liver transplantation. In the United States, acetaminophen (APAP) overdose remains the most common cause of drug-induced ALF, accounting for nearly half of all cases. Given the scarcity of viable donor livers—worsened by the prevalence of steatotic liver disease—understanding and promoting the liver's intrinsic regenerative capacity has become an urgent priority ...