(Press-News.org) Researchers characterize distinct immune environments in lymphoma, providing a new framework to engage the immune system in treating the disease
Study finds U.S. adults have widespread misperceptions of the cancer risks of alcohol
Scientists discover new target for pain hypersensitivity
Early clinical studies show encouraging results in kidney and prostate cancer
HOUSTON, OCTOBER 30, 2025 ― At The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, research breakthroughs are made possible through seamless collaboration between the institution’s world-leading clinicians and scientists, bringing discoveries from the lab to the clinic and back. The studies below showcase the latest advances in cancer care, research and prevention.
Spatial analysis finds immune-rich pockets in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma tumors with clear treatment potential
Read the full release | Read the study in Nature Genetics
By analyzing the tumor environment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), researchers identified seven distinct cellular microenvironments, providing a framework to develop therapies that will engage a patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells. Each microenvironment showed a different mix of cells and its own pattern of communication between tumor B-cells and immune cells. The study was led by Michael Green, Ph.D, professor of Lymphoma/Myeloma, and Linghua Wang, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Genomic Medicine, associate member of the James P. Allison Institute and focus area co-lead with the Institute for Data Science in Oncology.
“This study maps the immune landscapes of DLBCL in unprecedented detail and reveals distinct cellular communities, referred to as niches, that shape how tumors and immune cells interact,” Green said.
Americans have widespread misbeliefs about the cancer risks of alcohol, study finds
Read the full release | Read the study in JAMA Oncology
Despite clear evidence linking alcohol use to increased cancer risks, public awareness of this connection remains low in the U.S. Researchers found that more than half of American adults (52.9%) did not know if alcohol affects cancer risk, 37.1% do understand there is a correlation between cancer risk and drinking, and 1% believed that drinking decreased cancer risk. Researchers also found people who had recently consumed alcohol, or who believed that cancer isn’t fatal or preventable, were more likely to think that drinking alcohol doesn’t influence cancer risk.
“It’s concerning that people who drink alcohol are the ones most likely to believe it has no effect on cancer risk,” said lead author, Sanjay Shete, Ph.D., professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology. “Given people’s beliefs play a critical role in whether they choose healthier behaviors, we need to work on correcting these misperceptions, which could be essential to reducing the growing burden of alcohol-related cancers.”
Study shows protein relieves pain hypersensitivity in preclinical models
Read the full release | Read the study in Science Translational Medicine
Many patients undergoing cancer treatments experience damage or dysfunction of the nerves, leading to debilitating chronic nerve pain. Unfortunately, these patients have limited options because nerve pain responds poorly to current medications. Researchers discovered a specific protein called LRRC8A in sensory neurons inhibits pain hypersensitivity, highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for nerve pain.
“Our research reveals that nerve damage boosts NMDA receptor activity and amplifies pain signaling by lowering LRRC8A, a protein that normally keeps NMDA receptor activity in check,” said study lead Hui-Lin Pan, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine. “Using gene therapy to restore LRRC8A levels eliminates this receptor hyperactivity and relieves neuropathic pain.”
Comprehensive molecular profiling of renal medullary carcinoma identifies TROP2 as a promising therapeutic target
Read the full release | Read the study in Cell Reports Medicine
In the largest and most comprehensive molecular analysis of renal medullary carcinoma (RMC), a rare and aggressive form of kidney cancer, researchers identified TROP2 as a promising therapeutic target in 25 patient samples. These findings led to the exploration of sacituzumab govitecan, a TROP2-targeted antibody-drug conjugate. In a small cohort of four heavily pretreated RMC patients, sacituzumab govitecan resulted in one partial response and two patients with stable disease, with a median progression-free survival of 2.9 months.
“Identifying TROP2 as a therapeutic target in renal medullary carcinoma marks a pivotal step toward precision treatment for one of the most aggressive and underserved cancers,” said principal investigator Pavlos Msaouel, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology.
New oral therapy shows early signs of safety and effectiveness in patients with advanced, treatment-resistant prostate cancer
Read the full release
A first-in-human clinical trial showed that the novel oral treatment HLD-0915 was well tolerated with preliminary evidence of tumor shrinkage and lower PSA levels in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). If results are validated in additional clinical studies, HLD-0915 could offer a new line of treatment. Furthermore, HLD-0915 received fast track designation from the Food and Drug Administration, accelerating the path from clinical trials to potential approval and access. Data from the study were presented by Andrew W. Hahn, M.D., assistant professor of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics.
“HLD-0915 employs a novel mechanism of action through regulated induced proximity targeting chimera to simultaneously target the androgen receptor and BRD4, which is a critical mediator of prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance,” Hahn said. “Dose expansion studies of HLD-0915 are currently ongoing, and we hope to learn more about its efficacy in the near future.”
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DALLAS, Oct. 30, 2025 — Both on the court and off, cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women in the United States, taking the lives of more than 440,000 women each year, according to the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere. The Association’s Go Red for Women® movement is working to raise awareness, improve education and inspire action to help women better understand and learn how to prevent their number one health threat. For the first time, 19 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women’s ...
The origins of vivid colours within the gemstone ammolite — a rare type of brightly coloured fossilised ammonite shell — are reported in research published in Scientific Reports.
The colours of ammolite occur within a preserved layer of nacre — also known as mother-of-pearl — which consists of layered plates of the mineral aragonite and a small amount of organic material such as proteins. Although it is thought that the colours of ammolite arise from the interaction of light with these layers, the origins of these colours have not been evaluated experimentally.
Hiroaki ...
LAWRENCE — A new study appearing in Nature Microbiology analyzes soils sampled across the state of Kansas to determine the importance of “legacy effects” — or how soils from a specific location are influenced by microbes that have evolved in response to the specific climate at that site for many years.
“The bacteria and fungi and other organisms living in the soil can actually end up having important effects on things that matter, like carbon sequestration, nutrient movement and what we’re particularly interested in — ...
What if everything we know about T. rex growth is wrong? A complete tyrannosaur skeleton has just ended one of paleontology’s longest-running debates – whether Nanotyrannus is a distinct species, or just a teenage version of Tyrannosaurus rex.
The fossil, part of the legendary “Dueling Dinosaurs” specimen unearthed in Montana, contains two dinosaurs locked in prehistoric combat: a Triceratops and a small-bodied tyrannosaur. That tyrannosaur is now confirmed to be a fully grown ...
Washington, DC—Our galaxy’s most abundant type of planet could be rich in liquid water due to formative interactions between magma oceans and primitive atmospheres during their early years, according to new research published in Nature by Carnegie’s Francesca Miozzi and Anat Shahar.
Of the more than 6,000 known exoplanets in the Milky Way, so-called Sub-Neptunes are the most common. They are smaller than Neptune and more massive than Earth and believed to have rocky interiors with thick hydrogen-dominated ...
Systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare and life-threatening disorder characterized by the deposition of misfolded immunoglobulin light chains as insoluble amyloid fibrils in various tissues and organs, leading to progressive structural and functional impairment. Commonly affected sites include the heart, kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system, with cardiac involvement being the primary determinant of prognosis. Due to its nonspecific clinical presentation and multisystem nature, AL amyloidosis is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, ...
Lactate, once considered a metabolic waste product, is now recognized as a key regulator of cellular homeostasis and disease progression. In gynecological malignancies—including ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers—lactate accumulation drives a novel post-translational modification known as lactylation. This modification serves as a critical bridge between metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic regulation, promoting tumor proliferation, metastasis, and therapy resistance. Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting lactate production, transport, and lactylation itself show significant anticancer potential, particularly when combined with immunotherapy. This ...
Background and objectives
Emerging evidence implicates immune dysregulation and neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, yet the causal mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the causal effects of immune cells and inflammatory proteins on epilepsy and evaluate the mediating role of inflammatory proteins.
Methods
This study utilized the largest available genome-wide association study data on immune cell phenotypes and inflammatory proteins as exposures, and epilepsy genome-wide association study data from the FinnGen dataset as outcomes. Five Mendelian randomization (MR) methods were applied within a two-sample MR framework to assess causal effects. Furthermore, ...
About The Study: The results of this cohort study suggest that, for older adults, poor olfaction as assessed by a single smell identification test is associated with a higher coronary heart disease risk.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Honglei Chen, PhD, email chenho19@msu.edu.
To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/
(doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2025.3740)
Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions ...
About The Study: The findings of this study suggest that maintaining a moderate level of physical activity of approximately 17 metabolic equivalent task-hours/week (i.e., 5 hours of brisk walking or 2 hours of running each week) over 3 decades was sufficient to achieve optimal benefit in reducing digestive system cancer risk.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Edward L. Giovannucci, MD, ScD, email egiovann@hsph.harvard.edu.
To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/
(doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2025.4185)
Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, ...
