Wake-up call: Cellular sleep isn't as harmless as once thought
New research into the mechanics of cellular sleep and shutdown could shed light on the aging process and how to potentially intervene.
Read moreCancer
New drug-delivery technology promises efficient, targeted cancer treatment
A precise and non-toxic treatment that targets lung cancer cells at the nanoscale is able to effectively kill the cells even at a low dose.
Read moreAggressive form of breast cancer influenced by dual action of genes and RNA
Women with an aggressive, less-common type of breast cancer, known as triple-negative, versus a more common form of the disease, could be differentiated from each other by a panel of 17 small RNA molecules that are directly influenced by genetic alterations typically found in cancer cells.
Read moreMen with breast cancer face high mortality rates
Men with breast cancer are more likely to die than their female counterparts, across all stages of disease, with the disparity persisting even when clinical characteristics, such as cancer types, treatment and access to care are considered, according to a new study.
Read moreMarked slowdown of cell division rates in old age
In a novel study comparing healthy cells from people in their 20s with cells from people in their 80s, researchers say they have documented that cell division rates appear to consistently and markedly slow down in humans at older ages.
Read moreExploring the effect of fasting on age-related diseases
There are many indications that fasting promotes longevity. In recent years, much attention has been devoted to so-called caloric restriction mimetics (CMRs), substances that simulate the health-promoting effects of fasting without the need of life-style change. A study reports the identification of a novel candidate CRM. The substance may prove useful in the further research for the treatment of age-related diseases.
Read moreBreaking the stroma barrier: Study shows a new way to hit cancer with radiation
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are commonly used to treat cancer, but are not always effective and can have toxic side effects. Researchers tested a new radiotherapy technique that sends alpha-emitting particles to stroma cells in pancreatic tumors. The method slowed tumor growth in mice with minimal side effects, pointing to a new potential treatment option in the future for patients with pancreatic cancer.
Read moreHPV immunization program cuts pre-cancer rates by more than half
A school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization program in British Columbia, Canada, is dramatically reducing rates of cervical pre-cancer in B.C. women, according to a new study.
Read moreGAS7 protein allows cells to eat
Phagocytosis can be viewed as a primitive immune system used by all cells. When a pathogen is near the cell, the cell membrane will deform to engulf the pathogen and dispose of it. Researchers have found that a two-dimensional sheet formed by the protein GAS7 is critical for this process, identifying through crystallography and microscopy two key hydrophilic loops in the protein.
Read moreCreatine powers T cells' fight against cancer
The study, conducted in mice, is the first to show that creatine uptake is critical to the anti-tumor activities of killer T cells, the foot soldiers of the immune system.
Read more