Engineered “natural killer” cells could help fight cancer
A new study identifies genetic modifications that make these immune cells, known as CAR-NK cells, more effective at destroying cancer cells.
A cysteine-rich diet may promote regeneration of the intestinal lining, study suggests
The findings may offer a new way to help heal tissue damage from radiation or chemotherapy treatment.
Inflammation jolts “sleeping” cancer cells awake, enabling them to multiply again
Chemotherapy-induced injury of organ tissue causes inflammation that awakens dormant cancer cells, which may cause new tumors to form.
“Bottlebrush” particles deliver big chemotherapy payloads directly to cancer cells
Outfitted with antibodies that guide them to the tumor site, the new nanoparticles could reduce the side effects of treatment.
Mapping cells in time and space: New tool reveals a detailed history of tumor growth
Researchers developed a tool to recreate cells’ family trees. Comparing cells’ lineages and locations within a tumor provided insights into factors shaping tumor growth.
New AI system uncovers hidden cell subtypes, boosts precision medicine
CellLENS reveals hidden patterns in cell behavior within tissues, offering deeper insights into cell heterogeneity — vital for advancing cancer immunotherapy.
MIT engineers develop electrochemical sensors for cheap, disposable diagnostics
Electrodes coated with DNA could enable inexpensive tests with a long shelf-life, which could detect many diseases and be deployed in the doctor’s office or at home.
MIT engineers uncover a surprising reason why tissues are flexible or rigid
Watery fluid between cells plays a major role, offering new insights into how organs and tissues adapt to aging, diabetes, cancer, and more.
Technique rapidly measures cells’ density, reflecting health and developmental state
The method could help predict whether immunotherapies will work in a patient or how a tumor will respond to drug treatment.
Biologists identify targets for new pancreatic cancer treatments
Their study yielded hundreds of “cryptic” peptides that are found only on pancreatic tumor cells and could be targeted by vaccines or engineered T cells.
Equipping living cells with logic gates to fight cancer
Founded by MIT researchers, Senti Bio is giving immune cells the ability to distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells.
Engineers develop a way to mass manufacture nanoparticles that deliver cancer drugs directly to tumors
Scaling up nanoparticle production could help scientists test new cancer treatments.
Designing better ways to deliver drugs
Graduate student and MathWorks Fellow Louis DeRidder is developing a device to make chemotherapy dosing more accurate for individual patients.
A protein from tiny tardigrades may help cancer patients tolerate radiation therapy
When scientists stimulated cells to produce a protein that helps “water bears” survive extreme environments, the tissue showed much less DNA damage after radiation treatment.
Helping the immune system attack tumors
Stefani Spranger is working to discover why some cancers don’t respond to immunotherapy, in hopes of making them more vulnerable to it.