Cancer

Vijay Raj Singh, SMART research scientist, and Zahid Yaqoob, MIT LBRC principal investigator, study tumor cells using the new confocal reflectance interferometric microscope.

Diagnosing cellular nanomechanics

SMART has developed a new way to study cells, paving the way for a better understanding of how cancers spread and become deadly.

October 7, 2019

MIT chemical engineers have developed a new series of lipid nanoparticles to deliver RNA vaccines.

Delivery system can make RNA vaccines more powerful

Vaccines packaged in novel nanoparticles could offer a new way to fight cancer and infectious diseases.

September 30, 2019

MIT biologists found that intestinal stem cells express high levels of a ketogenic enzyme called HMGCS2, shown in brown.

Study links certain metabolites to stem cell function in the intestine

Molecules called ketone bodies may improve stem cells’ ability to regenerate new intestinal tissue.

August 22, 2019

A bright fluorescent quantum defect can be a tool to upgrade current biomedical imaging systems, looking at even smaller tumors through the defect emission.

A single-photon source you can make at home

Shining light through household bleach creates fluorescent quantum defects in carbon nanotubes for quantum computing and biomedical imaging.

August 9, 2019

MIT researchers have developed a new model of gene control, in which the cellular machinery that transcribes DNA into RNA forms specialized droplets called condensates.

Study furthers radically new view of gene control

Along the genome, proteins form liquid-like droplets that appear to boost the expression of particular genes.

August 8, 2019

MIT researchers have developed a material that can be injected as a liquid then turn into a solid gel. They believe it holds promise for improving colonoscopies, in which saline is currently injected below precancerous growths to make them easier to remove.

New material could make it easier to remove colon polyps

Gel cushion used to elevate polyps during endoscopy could reduce the risk of tearing the colon lining.

July 30, 2019

Cancer cells targeted with nanoparticles built in the Hammond laboratory

MIT “Russian Doll” tech lands $7.9M international award to fight brain tumors

Researchers from MIT's Koch Institute will work with teams in the UK and Europe to use nanoparticles to carry multiple drug therapies to treat glioblastoma.

July 26, 2019

A cancer cell (blue, center) can elude attack by immune cells (such as these T cells shown in green and red) by sequestering the mutated proteins that would otherwise signal its identity as a "foreign" invader away from the cell’s surface.

Unmasking mutant cancer cells

A new dosing regimen for an old cancer drug shows new promise as an immunotherapy.

July 17, 2019

MIT engineers have devised a way to stimulate T cells (shown in red) to attack tumors by activating them with a vaccine that accumulates in the lymph nodes. B cells in the lymph nodes are labeled in blue.

New vaccine strategy boosts T-cell therapy

Super-charging a treatment for leukemia also makes it effective on solid tumors.

July 11, 2019

Top: A cell undergoing normal cell division (mitosis). Bottom row: Defects in the mitotic spindle produced by two drugs that interfere with cancer cell division. These defects can lead to cell death.

Cancer biologists identify new drug combo

Two drugs that block cell division synergize to kill tumor cells.

July 10, 2019

A new technique prevents cell-killing proteins called cytokines from escaping once they have been injected into a tumor.

Confining cell-killing treatments to tumors

Attaching a Velcro-like molecule may prevent immune proteins called cytokines from leaking out of cancerous tissue after injection.

June 26, 2019

MIT biologists have identified a drug that blocks a DNA repair pathway used by cancer cells, making them more susceptible to chemotherapy drugs that damage DNA.

Drug makes tumors more susceptible to chemo

Compound that knocks out a DNA repair pathway enhances cisplatin treatment and helps prevent drug-resistance.

June 6, 2019

Aneuploid cells, such as this one, have too few or too many chromosomes. A new study has revealed that highly aneuploid prostate tumors carry a higher risk of lethality.

Measuring chromosome imbalance could clarify cancer prognosis

A study of prostate cancer finds “aneuploid” tumors are more likely to be lethal than tumors with normal chromosome numbers.

May 13, 2019

The team's model was shown to be able to identify a woman at high risk of breast cancer four years (left) before it developed (right).

Using AI to predict breast cancer and personalize care

MIT/MGH's image-based deep learning model can predict breast cancer up to five years in advance.

May 7, 2019

3Q: Susan Hockfield on a new age of living machines

Convergence research at MIT and beyond seeks new solutions for global challenges.