Cross talk between macrophages and tumor cells could modulate cachexia in pancreatic cancer patients. A group of scientists from the University of Oklahoma has discovered a new pathway that promoted muscle wasting after the recruitment of this immune cell in the tumor microenvironment, activating cachexia-inducing factors.

Newco Outrun Therapeutics Ltd. has raised $10 million in a seed round to develop small-molecule E3 ubiquitin ligase inhibitors that prevent programmed protein degradation. The lead program targeting an E3 ligase that tags a tumor suppressor protein for destruction will now advance to preclinical development.

Crossfire Oncology BV has disclosed CFON-026, a potent, highly selective and macrocyclic noncovalent inhibitor of wild-type (WT) Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and all clinically relevant BTK resistance mutations, with best-in-class potential for the treatment of cancer.

Researchers from Dong-A Socio Holdings Co. Ltd. presented a first-in-class Src homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 1 (SHP1) allosteric inhibitor, SB-8091, being developed as an anticancer agent.

In tumors with amino acid deprivation, eIF-2α kinase GCN2 is activated and triggers a signaling response to promote cell survival and proliferation. This is important in high metabolically active hematological cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML).