The receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan 1 (ROR1) is a transmembrane protein expressed during embryonic development. Moreover, it is highly expressed on the surface of several cancer cell types, including B-cell malignancies and solid tumors such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Researchers from The University of Queensland and collaborating institutions recently reported the development of a single-chain fragment variable (scFvs) specifically targeting the membrane proximal region of ROR1 rather than the Ig-like domain, aiming to reduce cross-reactivity with other surface proteins expressed in normal tissues.
Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. has announced acceptance of IND applications by China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for three differentiated candidates for the treatment of solid tumors.
A review of 2025's noteworthy advances in medical research, including GLP-1 receptor agonists as anti-aging drugs, tumor-agnostic therapies and xenotransplants.
Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health has disclosed bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BD2 domain) (BRD4 BD2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of diabetes, autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular disorders, male contraception, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, viral and parasitic infections and cancer.
Venetoclax has shown good results for adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in combination with azacitidine, but there is increasing evidence of inherent and acquired resistance. High expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) has been associated with cancer aggressiveness and poor prognosis due to increased nicotinamide metabolism.
Previous work showed that histone ‘readers’, which bind to post-translational modifications on histones, may be upregulated in melanoma and thereby upregulate oncogenes. Given that the histone reader ATAD2 is known to be overexpressed in several types of cancer, researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham asked whether the same is true in melanoma.
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as potential markers of disease, since they associate with proteins that regulate gene expression, translation or stability, among others, and where hypoxia might play a role in this scenario. In recently published work, researchers analyzed clinical data from patients with lung adenocarcinoma to identify hypoxia-modulated lncRNAs in vivo and in vitro, and which could correlate with prognosis.
Over the course of the year, and continuing into the latest scientific meetings, an extraordinary breadth of new antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) designs was reported, with innovations spanning targets, linkers, payloads, conjugation chemistries and overall architectures. Once defined by a simple “one target, one payload” model, the field is lately expanding into a more versatile and diverse therapeutic space.
Hanx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. has identified antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) consisting of an antibody targeting TRBV12 covalently linked to cytotoxic drugs through linkers reported to be useful for the treatment of T-cell leukemia and T-cell lymphoma.
Shenzhen Chipscreen Biosciences Ltd. has synthesized MAPK-interacting kinase 1 (MNK1) and/or MAPK-interacting kinase 2 (MNK2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
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