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Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is known to be associated with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but how and why they are connected remains unknown. Researchers from Mass General Brigham discovered that HBV does not cause liver inflammation or cancer on its own, but worsens liver inflammation and may make patients more susceptible to early cancer development caused by environmental carcinogens. Limiting carcinogen exposure or reducing inflammation could mitigate this risk. "Our research sheds light on the intricate interplay between HBV infection and carcinogen exposure to generate immune dysregulation in the liver that leads to cancer development," said corresponding...

A study led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers found that combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy before surgery for patients with aggressive stage III non-small cell lung cancer that is considered difficult or impossible to surgically remove can help shrink tumors and make surgery possible. The multicenter observational study was conducted in collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute in Rome, Italy. It analyzed data from 112 patients who were treated at cancer centers across the U.S. and Italy with chemoimmunotherapy—a combination of chemotherapy and an immune checkpoint inhibitor blocking PD-1 or PD-L1. After treatment,...

From myocarditis to turbo cancer, emerging research offers hope for the millions injured by mRNA shots. Millions of people injured by mRNA injections have been completely abandoned by our public health agencies. In the absence of meaningful support, it is critically important to identify and advance safe, evidence-based strategies to aid recovery. At the McCullough Foundation, ongoing research has highlighted the following key interventions: Vitamin D Mounting evidence supports vitamin D as a critical intervention for vaccine injury: Myocarditis Protection: 73.3% of mRNA vaccine-induced myocarditis cases were vitamin D deficient, and low levels correlated with significantly worse inflammation, higher troponin...

In a study conducted at São Paulo State University involving 80 women over the age of 45, low-dose vitamin D supplementation nearly doubled the rate of treatment response. A study conducted at the Botucatu School of Medicine at São Paulo State University (FMB-UNESP) in Brazil found that low-dose vitamin D supplementation can improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. The findings suggest that vitamin D may serve as an alternative to other drugs designed to boost chemotherapy response, especially those that are difficult to access. The research, supported by FAPESP, included 80 women over the age of...

Researchers have harnessed a deadly fungus (Aspergillus flavus) to create a powerful cancer-fighting agent.The development is particularly notable as this toxic crop fungus has a grim historical connection. The fungus was linked to mysterious deaths among archeological teams excavating ancient tombs.For instance, in 1922, the opening of King Tutankhamun's tomb was reportedly followed by unexplained deaths, fueling rumors of a "pharaoh's curse."But it was later hypothesized that a dormant fungus might have been responsible.Fast forward to the 1970s. A similar tragedy unfolded in Poland, where 10 scientists died within weeks of entering the tomb of Casimir IV.The culprit was identified...

First-line treatment with the triplet combination of encorafenib, cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 significantly improved survival compared to the standard of care in patients with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer, according to data from the Phase III BREAKWATER trial. The findings demonstrated significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to standard chemotherapy-based regimens. The median PFS was 12.8 months with the triplet combination compared to 7.1 months in the standard-of-care group, and the median OS was 30.3 months compared with 15.1 months, respectively. "The latest data from the BREAKWATER trial further confirms that targeting the BRAF V600E mutation up...

Strawberry tree extracts helped treat ulcerative colitis in rats. (HJBC/Shutterstock) In a nutshell A traditional Mediterranean plant, the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), showed strong protective effects against ulcerative colitis in rats, performing nearly as well as a common prescription drug. The extract worked by reducing inflammation, preventing tissue damage, and restoring antioxidant enzyme levels, suggesting multiple mechanisms of action. While promising, these findings are from animal studies, and more research is needed before the extract can be considered a safe or effective treatment for humans. ======================================================================== JENDOUBA, Tunisia — A humble fruit from the Mediterranean region might hold the key...

In a study, researchers explore a surprising phenomenon in which high doses of radiation cause growth in existing metastatic tumors that weren't directly treated with radiation. Scientists had previously observed that radiation can cause distant tumors to shrink after radiation, known as the "abscopal effect." The researchers dubbed the opposite response the "badscopal effect." They believe this unexpected response happens because high-dose radiation increases the production of a protein called amphiregulin by tumor cells that are directly treated with radiation. High amounts of amphiregulin weaken the immune system's ability to fight cancer and make cancer cells better at protecting themselves....

An interdisciplinary research team has demonstrated a durable and lasting response to a novel treatment—combined locoregional therapy and immunotherapy (LRT-IO)—for advanced liver cancer patients. Advanced liver cancer is often considered incurable, but it can sometimes be converted to a treatable stage through a combination of therapies, potentially leading to curative surgery. This innovative strategy consists of three treatments: stereotactic beam radiotherapy (SBRT) with optional transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), followed by immunotherapy (IO). In previous studies, the team found that the cancer completely disappeared in 42% of patients after treatment, as evidenced by MRI or CT scans—even without curative surgery. The research...

Presented at ESTRO 2025 in Vienna, Austria, a 10-year study involving over 4,000 UK patients confirms that a one-week course of post-surgery radiotherapy is just as safe and effective as the traditional three-week regimen for early-stage breast cancer patients. These long-term results from the FAST-Forward trial could further reduce the burden on breast cancer patients worldwide, and expand access to life-saving radiotherapy. The phase III randomized trial followed up patients for ten years and showed that a shorter, five-day radiotherapy schedule provides a similar level of cancer control as the standard 3-week treatment, without additional long-term side effects. This builds...

[FULL TRANSCRIPT BELOW] “I was as astonished as anyone might be that ivermectin has potential as an anti-cancer agent,” says cancer surgeon Dr. Kathleen Ruddy. She’s observed multiple cases where patients with severe, late stage cancer started to make a turn for the better after taking ivermectin. One patient with stage four prostate cancer tried all the traditional protocols like chemotherapy and radiation before being told that there was nothing left that his doctors could do. He started taking ivermectin as a last resort. In a few short months, he had made a stunning recovery. After observing several cases like...

Exercise can counter the detrimental effects of cancer treatment, such as heart and nerve damage and brain fog, suggests an overarching review. Exercise also seems to boost psychological well-being and overall quality of life, say the researchers. The researchers carried out an umbrella review of the existing pooled data analyses of randomized controlled trial results, published between 2012 and July 2024. The review included 485 associations from 80 articles, all evaluated as being of moderate to high quality. Among these associations, the types of exercise of any length, intensity, and duration included mind-body (138, 28.5%), such as Qigong, tai chi,...

Scientists have discovered a promising new therapy for resistant high blood pressure, leading to a 15-point drop in systolic levels. Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a potential new treatment for individuals with uncontrolled or treatment-resistant hypertension, a condition commonly referred to as high blood pressure. The investigational drug, lorundrostat, showed encouraging results in a recent clinical trial. Published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study found that participants who received lorundrostat experienced an average 15-point reduction in systolic blood pressure, the upper number in a blood pressure reading, compared to...

An international team of scientists has identified similarities in the mechanisms of diabetes and cancer: as the researchers show, the protein PPARγ, which is central to the regulation of metabolic processes, can also influence the growth of prostate cancer cells. PPARγ is already known to be a target of certain drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes. The results of the study indicate that such drugs could also represent a promising approach for the treatment of prostate cancer. PPARγ has been known in diabetes research for quite some time, as it has an influence on insulin sensitivity. For more than...

A common diabetes drug can reduce the pain of people with knee osteoarthritis and overweight or obesity, possibly delaying the need for knee replacements, research has found. Metformin, which is commonly prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, reduced knee arthritis pain over six months in a clinical trial. The research was performed as a community-based study using telehealth. Some of the 107 participants with pain from knee osteoarthritis, who had a mean age of 60, took up to 2,000 mg of metformin daily for six months. Others took the placebo. None had diabetes. Knee pain was measured on a 0–100...

How would you summarize your study? Cisplatin is a chemotherapy drug used globally for the treatment of several cancers; however, it is also highly toxic to the kidneys. Beyond general supportive measures, there is minimal data from clinical trials regarding preventive treatments for cisplatin-associated kidney damage. Animal studies suggest magnesium may help the kidneys excrete cisplatin in the urine, thereby protecting the kidneys from damage. However, data from larger studies in humans is lacking. What question were you investigating? We examined whether receipt of IV magnesium on the same day as the first dose of IV cisplatin was associated with...

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment provides long-term relief for patients suffering from late radiation-induced injuries after treatment of cancer in the lower abdominal area. Five years after hyperbaric oxygen therapy, the positive effects remain. Radiation therapy is a component of many cancer treatments in organs such as the prostate, colon, ovaries and cervix. While tumor cells are destroyed, 5%–10% of patients experience severe side effects due to healthy tissue being affected by the radiation therapy. Symptoms may include urinary incontinence, bleeding and severe pain in the lower abdomen that becomes both physically and socially disabling. These problems can occur several years after...

A team of scientists has tested four anti-amyloid Alzheimer's therapeutics to find out how the drugs bind to toxic amyloid beta protein to tackle the disease. Using new, highly sensitive methods, the researchers detected and visualized how amyloid beta protein—a plaque that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease—binds to lecanemab, donanemab, gantenerumab and aducanumab. The findings show that lecanemab performs the best at binding a small, soluble form of amyloid beta, suggesting that it is most effective, when used as early as possible in the disease progression. Amyloid beta is one of the toxic proteins that...

Recently, researchers have discovered an increasing correlation between some liver cancers and non-viral chronic liver disease (CLD). One liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is associated with CLD in about 15%–25% of cases. In order to investigate how healthy liver tissue differs from that of HCC patients with CLD, scientists analyzed which metabolites were present in CLD and normal tissue to identify metabolic pathways that may be dysregulated. By investigating differences in gene expression and metabolites, the investigators were able to identify possible disease-causing pathways and potential therapeutic targets for HCC prevention. "The molecular mechanisms underlying the development of HCC from...

A new type of antibiotic for treatment of urinary tract infections in women could also work against gonorrhea infections, a new study finds. This could put the medication, called gepotidacin, on track to become the first new antibiotic for gonorrhea since the 1990s. “Gepotidacin is a novel oral antibacterial treatment with the potential to become an alternative option for the treatment of gonococcal infections, supported by an acceptable safety and tolerability profile,” the researchers wrote in the study published Monday in The Lancet, adding that the drug “could mark a meaningful advancement in patient care.” As an antibiotic, gepotidacin works...