Mutation News and Research

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Excess EXO1 protein may drive cancer DNA damage and treatment response

When it comes to cancer, tumor suppressor genes are usually thought of as the "good guys." These genes make proteins that protect and repair DNA in cells.

21 May 2026

Targeting tumor-specific inflammatory process may prevent drug resistance in colon cancer

Chemotherapy drugs that target a common mutation in colorectal cancer rapidly lose efficacy in patients, leading to relapse.

21 May 2026

New computational tool uses plain language for genetic diagnosis

A new computational tool called MARRVEL-MCP helps researchers move toward genetic diagnoses more efficiently by analyzing and interpreting vast amounts of genetic and biological information using everyday language.

21 May 2026

Uneven grey matter loss serves as a powerful new biomarker for early neurodegeneration

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Alzheimer's disease begins to weave a web in the brain and remodel neuronal tissue 15 to 20 years before the first symptoms appear. From the time this happens, however, until the disease is diagnosed and, later, enters an advanced phase, it progresses along a continuum of changes to the brain.

21 May 2026

Scientists uncover why genome guardian p53 protein is uniquely prone to collapse

The protein p53 is often called the guardian of the genome for its central role in preventing cancer. Yet paradoxically, it is also one of the most frequently mutated and dysfunctional proteins in human tumors.

20 May 2026

Ensitrelvir cuts household COVID-19 risk when given after exposure

Ensitrelvir, an oral SARS-CoV-2 3C-like protease inhibitor, reduced symptomatic RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19 among household contacts when given within 72 hours after symptom onset in the infected index patient. In the phase 3 SCORPIO-PEP trial, COVID-19 occurred in 2.9% of ensitrelvir recipients versus 9.0% of placebo recipients, with similar overall adverse-event rates.

20 May 2026

Real-world study compares leading ALK+ lung cancer treatments

A team of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC, the USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the USC Shaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics have conducted a head-to-head comparison of five leading treatments for anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer.

19 May 2026

Early neural activity regulates speech-related gene to build communication circuits

Communication begins long before children learn to speak. Researchers at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) in Taiwan have now uncovered how early brain activity helps build developing communication circuits via regulating FOXP2/Foxp2, a gene linked to human speech and communication disorders.

19 May 2026

UCLA researchers identify potential drug target for treating Fragile X syndrome

UCLA Health researchers have identified a potential drug target for treating Fragile X syndrome, the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability and autism that affects roughly 1 in 2,000 boys.

18 May 2026

Regular arts and physical activity linked to slower aging

Research shows that leisure activities, including arts engagement and physical exercise, are linked to slower epigenetic aging and improved health outcomes.

14 May 2026

Four OICR-funded studies explore transformative approaches in cancer care

Four new research studies funded by the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) will deliver cutting-edge innovations by maximizing the impact of existing research and making the most out of patient contributions.

13 May 2026

Base editing approach repairs deadly Dravet syndrome mutation in mice

Gene editing can repair a DNA error in mice that causes Dravet syndrome, a rare, incurable, and potentially deadly form of childhood epilepsy. After the edit, the mice have far fewer seizures and live much longer.

13 May 2026

Immune-regulating molecule may offer new treatment approach for IBD patients

Mayo Clinic researchers have identified an immune-regulating molecule that may help explain why some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, do not respond to commonly used therapies.

13 May 2026

New gene editing approach improves survival in epileptic mice

In a world first, a research team at the University of Zurich has successfully treated mice carrying an inherited form of epilepsy.

13 May 2026

Worms help researchers tackle rare childhood genetic disease

A new worm model developed by Brown University researchers could play a key role in treating a rare genetic disease that causes paralysis in children and worsens with age.

13 May 2026

Researchers uncover nuclear organization mechanism linked to Friedreich's ataxia

Researchers have uncovered a fundamental rule that governs how genes are physically arranged inside the cell nucleus, and how disruptions to that organization can contribute to human disease.

12 May 2026

Dual-pathway protein degradation approach could improve cancer treatment

Targeted protein degradation has become one of the most promising strategies in modern drug discovery, enabling scientists to eliminate disease-causing proteins instead of merely blocking them.

12 May 2026

Scientists call for explainable AI in protein language models

Protein language models are artificial intelligence tools which help engineer proteins with useful properties, including completely new structures never seen before in nature.

11 May 2026

Scientists uncover cellular mechanism behind rare childhood brain disorders

Thousands of times per year, a family's moment of joy turns to unexpected grief. A seemingly healthy infant stops smiling or making eye contact.

8 May 2026

Infectious H5N1 virus detected in dairy farm air

Findings from California dairy farms show H5N1 in air and wastewater, indicating overlooked transmission routes and implications for outbreak management.

8 May 2026