Programmed Cell Death News and Research

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Repurposed cancer drugs offer potential breakthrough for Crohn’s disease treatment

University of Houston biologists have contributed to a potential breakthrough in treating Crohn's disease by shifting the clinical focus from symptom management to addressing a primary underlying cause of the condition.

27 Apr 2026

APC-deficient cancer cells rely on single enzyme for survival

A newly published study reports that APC-deficient cancer cells may depend on a single metabolic enzyme for survival, revealing a potential strategy for selectively targeting tumours associated with one of the most common mutations in colorectal cancer.

20 Apr 2026

Researchers discover how stress signals weaken the aging immune system

As we age, our ability to maintain healthy blood and a strong immune system gradually declines, largely because hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), the cells responsible for producing all blood cell types, begin to lose their effectiveness. Normally, HSCs can both self-renew and generate a balanced mix of blood cells, but over time they produce fewer new cells, favor certain cells such as myeloid cells over lymphoid cells, and struggle to support a robust immune response.

16 Apr 2026

Metformin protects neurons after brain injury by restoring mitochondrial health

TBI remains a major cause of death and long-term neurological disability worldwide, yet effective treatments for secondary injury are still lacking.

13 Apr 2026

When omega-3 may help mental health and when they may not

Investigating omega-3 fatty acids, this review highlights their impact on mental health, inflammation, and the potential for therapeutic use in disorders.

10 Apr 2026

Study reveals lung-brain link between smoking and neurodegeneration

The correlation between smoking and neurodegeneration is well-documented, with one study from 2011 finding heavy smoking in midlife was associated with a greater than 100% increase in risk of dementia, Alzheimer's and vascular dementia more than two decades later.

8 Apr 2026

Study reveals how Bcl-2 protein blocks cancer cell death

Researchers at Umeå University have contributed new insights into how cancer cells protect themselves from cell death.

7 Apr 2026

New strategy exploits specific genetic vulnerability in colorectal cancer patients

Researchers have identified a novel therapeutic approach for colorectal cancer by exploiting a specific genetic vulnerability found in a majority of patients.

6 Apr 2026

Impaired lipid transport protein locks stressed cells into cellular limbo

When cells experience enough chronic stress, they can stop dividing permanently. In this state of cellular limbo, known as replicative senescence, cells remain alive but no longer proliferate.

31 Mar 2026

Study reveals ALDH2 vulnerability in APC-deficient colorectal cancer

A precision cancer strategy that selectively kills tumour cells while leaving healthy tissue intact may be within reach for the majority of colorectal cancer patients, according to new research published in Genes & Disease.

30 Mar 2026

APOE4 alters brain immunity and cognition differently in females and males

APOE4 drove sex-specific changes in meningeal immunity, lymphatic drainage, brain lipids, neuroinflammation, and cognition in mouse models, with females showing greater inflammatory and cognitive vulnerability. Suppressing innate immunity improved some cognitive outcomes in female E4/E4 mice but worsened them in male E4/E4 mice, underscoring the need for sex-tailored approaches.

29 Mar 2026

Vitamin B2 metabolism helps cancer cells resist ferroptosis

A lack of vitamin B2 makes tumour cells more susceptible to a unique form of cell death. This was discovered by researchers at the Rudolf Virchow Centre at the University of Würzburg.

13 Mar 2026

Copper metabolism identified as a new therapeutic target for inflammatory osteolysis

Inflammatory osteolysis is a condition involving progressive bone tissue destruction and is observed in many well-known skeletal disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and chronic apical periodontitis.

5 Mar 2026

Precision mRNA vaccine strategy shows early promise for improving TNBC relapse risk

An individualized neoantigen mRNA vaccine was tested in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer and showed feasibility, safety, and strong T cell immune responses. Long-term follow-up suggested durable immune memory with encouraging relapse-free outcomes, though controlled trials are needed to confirm clinical benefit.

19 Feb 2026

Study explores how reversible RNA editing could transform future cardiovascular medicine

This mini-review synthesises evidence showing that adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing plays an important regulatory role in cardiovascular development, cellular homeostasis, and disease biology. It highlights emerging links between dysregulated RNA editing and cardiovascular conditions while outlining biomarker potential and reversible RNA-editing therapeutic strategies that remain under investigation.

15 Feb 2026

RNA micelles enable targeted chemotherapy without immune toxicity

A new study in mice hints at the potential to use tiny particles made with RNA molecules to deliver chemotherapy drugs and other therapies directly to tumors, killing cancer cells without generating an immune response or toxicity-related side effects.

7 Feb 2026

Novel antisense oligonucleotide shows promise against aggressive pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most lethal form of pancreas cancer. It's also the most common form of the disease.

8 Jan 2026

Nicotinic acid protects the liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury

In a new study published in Liver Research, a team of researchers in China discovered that nicotinic acid-a common form of vitamin B3-can dramatically reduce liver damage caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), a major complication in liver surgery and transplantation.

5 Jan 2026

Reframing the role of MCL1 in cancer signaling and metabolism

A study by the Mildred Scheel Early Career Center group led by Dr. Mohamed Elgendy at the TUD Faculty of Medicine provides fundamental insights into cancer biology.

22 Dec 2025

Scientists map how cinnamon’s bioactives interact with cancer signaling

This review synthesizes preclinical evidence showing that cinnamon-derived compounds can modulate inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and angiogenesis through multiple cancer-related signaling pathways. While biologically plausible, the findings are largely limited to cell and animal models, underscoring the need for pharmacokinetic, safety, and clinical validation.

15 Dec 2025