New research out of the University of Texas Medical Branch potentially points to an effective treatment for Lassa fever, a dangerous, often fatal disease common to much of West Africa but considered a significant threat to global health. UTMB’s scientists document how a new drug from Zalgen Labs successfully cured cynomolgus monkeys infected with Lassa virus. There currently is no approved treatment for the disease, estimated to infect 300,000 to 500,000 people a year across...

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have uncovered a functional role for KRAS mutations in pancreatic cancer and rapidly translated these findings into a novel therapeutic approach combining a KRAS G12D inhibitor with immune checkpoint inhibitors for early- and late-stage KRAS G12D-mutant pancreatic cancer. The combination therapy led to durable tumor elimination and significantly improved survival outcomes in preclinical models, leading to the launch of a Phase I clinical trial.   Two studies describe why KRAS-targeted monotherapy likely is not enough...

By improving hospital care pathways, researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center successfully reduced inpatient opioid use by 50% after pancreatic cancer surgery and cut the median opioid prescription volumes at discharge to zero. This approach could help reduce the risk of long-term opioid dependence in patients.   In this cohort study, which involved 832 patients undergoing pancreatic resection surgery, the researchers investigated how making incremental modifications to post-surgery procedures affected the amounts of opioids used...

Single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) are changes at specific positions in a DNA sequence that can help classify and explain differences in disease susceptibility across populations. While single-cell sequencing provides valuable insights into cellular differences within diverse tissue samples, current tools can only detect a small number of SNVs, limiting information on genetic ancestry. To help bridge this gap, researchers led by Ken Chen, Ph.D., developed a more sensitive computational tool called Monopogen that accurately detects SNVs from...

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are effective immunosuppressants used to minimize rejection of transplanted organs and tissues, but they can also cause persistent hypertension and other side effects. Calcineurin is abundantly present in the hypothalamus, which regulates blood pressure, and its inhibition leads to hyperactivity of excitatory NMDA receptors in the brain. However, long-term blockade of NMDA receptors also comes with negative side effects. To identify a better therapeutic strategy and provide insights into the impact of CNIs on...

Genetic crossovers – the exchange of DNA between pairs of chromosomes from each parent – play a crucial role in accurate chromosome segregation during meiotic cell division. However, the mechanisms underlying the formation of these crossovers in mammals are poorly understood. To provide further insight into this process, researchers led by Francesca Cole, Ph.D., used genetic dissection to map the frequency and distribution of crossover points in mouse models. The researchers discovered two unique intermediate steps...

There are currently no effective systemic therapies for metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), a rare cancer that forms in the salivary glands.  A new study led by Renata Ferrarotto, M.D., and Luana Sousa, M.D., builds on previous findings in two major disease subtypes, including ACC-I, associated with poor patient prognosis. By exploring the tumor microenvironment, the researchers discovered that ACC-I tumors overexpressed the immune checkpoint protein B7-H4, resulting in an immune-excluded tumor microenvironment. In ACC-I...

A groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch reveals exciting progress in using artificial intelligence to predict type 2 diabetes early on. The study shows that an advanced deep learning system, trained with large sets of X-rays and medical records, effectively detected type 2 diabetes with high accuracy.   “Early detection and interventions are crucial in managing type 2 diabetes and preventing complications,” said Dr. Jorge Rodriguez Fernandez, co-author, and professor...

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was awarded four grants totaling nearly $4.9 million from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to support the expansion of physical activity programs for survivors, the dissemination of targeted tobacco cessation programs and the recruitment of a first-time, tenure-track faculty member.   MD Anderson’s Active Living After Cancer (ALAC) program received continued funding from CPRIT via two grants totaling $2,448,643 to support broader dissemination and implementation in...

A new study led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center discovered loss of metabolic fitness in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) natural killer (NK) cells is a critical mechanism of resistance, with infused cells gradually losing the ability to compete with tumor cells for nutrients, leading to tumor relapse.   The study demonstrates that engineering CAR NK cells to express interleukin-15 (IL-15) enhances the cells’ metabolic fitness and provides a longer-lasting anti-tumor response....