Cancer Biology

What causes cancer and how can we find better ways to treat it?

New research shows insights into devastating metabolic disease

New research shows insights into devastating metabolic disease

Tracer metabolomics reveals the role of aldose reductase in glycosylation

June 5, 2023

Precursor of breast cancer or not?

Precursor of breast cancer or not?

New mouse model bridges 10-20 years of development of DCIS into breast cancer within one year

May 2, 2023

Reinforcing endothelial TRAIL protects against cancer metastasis

Reinforcing endothelial TRAIL protects against cancer metastasis

TRAIL proteins function as gatekeepers for vascular barrier integrity and blocks entry of cancer cells to metastatic sites

March 23, 2023

Fat creates an ideal environment for metastatic breast tumors

Fat creates an ideal environment for metastatic breast tumors

Palmitate can initiate a series of signals in cancer cells that equip them to grow into metastases.

February 3, 2023

Targeting acidity: a new approach to tackle pancreatic cancer

Targeting acidity: a new approach to tackle pancreatic cancer

Inhibiting the bicarbonate transporter SLC4A4 in pancreatic cancer cells promotes an immune reaction and supports immunotherapy effectiveness.

December 15, 2022

VIB researchers identify a new way of supporting and sensitizing immunotherapy in cancer patients

VIB researchers identify a new way of supporting and sensitizing immunotherapy in cancer patients

Therapeutic induction of High-Endothelial Venules (HEV) can augment lymphocyte infiltration and contributes to tumor growth inhibition

November 24, 2022

Enhancing the way immune cells respond to a threat

Enhancing the way immune cells respond to a threat

VIB researchers uncover a metabolic switch that allows immune cells to enhance their protective function.

November 17, 2022

Researchers identify which cancer cell subpopulations cause tumor growth and metastasis

Researchers identify which cancer cell subpopulations cause tumor growth and metastasis

New discoveries open new avenues for the prevention of early tumor growth and metastatic dissemination

September 22, 2022

Refining immunotherapy: a story of different cell types

Refining immunotherapy: a story of different cell types

Training our immune system to recognize and attack tumors – immunotherapy – holds great promise for cancer therapy. New research by scientists from VIB, VUB, UGent, KU Leuven, and international partner Roche now shows why some patients don’t respond to immunotherapy. By clarifying the role of different cell types involved in the immune system’s response, this work by the team of Prof. Damya Laoui is an important step toward personalized treatment for cancer patients and is published in Cancer Research.

August 18, 2022

Novel monoclonal antibody developed based on research of Peter Carmeliet and Rakesh Jain shows promising Phase I results by halting disease progression in aggressive pediatric brain cancer

Novel monoclonal antibody developed based on research of Peter Carmeliet and Rakesh Jain shows promising Phase I results by halting disease progression in aggressive pediatric brain cancer

Clinical study shows promising results in medulloblastoma patients, effectively stopping tumor growth for more than 100 days

July 19, 2022

How autophagy shapes the lymphatic system

How autophagy shapes the lymphatic system

Our lymphatic vasculature is part of our circulatory system and it carries 'lymph' through our body. This is crucial to maintain internal fluid levels, transport immune cells to their location, and for fat absorption. New work by the team of Prof. Patrizia Agostinis (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology and the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at KU Leuven) shows how autophagy shapes our lymphatic system. Their results appear in the journal Nature Communications.

May 23, 2022

The signal that tells breast cancer cells to travel

The signal that tells breast cancer cells to travel

Breast cancer became the world's most diagnosed cancer in 2021. While survival rates are high, metastasis can reduce these drastically. New research by the team of Prof. Dr. Sarah-Maria Fendt (VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology) and international partners shows how changing levels of the protein PHGDH enable breast cancer cells to travel through the body. The results appear in the leading journal Nature.

May 18, 2022

About VIB

VIB’s core mission is to generate disruptive insights in the molecular underpinning of life and to translate these actively into impactful innovations for patients and society. VIB is an independent research institute where some 1,800 top scientists from Belgium and abroad conduct pioneering basic research. As such, they are pushing the boundaries of what we know about molecular mechanisms and how they rule living organisms such as human beings, animals, plants, and microorganisms. Based on a close partnership with five Flemish universities – Ghent University, KU Leuven, University of Antwerp, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and Hasselt University – and supported by a solid funding program, VIB unites the expertise of all its collaborators and research groups in a single institute. VIB’s technology transfer activities translate research results into concrete benefits for society such as new diagnostics and therapies and agricultural innovations. These applications are often developed by young start-ups from VIB or through collaborations with other companies. This also leads to additional employment and bridges the gap between scientific research and entrepreneurship. VIB also engages actively in the public debate on biotechnology by developing and disseminating a wide range of science-based information. 

More info can be found on www.vib.be.

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