Cancer Biology
What causes cancer and how can we find better ways to treat it?
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How our body's natural recycling system could help reduce inflammation
Leuven, Belgium, 28 July 2026 – Researchers at VIB and KU Leuven, together with international collaborators, have discovered that blocking autophagy – the body's natural recycling system for worn-out cell components – in specialized blood vessels can reduce inflammation in mice with psoriasis. Unlike many current therapies, this strategy reduces inflammation without weakening the immune system. The findings, published in the journal Immunity, reveal a promising new approach for treating chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
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Fatty liver drives a more dangerous form of cancer spread
Leuven, 1 July 2026 – Researchers at VIB and KU Leuven, with international partners, have uncovered how fatty liver disease can fuel the most aggressive form of metastatic colorectal cancer. The findings, which appear in the leading journal Nature, not only explain why some patients face dramatically poorer outcomes but also highlight how metabolic conditions such as fatty liver disease may directly influence cancer progression, paving the way for more precise therapies tailored to a patient’s metabolic health.
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Prof. Diether Lambrechts (KU Leuven/VIB) receives the Francqui-Collen Prize 2026
Brussels, June 2, 2026 – Prof. Dr. Diether Lambrechts (KU Leuven/VIB) and Prof. Dr. Patrice Cani (UCLouvain) are the laureates of the Francqui-Collen Prize 2026, one of the highest scientific distinctions in Belgium. Today, they receive the award from the hands of King Philippe. Prof. Lambrechts is being honored for his groundbreaking genetic research into cancer treatments, while Prof. Cani is recognized for his discoveries regarding the impact of gut bacteria on lifestyle-related diseases.
Blocking lipid production in healthy lung cells can reduce lung metastasis
Leuven, 17 March 2026 - Scientists from the VIB–KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology, in collaboration with the Francis Crick Institute, have discovered how cancer cells can exploit healthy lung cells to support metastatic tumor growth in the lungs. In two complementary studies published in Nature Cell Biology and Cancer Discovery, they show that tumors use lipids produced by lung cells as signals, and that decreasing the lipid production of lung cells can decrease metastasis. The findings point to new therapeutic strategies that target lung cell lipid production, rather than cancer cells themselves, which may also help refine patient selection for ongoing clinical trials targeting this pathway.
Groundbreaking Study Offers a Novel Approach to Enhance Neuromuscular Function in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Findings published in The American Journal of Pathology identify GLUD1 enzyme as a potential therapeutic target for muscle restoration through metabolic reprogramming, addressing clinically unmet need for treatment beyond symptom relief
