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