Cancer cells are chameleons. They completely change their metabolism to grow continuously. University of Basel scientists have discovered that high levels of the amino acid arginine drive metabolic reprogramming to promote tumor growth. This study suggests new avenues to improve liver cancer treatment.

The liver is a vital organ with many important functions in the body. It metabolizes nutrients, stores energy, regulates the blood sugar level, and plays a crucial role in detoxifying and removing harmful components and drugs. Liver cancer is one of the world’s most lethal types of cancer. Conditions that cause liver cancer include obesity, excessive alcohol consumption and hepatitis C infection. Early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic strategies are crucial for improving treatments in liver cancer.

In the past decade, scientists have made much progress in understanding the multiple facets of cancer. Historically, it has long been viewed as a disorder in cell proliferation. However, there is growing evidence that cancer is a metabolic disease.

Transcatheter repair

A transcatheter repair, also called transcatheter device closure, is usually recommended for an atrial septal defect. During this procedure, a pediatric interventional cardiologist makes an incision in the groin, inserts a catheter, and funnels a small mesh patch through the catheter and up to the hole in the heart. Over time, the child’s own heart tissue grows over the patch.

Learn more about atrial septal defect transcatheter repair for children.

Paul Bunn, MD, University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO, discusses the survival rates of patients with stage IV lung cancer, which remain suboptimal. For patients who have a high PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS), approximately a third of patients survive 5 years after initial diagnosis, and further statistical analysis is required to assess whether co-morbidities contribute to patient mortality after the 5 year mark. Despite the lack of available therapies for patients with late stage lung cancer, Prof. Bunn highlights treatment options for early stage lung cancer including immunotherapy and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for patients with driver mutations. This interview took place at the 2022 Targeted Therapies of Lung Cancer Meeting (TTLC 2022).

Skin wounds that don’t heal properly can lead to dangerous, painful infections. Taking care of injured skin can help prevent problems.