Reading time: 8 minutes Alex S. Woodell Prologue The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a desolate place. Nutrients are sparse, and living conditions are hostile for the resident cells. This poorly perfused, alien landscape is filled with leaky, tortuous vessels. The interstitial fluid pressure is high, severely compromising nutrient delivery mechanisms. It’s not a place... Continue Reading →
Bacteria in Cancer therapy: Friend or Foe?
Reading time: 5 minutes Varshit Dusad Bacteria are our unallied neighbors, which depending upon circumstances chooses to be our friend or foe. While bacteria such as E.coli have often been the workhorses for molecular biology studies, they have other uses as well. Surprisingly, they have enormous potential for cancer therapy. No, I am not talking... Continue Reading →
Cancer and Vascular Permeability
Reading time: 5 minutes Yitong Li One of the biggest hurdles that stall new developments in cancer therapy is how to effectively deliver the treatment to the tumor. Most commonly, pharmaceutical agents and immunotherapies make their way to the tumor via the bloodstream. Hence, the successful emigration of these agents out of the blood vessels... Continue Reading →
Prolonging Life: The Power of Palliative Practices
Reading time: 3 minutes Nisitha Sengottuvel As cancer researchers and medical professionals, most of us at OncoBites have chosen to pursue a career fighting against cancer. Patients, however, have a fight that looks and feels a lot different than the fight we put forth every day in our labs. It is never easy and is... Continue Reading →
Weight during adolescence is associated with pancreatic cancer risk later in life
Reading time: 4 minutes Morgan McSweeney A recent study has found evidence that adolescents who are overweight or have obesity may be at a 407% increased risk of getting pancreatic cancer, the 6th most deadly form of cancer in the world. To determine this relationship, Levi et al. conducted a study of 1,087,358 Israeli Jewish... Continue Reading →