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Tech News
A new study reports that annual U.S. deaths from cancers linked to alcohol consumption rose from about 11,400 in 1990 to more than 23,100 in 2023. The increase spans beyond liver cancer, pointing to a broader rise across multiple cancer types tied to drinking.
Researchers examined a regulatory protein that controls the cell cycle and found it has an additional, previously unrecognized function tied to breast cancer development. The finding, published via Nature, points to a more complex biological role for this gatekeeper than earlier assumed.
AI-powered dermatology tools designed to identify skin conditions like melanoma are becoming more accurate overall, but researchers have found these systems perform less reliably for patients with darker skin. The disparity stems largely from training datasets that contain far fewer images of skin conditions on non-white patients.
A new study published in The Lancet Regional Health — Americas analyzed 33 years of US mortality data from the Global Burden of Disease Study and found that the share of cancer deaths attributable to alcohol rose more than 58% among adults 20 and older since 1990. Researchers found that even about one standard drink daily was enough to raise cancer risk, despite overall cancer mortality declining over the same period.
Researchers report that psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in magic mushrooms, shows potential to protect cancer patients from developing long-term chronic pain. The finding points to a new therapeutic application for the psychedelic beyond its studied uses in mental health treatment.
As Moderna and Merck develop personalized cancer therapies, data and diagnostics firm Tempus AI is emerging as a key infrastructure player supporting that work. Personalis, a genomic testing company, sits at the center of this positioning, suggesting a broader supply-chain opportunity beyond the drugmakers themselves.
A former startup CEO who has raised tens of millions in VC funding argues that traditional venture capital, once about backing founders to build companies, has been co-opted by a small group of extremely wealthy investors. He says this cohort now operates with little accountability to markets, regulators, or voters, using the VC label to pursue a broader ideological agenda rather than genuine innovation.
Thyme Care, a virtual navigation platform for cancer patients, closed a $125 million Series E round led by Morgan Health with Humana and CVS Health Ventures participating, doubling its valuation to over $2 billion in less than a year. The company is also creating a new parent entity, Thyme Companies, to launch additional businesses tackling gaps in cancer care delivery, access and payment, with co-founder Robin Shah as executive chairman.
Researchers report findings on biological markers that correlate with improved patient outcomes when immune-based therapies are used before and after surgery for lung cancer. The publication, appearing on Nature's platform, outlines how certain biomarkers may help predict which patients respond best to this perioperative treatment approach.
A week after its US approval for advanced pancreatic cancer, the drug daraxonrasib has shown early promise against non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease. In a small trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine, tumors shrank in over 30% of patients whose cancers carried mutations in RAS family proteins and who had already failed other treatments. A larger randomized trial comparing daraxonrasib to standard chemotherapy is now underway.
After Dolly Parton's death from cancer at age 80, right-wing commentators and online conspiracy theorists began circulating unsubstantiated claims that her Covid-19 vaccination caused a 'turbo cancer.' Parton's family confirmed she died following a brief illness related to cancer, with no connection to vaccination cited. The singer had publicly supported vaccine research, donating $1 million in 2020 and receiving her shot on camera in 2021.
Revolution Medicines received FDA approval this week for a pancreatic cancer pill, a milestone that comes after the company fielded acquisition interest from larger pharmaceutical firms but chose to remain independent. The decision allowed it to bring the drug through regulatory approval on its own rather than as part of a larger acquirer's pipeline.