Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna have described a mechanism in metastatic colorectal cancer that has received little attention to date: A key target of existing therapies, the so-called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is likely to affect more than just the cancer cells themselves. The study shows that EGFR also influences certain immune cells in the tumor microenvironment—and thereby helps determine how effectively the body’s own defenses can combat the tumor.

A team has identified an experimental molecule capable of “reprogramming” the brain’s immune cells to restore part of their protective function against Alzheimer’s disease. The study, published in the journal Cell Death and Disease, shows that the compound, called OLE, helps microglia enclose and contain beta-amyloid plaques, reducing their size and toxicity.