Cancer Center

The Cancer Center at Illinois brings together cancer biologists, clinicians, engineers, and other specialists to accelerate advances in disease detection, prevention, therapy, and improve quality of life for patients.

New campuswide project will develop rapid manufacturing of tumor models

2024-09-18

View of Chemical & Life Sciences Building

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will develop a radically new platform to manufacture tumor models and expand their availability for medical research and personalized medicine, thanks to a $21 million grant from the Advanced Research Projects...

A new approach to fighting breast cancer: Researchers identify compound that may help the immune system slow or stop tumor growth

2024-09-17

For typical illnesses, the body’s immune system is a robust, pathogen-killing machine. It provides a general defense against harmful germs while also adapting and producing antibodies that target specific bacteria or viruses. After fighting off an infection like the flu, the body produces...

Unprecedented Compound Takes a Step Toward Breast Cancer Clinical Trials

2023-11-21

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Estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer is the most common form of breast cancer, affecting approximately 75 percent of breast cancer patients. In advanced and metastatic form, it is lethal, claiming the lives of nearly 350,000 individuals annually. Presently, no drug is able to eradicate these...

Team identifies key driver of cancer cell death pathway that activates immune cells

2023-07-31

A team of research scientists gather in their laboratory.

Scientists have identified a protein that plays a pivotal role in the action of several emerging cancer therapies. The researchers say the discovery will likely aid efforts to fine-tune the use of immunotherapies against several challenging cancers.

Researchers identify new patterns of cell interactions with molecular chaperone

2023-06-27

Through a new approach of cross-linking cell proteins directly to a protein of interest, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s School of Molecular & Cellular Biology have distinguished new patterns of cell interactions with a molecular chaperone.

Members of MCB labs earn newly-established fellowships focused on cancer research

2023-04-04

The 2023 cohort of the Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program (from left): Kelly Powderly; Patricia Cintora; Zhengchang Kou; Yannan Hu; Zane Thornburg; and Alejandro De la Cadena. They are standing outside in a group with arms folded, smiling for the camera.

The Beckman Institute has announced its 2023 class of six postdoctoral fellows. Fellows are selected in accordance with the core values of the institute: excellence, collaboration, integrity, transdisciplinarity, exploration, and diversity.

Possible genetic basis and mouse model found for severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

2023-02-10

Illustration of a human standing with a DNA strand circling the human. Image by Michael Vincent.

The SRSF1 gene acts as a guardian against DNA damage in the liver, School of MCB researchers found. When it is missing or inactivated, severe nonalcoholic fatty liver disease symptoms develop.

Experts boost activity of potential therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer

2022-11-30

John Katzenellenbogen, left, Benita Katzenellenbogen, right, stand together in front of a lab bench, smiling for the camera.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Less than 20% of diagnosed breast cancers are designated “triple-negative,” meaning that the affected tissues lack three types of receptors often found in other breast cancer types, but TNBCs are often aggressive with ...

Cancer Center at Illinois announces 2022 cancer research grant recipients

2022-09-06

The Cancer Center at Illinois is proud to announce the selection of nine interdisciplinary cancer research projects, involving multiple MCB faculty members, designed by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty to be funded by Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) developmental grant awards.

Cancer Center biochemist celebrates 40 Years at Illinois

2022-08-24

Stephen G. Sligar has spent the last 40 years at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign applying his expertise in membrane proteins and his nanodisc technology to better understand biological pathways and address diseases including cancer.

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