BUFFALO, NY – February 14, 2025 – A new #review was #published in Oncotarget, Volume 16, on February 12, 2025, titled “SETDB1 amplification in osteosarcomas: Insights from its role in healthy tissues and other cancer types.”

Authors Elodie Verdier, Nathalie Gaspar, Maria Eugenia Marques Da Costa, and Antonin Marchais from the Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus analyzed recent studies on a gene called SETDB1, which may play a key role in osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that mostly affects teenagers and young adults. Their review highlights how SETDB1 helps cancer cells grow, resist treatment, and avoid the immune system. Because of this, blocking SETDB1 could be a promising new way to treat osteosarcoma.

Osteosarcoma is a fast-growing bone cancer that is usually treated with surgery and chemotherapy. However, if the cancer spreads or returns, treatment options are very limited. Scientists are searching for new ways to stop this disease, and recent studies have found that osteosarcoma cells often have extra copies of the SETDB1 gene. This seems to make the cancer more aggressive and harder to treat.

“Whole exome sequencing of osteosarcoma samples from both diagnosis and relapses has highlighted several factors, including SETDB1, that are amplified in the most aggressive forms of the disease.”

SETDB1 is involved in epigenetics, meaning it affects how genes are turned on and off without changing the DNA itself. The review explains that SETDB1 helps tumors hide from the immune system, making it difficult for the body to fight the cancer naturally. The researchers believe that blocking SETDB1 could help the immune system recognize and attack osteosarcoma cells. Some experimental drugs that target SETDB1 are already being tested in the lab.

The review also describes how SETDB1 influences key cancer pathways, such as Wnt signaling, which helps cancer cells grow, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that allows cancer to spread. The authors suggest that combining SETDB1-blocking drugs with immunotherapy or radiation could be an effective new strategy for treating osteosarcoma.

Another key finding is that SETDB1 may help cancer cells become resistant to chemotherapy, making treatment less effective. This means that drugs targeting SETDB1 could not only slow cancer growth but also make existing treatments work better.

While more research is needed, this review brings attention to SETDB1 as a potential treatment target. Scientists hope that a deeper understanding of SETDB1 will lead to new therapies that improve survival rates for osteosarcoma patients.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28688

Correspondence to - Antonin Marchais - antonin.marchais@gustaveroussy.fr, and Maria Eugenia Marques Da Costa - jenny.marquescosta@gustaveroussy.fr

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9WgaDoEubs

About Oncotarget 

Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science.

Oncotarget is indexed and archived by PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central, Scopus, EMBASE, META (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative) (2018-2022), and Dimensions (Digital Science).

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SETDB1 Amplification Identified as a Potential Target for New Osteosarcoma Treatment

This special episode of the Heartwood Podcast explores the brotherhood created among members of The Easley Branch record label and their artistic expression. RaShad Eas, B God Body, and JS2000 discuss their use of music to overcome challenges and enhance their experience in university and professional settings. The members also speak to the equanimity they exude and the importance of their desire for more knowledge. Tune in and don’t miss out on this wisdom. 

They are joined by DJ Green as he films. 


The Branch Interview

in this episode, Irish theologian, storyteller, poet, conflict mediator, and host of the podcast Poetry Unbound Pádraig Ó Tuama speaks of the thrilling notion that “all language can do the work of delight or terror in us.” In this conversation, Leader’s Way hosts talk with Pádraig about  the complex relationship between poetry and prayer, the timeless wisdom of Meister Eckhart, and the delightful tradition of the Irish civil servant poet. Pádraig reads several of his poems throughout this episode and shares some of his own story, including his early call to the priesthood and its rejection by the Catholic Church.

Host: Brandon Nappi with Whitney Coe and Misty Krasawksi
Guest: Pádraig Ó Tuama
Production: Goodchild Media
Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast
You can support our work at https://tinyurl.com/support-transforming-leaders


61: Poetry by Heart with Pádraig Ó Tuama

In this episode, Michelle Snyder, author, therapist, leadership coach, and the executive director of Soul Shop, speaks directly to faith leaders about the importance of talking about and tending to suicide in our communities, and training for the work of suicide prevention. Michelle talks with Brandon, Whitney, and Misty about the moment we are in, in which isolation is growing and suicide is on the rise, but faith communities have something to offer.

*If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.

Host: Brandon Nappi with Whitney Coe and Misty Krasawksi
Guest: Michelle Snyder
Production: Goodchild Media
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You can support our work at https://tinyurl.com/support-transforming-leaders



62: We Have To Talk About Suicide with Michelle Snyder

BUFFALO, NY — September 9, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17, Issue 8 of Aging-US on August 1, 2025, titled “Causal relationships between gut microbiome and hundreds of age-related traits: evidence of a replicable effect on ApoM protein levels.”

In this study, Federica Grosso, Daniela Zanetti, and Serena Sanna from the Institute for Genetic and Biomedical Research (IRGB) of the National Research Council (CNR), Italy, uncovered new associations between gut microbiome and the aging process. The researchers found that certain microbial characteristics may causally influence proteins in the blood linked to inflammation and heart health. These findings could help explain how age-related diseases like cardiovascular conditions and macular degeneration are influenced by changes in the gut ecosystem.

The gut microbiome, the collection of microorganisms living in the digestive system, plays a major role in immune function and metabolic health. As people age, this microbial community shifts, often leading to imbalances associated with inflammation and chronic disease. To explore how these changes might affect the body, the researchers used Mendelian Randomization—a method that leverages genetic data—to test over 55,000 possible causal connections between gut microbial characteristics and age-related health indicators.

The study identified 91 significant causal relationships. Among them, the researchers found that higher levels of certain gut bacteria were associated with increased risk of age-related macular degeneration. Another finding was the association between a metabolic pathway in the gut, called “purine nucleotides degradation II,” and lower levels of apolipoprotein M (ApoM), a protein that helps protect against heart disease. This result was validated using data from an independent study, strengthening the evidence.

“Unlike previous studies, we performed replication analyses for the significant results using independent GWAS datasets, a fundamental step that has often been overlooked.”

The study also revealed how some bacteria may affect protein levels differently depending on a person’s blood type. Specifically, in individuals with blood type A, certain gut microbes that can break down a sugar called GalNAc may influence proteins related to inflammation and cardiovascular health. This suggests that personalized approaches to managing age-related diseases could consider both gut microbiota and genetic factors like blood type.

The research team followed strict guidelines to reduce false findings and confirmed its key results in independent datasets. By carefully testing for reverse causality and other biases, the authors provided strong evidence that the gut microbiome can influence critical aspects of aging biology.

Although more research is needed to fully understand the biological pathways involved, these findings suggest that targeting the gut microbiota might help delay or reduce age-related inflammation and disease. The study lays a foundation for future therapeutic strategies that could include diet, probiotics, or other microbiome-based interventions.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206293

Corresponding author - Serena Sanna - serena.sanna@cnr.it

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWky6jlHKUs

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Aging-US

Gut Microbiome Influences Proteins That Drive Aging and Disease

BUFFALO, NY — September 11, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published  in Volume 17, Issue 8 of Aging-US on August 8, 2025, titled “AI-driven toolset for IPF and aging research associates lung fibrosis with accelerated aging.”

In this study, researchers Fedor Galkin, Shan Chen, Alex Aliper, Alex Zhavoronkov, and Feng Ren from Insilico Medicine used artificial intelligence (AI) to investigate the similarities between idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a severe lung disease, and the aging process. Their findings show that IPF is not simply accelerated aging, but a distinct biological condition shaped by age-related dysfunction. This insight may lead to a new approach in how scientists and clinicians treat this complex disease.

IPF mainly affects individuals over the age of 60. It causes scarring of lung tissue, making it harder to breathe and often leading to respiratory failure. Current treatments can slow the disease but rarely stop or reverse its progression. The researchers used AI to identify shared biological features between aging and fibrosis, finding new potential targets for therapy.

The team developed a “proteomic aging clock” based on protein data from more than 55,000 participants in the UK Biobank. This AI-driven tool accurately measured biological age and found that patients with severe COVID-19, who are at increased risk for lung fibrosis, also showed signs of accelerated aging. This suggests that fibrosis leaves a detectable biological trace, supporting the use of aging clocks in studying age-related diseases.

“For aging clock training, we used the UK Biobank collection of 55319 proteomic Olink NPX profiles annotated with age and gender.”

They also developed a custom AI model, ipf-P3GPT, to compare gene activity in aging lungs versus those with IPF. Although some genes were active in both, many showed opposite behavior. In fact, more than half of the shared genes had inverse effects. This means IPF does not just speed up aging but also disrupts the body’s normal aging pathways.

The study identified unique molecular signatures that distinguish IPF from normal aging. While both involve inflammation and tissue remodeling, IPF drives more damaging changes to lung structure and repair systems. This difference could guide the development of drugs that specifically target fibrosis without affecting normal aging.

By combining AI with large-scale biological data, the study also introduces a powerful toolset for examining other age-related conditions such as liver and kidney fibrosis. These models may support personalized treatments and expand understanding of the relationships between aging and disease, opening new directions for therapy development.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206295

Corresponding author - Alex Zhavoronkov - alex@insilico.com

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24lX2lHbt7o

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Keywords - aging, IPF, generative AI, transformer, proteomics

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AI Tools Uncover New Link Between Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Aging

Immunotherapy is not usually effective against pancreatic cancer (PC), but a new study published in Oncotarget (Volume 16, 2025) highlights rare cases where it did help. These examples, though uncommon, may offer valuable insights for future treatment.

Pancreatic Cancer and Immunotherapy

Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, which limits treatment options and contributes to its poor prognosis. While chemotherapy remains the standard treatment, it usually offers only modest benefits in terms of survival. Immunotherapy—an approach that activates the immune system to fight cancer—has been effective in other cancers but has shown limited success in PC.

This is largely due to the tumor’s ability to suppress immune responses and create an environment that protects it from attack. Currently, these drugs are only approved for a small subset of patients whose tumors have a specific genetic feature called high microsatellite instability (MSI-high), found in just 1 to 2 percent of cases.

The Study: Pancreatic Cancer Immunotherapy Responders

The study, titled “Exceptional responders to immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: A multi-institutional case series of a rare occurrence,” was led by first author Kavin Sugumar and corresponding author Jordan M. Winter, from University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. 

The researchers examined medical records from 14 patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who had responded unexpectedly well to immune checkpoint inhibitors—drugs that help reactivate immune cells to attack cancer. The drugs included PD-1 inhibitors such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, CTLA-4 inhibitors like ipilimumab, and agents targeting tumor-associated macrophages. To find these rare cases, the research team contacted 471 oncologists from 91 major U.S. cancer centers between 2020 and 2021.

Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2025/09/11/immunotherapy-response-in-pancreatic-cancer-what-a-new-study-reveals/

Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28739

Correspondence to - Jordan M. Winter - jordan.winter@UHHospitals.org

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeWTcuVmqgM

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Keywords - cancer, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, immunotherapy, exceptional responders, microsatellite instability, survival

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Oncotarget

Immunotherapy Response in Pancreatic Cancer: What a New Study Reveals

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease that primarily affects people over the age of 60. It causes scarring in the lung tissue, which gradually reduces lung capacity and makes breathing difficult. Despite years of research, the exact causes of IPF remain largely unknown, and current treatments mainly aim to slow its progression rather than reverse or cure the disease.

Because IPF tends to develop later in life, researchers have long suspected a connection with biological aging. This is the focus of a recent study by scientists from Insilico Medicine. Their research, titled “AI-driven toolset for IPF and aging research associates lung fibrosis with accelerated aging,” was published recently in Aging-US, Volume 17, Issue 8.

Full blog - https://aging-us.org/2025/09/ai-tools-reveal-how-ipf-and-aging-are-connected/

Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206295

Corresponding author - Alex Zhavoronkov - alex@insilico.com

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24lX2lHbt7o

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Keywords - aging, IPF, generative AI, transformer, proteomics

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AI Tools Reveal How IPF and Aging Are Connected

Welcome to WITHIN, a contemplative segment of The Leader's Way Podcast that explores the
convergence of mental health, art, and spirituality through authentic conversations across
traditions about personal and collective transformation. In this inaugural episode, Brandon talks
with Joanna Penn, an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author,
whose latest book, “Pilgrimage: Lessons Learned from Solo Walking Three Ancient Ways,”
explores the rich themes of spirituality, mental health, and personal transformation. Tune in for
a conversation about the power of walking, writing, and leaning into the call on our hearts.

Host: Brandon Nappi

Guest: Joanna Penn

Production: Goodchild Media

Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast

You can support our work at https://tinyurl.com/support-transforming-leaders

Surprised by Pilgrimage with Joanna Penn

BUFFALO, NY — September 16, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published  in Volume 17, Issue 8 of Aging-US on August 6, 2025, titled “Age-related trends in amyloid positivity in Parkinson’s disease without dementia.”

In this study, led by first author Keiko Hatano and corresponding author Masashi Kameyama from the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology in Japan, researchers found that patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) diagnosed in their 80s showed a significantly higher rate of amyloid positivity—an indicator associated with Alzheimer’s disease—compared to those diagnosed at a younger age. Importantly, none of the participants had dementia. These findings suggest that older patients with PD may face a greater risk of future cognitive decline and could benefit from early screening for Alzheimer’s-related brain changes.

Amyloid-beta is considered a key marker of cognitive decline. While it is known that amyloid accumulation contributes to PD with dementia, its role in patients who have not developed cognitive problems remains less understood. This study aimed to explore how age influences amyloid buildup in people with PD who do not yet show signs of dementia.

The researchers analyzed data from 89 individuals with PD and no signs of dementia. Participants were divided into two age-based groups: those diagnosed before age 73 (LOW group) and those diagnosed at age 73 or older (HIGH group). Using cerebrospinal fluid samples, they measured levels of amyloid-beta, a standard method for detecting early Alzheimer’s-related changes. The findings revealed that 30.6% of the older group tested positive for amyloid, compared to just 10.0% in the younger group.

“[…] we elucidated the prevalence of amyloid positivity in patients with PD without dementia, whose mean age at diagnosis was 80.2 years, using CSF Aβ42 levels.”

Interestingly, both age groups of Parkinson’s patients had a lower rate of amyloid positivity than cognitively normal individuals of the same age in the general population. This unexpected result suggests that PD may alter how amyloid accumulates in the brain, possibly shortening the phase in which amyloid builds up silently before symptoms appear. The authors suggest that amyloid buildup could accelerate the transition from healthy cognition to dementia in patients with PD. The study also observed age-related associations with other biological markers of Alzheimer’s disease, such as tau protein levels. 

As the global population continues to age and the number of older adults diagnosed with PD grows, identifying early warning signs of cognitive decline becomes increasingly important. These findings may help inform future screening approaches and support the development of therapies aimed at delaying or preventing dementia in people with Parkinson’s disease.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206297

Corresponding author - Masashi Kameyama - kame-tky@umin.ac.jp

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP8S9evzCJw

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Keywords - aging, amyloid positivity, Parkinson's disease without dementia, cerebrospinal fluid Aβ42

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Older Adults with Parkinson’s Disease Have Increased Brain Amyloid Without Dementia

Hannah and Mark interview Jimmy Hatch, a recent Yale graduate and 26-year US military veteran who is the host of the new podcast, The Ivy League Insurgent. As a former Navy SEAL, Purple Heart recipient, and nonprofit founder, Jimmy became Yale’s oldest freshman at the age of 52. In their interview, Jimmy reflects on his remarkable story, the importance of connecting with those who are different, and how the humanities have shaped his understanding of what it means to be a “better human.”  

Interview with Jimmy Hatch ’24, The Ivy League Insurgent

Oncotarget is a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal. Papers are published continuously within yearly volumes in their final and complete form and then quickly released to Pubmed.

Oncotarget is now indexed by MEDLINE, PubMed and PMC/PubMed.

Read about the Oncotarget Scientific Integrity Process: https://www.oncotarget.com/scientific_integrity/

SETDB1 Amplification Identified as a Potential Target for New Osteosarcoma Treatment

Oncotarget Podcast