A microchip for metastasis

Nearly 70 percent of patients with advanced breast cancer experience skeletal metastasis, in which cancer cells migrate from a primary tumor into bone—a painful development that can cause fractures and spinal compression. ...

Understanding the language of cellular communication

A team of Caltech scientists has uncovered a molecular code that cells use to communicate with each other. This "language" is thought to be common to many types of cellular communication and has implications for designing ...

New sensors streamline detection of estrogenic compounds

Researchers have engineered new sensors that fluoresce in the presence of compounds that interact with estrogen receptors in human cells. The sensors detect natural or human-made substances that alter estrogenic signaling ...

Tracking breast cancer cells on the move

Breast cancer cells frequently move from their primary site and invade bone, decreasing a patient's chance of survival. This process of metastasis is complex, and factors both within the breast cancer cells and within the ...