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The authors performed phylogenetically controlled behavioural assays and analysed brain transcriptomes across five avian families, identifying convergent patterns of gene expression associated with aggression and nesting behaviour in obligate cavity-nesting birds.

In this systematic review and meta-analysis of group arts interventions for older adults, the authors found that participation in shared artistic experience was associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety.

Oncolytic virus holds potential as a cancer therapy, but further optimization is desirable. Here the authors screen existing drug to find talazoparib, a PARP inhibitor, synergizing with reovirus type 3 Dearing (RT3D) to induce cancer cell apoptosis, anti-tumor immunity, as well as control of primary and rechallenge tumor in mouse models.

Mismatch between the ancestry of mitochondrial and nuclear genomes can drive somatic evolution during ageing. Analysis of around 1.2 million mitochodrial somatic mutations in young and old mice shows haplotype-specific mutational patterns and hotspots, and reversion mutations that re-align mito-nuclear ancestry during an organism’s lifespan.

Pattern recognition receptors (PRR) critically modulate innate immunity. Here the authors show in cancer cells that interferon responses and anti-tumor immunity activated by dsRNA-induced PRR signaling is enhanced by palbociclib-induced ER stress, with epigenetic changes and altered antigen presentation potentially contributing to this effect.

Based on phylogenomic and geometric morphometric analyses of 132 anglerfish species, the authors infer a Cretaceous origin of the clade and show that bathypelagic anglerfish are undergoing rapid phenotypic diversification despite inhabiting a relatively homogeneous deep-sea habitat.

Fine-mapping of causal variants and integration of epigenetic and chromatin conformation data identify likely target genes for 150 breast cancer risk regions.

Similarities in cancers can be studied to interrogate their etiology. Here, the authors use genome-wide association study summary statistics from six cancer types based on 296,215 cases and 301,319 controls of European ancestry, showing that solid tumours arising from different tissues share a degree of common germline genetic basis.

Paul Pharoah and colleagues report the results of a large genome-wide association study of ovarian cancer. They identify new susceptibility loci for different epithelial ovarian cancer histotypes and use integrated analyses of genes and regulatory features at each locus to predict candidate susceptibility genes, including OBFC1.

In lung adenocarcinoma, antibodies against endogenous retroviruses promote anti-tumour activity, and expression of endogenous retroviruses can predict outcomes of immunotherapy.

TRIM37 overexpression promotes centrosome dysfunction that drives genomic instability in breast cancer cell lines containing the recurrent 17q23 amplicon, revealing a vulnerability that can be targeted to eliminate cancer cells.

Bacterial secretion systems are key to pathogenesis, as they secrete the many virulence factors needed for host colonization. Bioinformatic and functional analyses have identified a transport and assembly module (TAM) in proteobacteria that may be necessary for biogenesis of the autotransporter family of virulence factors.

Takele et al. conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of intervention characteristics on preventing gestational diabetes. Group or healthcare facility-based physical activity interventions are found to be more effective in preventing gestational diabetes than community-based interventions.

Aromatase inhibitors are an effective treatment for ER+ breast cancer, but response is variable. Here, the authors undertake molecular analyse of response from the POETIC trial and identify several factors associated with response.

Over 170 susceptibility loci have been identified by genome-wide association studies in breast cancer. Here, the authors interrogated the role of risk-associated variants from non-breast tissue, and using expression quantitative trait loci, identify potential target genes of known breast cancer susceptibility variants, as well as 11 regions not previously known to be associated with breast cancer risk.

Roger Milne and colleagues conduct a genome-wide association study for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer combined with BRCA1 mutation carriers in a large cohort. They identify ten new risk variants and find high genetic correlation between breast cancer risk for BRCA1 mutation carriers and risk of ER-negative breast cancer in the general population.

Koelle and colleagues use an activation marker-dependent approach to determine the recruitment of TCR by three doses of mRNA vaccination in individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Genomic and functional analysis of intratumor heterogeneity in pediatric glioma uncovers early clonal divergence and stable spontaneous cooperation between subclonal populations throughout tumor evolution.

The mechanisms of PARP inhibitor (PARPi) resistance are poorly understood. Here the authors employ a CRISPR mutagenesis approach to identify PARP1 mutants causing PARPi resistance and find that PARP1 mutations are tolerated in BRCA1 mutated cells, suggesting alternative resistance mechanisms.

Association analysis identifies 65 new breast cancer risk loci, predicts target genes for known risk loci and demonstrates a strong overlap with somatic driver genes in breast tumours.

The dynamics of T-cell responses are investigated in tumour tissue from patients with advanced melanoma who were treated with a PD-1-blocking monoclonal antibody, revealing that clinical efficacy of the treatment correlates with increased frequencies of pre-existing CD8⁺ T cells and PD-1 and PD-L1 expression.

Lim et al. perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify participant characteristics associated with response to gestational diabetes prevention. Characteristics such as BMI, polycystic ovary syndrome and being in the preconception phase could determine responses to certain preventive interventions.

Despite much hope, anti-angiogenic agents have largely failed to achieve the promise demonstrated in preclinical models. In this Review, the authors discuss an alternative hypothesis — vessel co-option — that might explain many of these failures and describe the evidence for a role of this largely overlooked aspect of tumour biology.

In this Opinion article, Donnemet al. outline the evidence for non-angiogenic tumours, which use pre-existing blood vessels to support tumour growth, and discuss the studies that are beginning to define their unique biology.

This Opinion article outlines nine major recommendations for improving our understanding of ovarian cancer and the outcomes of women with this group of diseases.