Volume 18 Issue 2, February 2019

The FDA approved a record 59 drugs last year, but the commercial potential of these drugs is lacklustre.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are often the most abundant cell type in the tumour microenvironment. Here, Song and colleagues discuss how to target or harness these cells for cancer therapy. They highlight the progress made to date and the remaining challenges in bringing CAF-targeted therapies to the clinic.

Olfactory and taste receptors are ectopically expressed in multiple extra-nasal and extra-oral tissues, exhibiting potential functions in a diverse range of biological processes. Here, Lee et al. discuss the physiological roles of these ectopic olfactory and taste receptors, assessing their emerging therapeutic and diagnostic potential in conditions including asthma, wound healing, obesity and cancer.

Although the molecular basis for sickle cell disease (SCD) has been known for decades, progress in developing therapies that ameliorate the complex systemic manifestations of SCD has been slow. This article reviews recent advances that are providing the basis for therapies that could improve outcomes by targeting different aspects of SCD pathophysiology and highlights the opportunity for combination strategies. The potential for curative gene therapy is also discussed.