The Medical Advisor

Despite  trillions spent on cancer research  ( The Lancet Oncology ), cancer still  kills around 10 million people a year  ( WHO ) and is a leading cause of death globally, according to the World Health Organization. Cancer research continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, with new treatments offering hope to millions of patients worldwide. The 2026 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting took place in San Diego from April 17-22 and reflected how cancer research continues to evolve. Progress is increasingly driven by how advances across biology, technology, and policy come together to shape how we understand disease, develop new treatments, and bring them into practice. A central theme this year was the continued focus on cancer as more than just a collection of tumor cells. It is shaped by a complex ecosystem — immune cells, surrounding tissue, metabolism, and even the microbiome — all interacting in dynamic ways. Credit:  ...

Lectins are one of the most significant sources of food sensitivity. What are lectins and are they bad for you? This post covers low-lectin and high-lectin foods, as well as other plant substances that may cause inflammation. The Lectin Avoidance Diet is an elimination diet that helps you figure out which foods are more and which are less inflammatory for you. What Are Lectins? Carb-Binding Proteins Do not confuse lectins with leptin, lactose, or  pectin . Lectins are proteins that bind to carbohydrates or glycoproteins (carb-protein mixture) [ 1 ]. Proteins termed lectins (from the Latin  legere,  “to select”) have the ability to bind to specific carbohydrate molecules. They are found in every living organism, including viruses, bacteria, and most foods, to one degree or another, but most of them are harmless. Scientists have been studying lectins since 1884. Some scientists believe that lectins are part of a plant’s protection mechanisms [ 2 ]. Plants als...