Technology

An experimental surgery is helping cancer survivors give birth

Source

MIT Technology Review

Published

Feb 6, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

An experimental surgical procedure is helping cancer survivors who have undergone treatment for bowel or rectal cancer to give birth. Surgeons are pioneering a method where they temporarily move the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries out of harm's way during cancer treatment and then put them back in place afterward. This procedure has resulted in the successful birth of at least eight babies so far. The surgery involves delicate dissection and careful repositioning of the organs, offering hope for young cancer survivors who wish to preserve their fertility. While the surgery is not without risks, it presents a promising option for those facing fertility challenges due to cancer treatment.

Read Full Article

A I-designed proteins may help spot cancer

Researchers at MIT and Microsoft have utilized artificial intelligence to design molecular sensors that could potentially detect early signs of cancer through a urine test. These sensors consist of nanoparticles coated with proteins targeted by cancer-related enzymes called proteases. When these nanoparticles encounter cancer-linked proteases, they release reporter molecules that can be detected in urine. The AI-designed peptides offer a more precise and sensitive approach compared to previous trial-and-error methods, potentially leading to improved cancer diagnostics and therapeutics. The team is now collaborating on developing an at-home kit that could detect various types of early-stage cancers.

MIT Technology Review•

3 months ago

MIT Technology Review

Job titles of the future: Head-transplant surgeon

Neurosurgeon Sergio Canavero aims to perform head transplants to extend life by swapping a sick person's head or brain onto a healthier body, despite facing skepticism and criticism. Canavero, known for his controversial ideas, believes head transplants offer a solution to aging when other technologies fall short. He envisions creating brainless human clones for organ transplants and calls for collaboration among billionaires to fund his ambitious project. However, the complex and costly nature of combining technologies like surgical robots and artificial wombs poses significant challenges to realizing his vision.

MIT Technology Review•

4 months ago

Ultrasound Treatment Takes on Cancer’s Toughest Tumors

HistoSonics, a company specializing in tumor-liquifying ultrasound technology, is now targeting pancreatic cancer with their innovative treatment. This approach aims to address some of the most challenging tumors associated with this type of cancer. The technology developed by HistoSonics has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of pancreatic cancer by offering a non-invasive and effective alternative to traditional methods.

IEEE Spectrum•

5 months ago

Ultrasound is ushering a new era of surgery-free cancer treatment

Ultrasound technology, specifically histotripsy, is revolutionizing cancer treatment by offering non-invasive methods to target and destroy tumors using sound waves instead of surgery. Approved by the FDA for liver tumor treatment, histotripsy has shown promising results in clinical studies. Ultrasound can also be combined with microbubbles to enhance drug delivery to tumors and boost the effects of radiation therapy. While ultrasound approaches in cancer care are still evolving, they hold potential for improving treatment outcomes and reducing side effects compared to traditional therapies like surgery and chemotherapy.

Hacker News•

7 months ago