Earlier in the past century, infections were regarded as the most likely cause of childhood B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pB-ALL). However, there is a lack of relevant biological evidence supporting this hypothesis. We present in vivo genetic evidence mechanistically connecting inherited susceptibility to pB-ALL and postnatal infections by showing that pB-ALL was initiated in Pax5 heterozygous mice only when they were exposed to common pathogens. Strikingly, these murine pB-ALLs closely resemble the human disease.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) comprises approximately 15–18% of all lung cancers worldwide. SCLC is the most aggressive subtype of lung cancer and is characterized by rapid doubling time, high growth fraction, and early widespread metastasis. Despite high response rates to initial treatment, SCLC usually relapses and becomes refractory to treatment within one year. The median survival is 14–20 months for limited SCLC and 9–11 months for extensive SCLC. These statistics highlight the need for new tools to aid in diagnosis and prevention.

Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the recommended first-line treatment for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Ferroquine is a new combination partner for fast-acting ACTs such as artesunate. We aimed to assess different doses of ferroquine in combination with artesunate against uncomplicated P falciparum malaria in a heterogeneous population in Africa.