A new study has found that a combination of two drugs could enhance the immune system to treat one of the most common types of cancer in the world, bowel cancer. Also known as colorectal cancer, despite its widespread presence, the treatment options for this condition are limited. What the study specifically found was that this procedure could shrink the tumours caused by this condition by around 60%.

What Are The Drugs Involved

The trial involved the use of two immunotherapy drugs, botancilimab and balstilumab. It is a monoclonal antibody that works to stimulate the body's immune system to attack cancer. The study is a rather significant find, as it’s the first time that a consistent and durable response to immunotherapy has been reported in patients with solid MSS mCRC tumours.

The study was divided into several phases for more than 6 months. In the US trial, around around 101 patients with microsatile stable metastatic colorectal (MSS-mCRC) tumours showed a decrease . Around 61% of the patients experienced tumour shrinkage or stabilization after combined treatment with votancilumab and balstilumab. When it comes to downsides, diarrhea and fatigue were found to be the most common side effects or side effects of this drug.

These results are interesting and open to exploration. To date, immunotherapy has not been effective in patients with CNS-mCRC tumors. This study demonstrates the potential of the combination of botenlimab and balstilimab in the treatment of CNS mCRC, providing new hope for people diagnosed with colon cancer.

What Could This Mean For Bowel Cancer Treatment In The Future

The study is currently in the final stages of clinical trials, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hopes to quickly gain approval for its use because of the importance of this area that affects many people. The efficiency shown demonstrates the potential of botansilimab to contribute to broad antitumor immunity.

All in all, the combination of botensilimab and balstilimab represents a promising new direction in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This breakthrough could improve conditions for many patients worldwide and lights a new hope in the fight against this common disease. The results of this study show the effectiveness of immunotherapy in this field and how its potential to transform cancer treatment can only grow in the years to come.

A US Senate committee has voted to hold former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress.

What Does the Vote Mean?

Also read: Lab Leak 'More Likely' Origin of COVID-19, Says Former Biden Adviser Dr. Ashish Jha

The committee voted along party lines to refer Fauci to the US Justice Department, which will decide whether to investigate or pursue contempt charges over his refusal to answer questions after being directed to do so under a congressional subpoena, The Washington Post reported.

The referral does not automatically result in prosecution. It is now up to the Justice Department to determine whether to pursue the case.

Ahead of the vote, Senator Rand Paul said the issue before lawmakers was Fauci's refusal to answer questions—not his views or his handling of the pandemic.

"The chair directed Anthony Fauci to answer. He refused. That is what we are voting on today—not his opinions, not his policies, not anything he said from the podium six years ago," Paul said.

"We are voting on whether a witness who has received the benefit of a federal pardon can be ordered by this committee to answer questions and then defy that order without consequence," he added.

Fauci, 85, said the decision not to answer questions "pained" him but that he was following the advice of his legal counsel. The Fifth Amendment protects individuals from being compelled to incriminate themselves under most circumstances.

Senate Committee Obtains Fauci's Phone Records

Read More: Severe COVID-19 Can Reactivate Dormant Viruses, May Fuel Long COVID Symptoms: Study

As the contempt proceedings moved forward, the Senate committee said it had obtained a backup copy of Fauci's government-issued iPhone, which he used during his tenure as NIAID director, including while leading the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said the phone records could provide additional information.

"Hopefully, this device will address many of the questions he refused to answer at last week's hearing."

Long-Running Debate Over COVID Origins

The hearing is the latest development in the long-running political debate over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fauci's legal team noted that he had appeared before congressional committees at least 20 times since the COVID-19 pandemic began and had continued testifying even after retiring in mid-2024. They argued there had been no major COVID-19 developments since then that warranted further testimony.

For years, Fauci has been accused of attempting to conceal the virus's origins and of supporting research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, where some believe the pandemic may have begun through a laboratory leak.

In June, former US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released previously undisclosed communications and documents alleging that Fauci funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology that contributed to the pandemic.

Most scientists, however, continue to believe that transmission from an infected animal remains the more likely origin of the virus.

Recently, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha, in a media interview, said that he believes the COVID-19 pandemic was "more likely" caused by an accidental lab leak than by natural transmission.

"My view on COVID origins isn't new — I've held it since my time at the White House," Jha, who also served as an adviser to former President Joe Biden, wrote on social media platform X.

"Here's the truth: no one in America knows for sure. Anyone telling you they do is selling you something. Based on strong circumstantial evidence I've seen, I think a lab leak is much more likely," he wrote while sharing a clip of his CNN interview.

TikTok creator Sydney Towle has died at the age of 26 after a three-year battle with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer.

Her family announced her death on social media on Wednesday (Aug. 5), sharing a photo of Towle standing on a mountain peak alongside the message: "Rest in Peace Sydney Elizabeth Towle. An endless ray of sunshine. A daughter, a sister and friend to so many."

"We will always love you so much, Sydney. I am so proud of how hard you fought. I love you," read the caption.

Her older brother, Austin Towle, also shared the tribute on his TikTok account, calling her the "best sister ever."

Sydney Towle: Entered Hospice Days Before Her Death

A day before announcing her death, Austin revealed that Sydney had entered hospice care. The post showed family and friends gathered around her hospital bed.

"Sydney has been moved to hospice and is surrounded by her friends and family. Thank you all for your love and support❤️," he wrote.

Sydney Towle: Rare Bile Duct Cancer at 23

Also read: Candida auris: US CDC Reports 3,437 Cases of Deadly Superbug In 27 States

Towle was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma at the age of 23, a rare cancer that develops in the bile ducts and is most commonly diagnosed in people over 50.

Her diagnosis followed a lump and a burning sensation in her abdomen in 2023. Initially believed to be a hernia, it was later confirmed to be bile duct cancer.

Sydney Towle Documented Cancer Journey Online

Following her diagnosis, Towle documented her cancer journey on social media, saying that sharing her experience gave her a "purpose." She built a community of more than one million followers across TikTok and Instagram. Over the course of her illness, she underwent several surgeries, multiple rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and participated in clinical trials.

In an interview with TODAY.com in November 2024, Towle said five months of chemotherapy and immunotherapy had reduced the size of her tumor, allowing surgeons to remove most of it. However, some cancer remained lining her liver, and doctors planned regular scans to monitor it.

A later MRI revealed a lesion that doubled in size within a month.

She later moved to New York City, where she began working with a new medical team to develop another treatment plan.

Cancer Continued to Progress

Read More: Severe COVID-19 Can Reactivate Dormant Viruses, May Fuel Long COVID Symptoms: Study

In a TikTok video posted on May 17, 2026, Towle revealed that the cancer had spread to her peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdomen and pelvis.

Two days later, she said her oncologist recommended stopping active treatment and transitioning to end-of-life care.

"I said, 'No.' So, we are switching hospitals," Towle said. "We're not at the point where we're giving up."

On June 8, she shared that doctors had found tumors in her lungs. Despite undergoing further surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy over the following weeks, her health continued to decline. On July 21, she revealed she had been hospitalized for about a month while waiting to learn whether her treatments were working.

Her social media accounts fell silent soon after. On Aug. 4, her brother announced she had been moved to hospice care. A day later, her family confirmed that she had died, surrounded by loved ones.

What Is Cholangiocarcinoma?

Cholangiocarcinoma is a rare cancer that develops in the bile ducts—the slender tubes that carry bile, a digestive fluid, from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease occurs most often in people over the age of 50, although it can develop at any age. It is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage, making treatment more challenging.

Signs and Symptoms include

• Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes (jaundice)
• Intense itching
• White- or clay-colored stools
• Dark urine
• Fatigue
• Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fever
• Night sweats

The US has reported 3,437 cases of the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris across 27 states so far this year, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The figure is about 1,000 fewer than the 4,290 cases reported during the same period last year.

The states reporting the highest number of cases this year are:

• California: 873
• Texas: 433
• Tennessee: 283

The CDC clarified that an increase in reported cases does not necessarily mean the fungus is spreading more rapidly than usual.

"An increasing number of cases does not mean the fungus is transmitting at a more rapid pace than usual," the CDC said.

The agency added that while C. auris cases continue to rise every year, the rate of increase has slowed since 2022.

Most Strains Resistant to Common Antifungal Drugs

A CDC analysis published earlier this year, based on 8,033 C. auris samples collected in 2022 and 2023, found:

• More than 95% were resistant to fluconazole, a first-line antifungal drug.
• 15% were resistant to amphotericin B.
• 1% were resistant to echinocandins.
• Fewer than 1% were resistant to all three major antifungal drug classes.

Why Is Candida auris a Concern?

Candida auris is a type of fungus that can cause serious infections in the human body. It was first identified in 2009.

The CDC said that the drug-resistant fungus continues to pose a major challenge for hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities because it is difficult to treat and control.

"Candida auris is an emerging yeast that is frequently resistant to antifungal drugs. C. auris can cause invasive infections associated with high mortality and can colonize patients asymptomatically, which facilitates transmission in health care settings," the CDC said.

"Since it was first reported in the United States in 2016, C. auris has been identified in multiple states, with increasing numbers of cases reported annually. Monitoring national trends in cases identified through clinical testing and screening for colonization is critical to guide infection prevention and control efforts," it added.

Why Is Candida auris So Difficult to Control?

Unlike many other infections, Candida auris spreads easily through contaminated medical equipment and direct person-to-person contact. It can also survive for long periods on surfaces and is resistant to many commonly used disinfectants, making outbreaks difficult to contain once the fungus enters a healthcare facility.

Health officials say the steady rise in cases each year points to ongoing transmission in healthcare settings.

Symptoms and Health Risks

Candida auris can infect:

• The bloodstream
• Wounds
• Ears
• Other parts of the body

Symptoms vary depending on the site and severity of the infection. Some people may carry the fungus without showing any symptoms.

The CDC noted that most people who develop Candida auris infections are already seriously ill, making it difficult to determine how much the fungus contributes to death compared with their underlying medical conditions.

The fungus is particularly concerning in hospitals and nursing homes because it can survive on surfaces such as doorknobs, counters, and bed rails. Its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs makes infections difficult to treat and eliminate.