Chang-Eui Hong^1,2,3, Su-Yun Lyu^1,2,3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.12, pp. 2377-2397, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.072360 - 24 December 2025

Abstract Objective: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a major therapeutic challenge with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. This study aimed to investigate the synergistic anticancer effects of doxorubicin (DOX) combined with Viscum album L. var. coloratum agglutinin (VCA) and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms in TNBC cells. Methods: This study evaluated the synergistic effects and mechanisms of doxorubicin (DOX) and Viscum album L. var. coloratum agglutinin (VCA) combination in MDA-MB231 TNBC cells. Cell viability, oxidative stress markers, apoptosis-related proteins, cell migration, and proliferative recovery were assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and nitric oxide… More >

Xuejun Guo^1,2, Yilin Fu³, Natalia Baran^4,5, Wenxue Ma^6,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.11, pp. 3375-3385, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.071708 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47), an immune checkpoint commonly referred to as the “don’t eat me” signal, plays a pivotal role in tumor immune evasion by inhibiting phagocytosis through interaction with signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) on macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). Although early enthusiasm drove broad clinical development, recent discontinuations of major CD47-targeted programs have prompted re-evaluation of its therapeutic potential. The purpose of this commentary is to contextualize the setbacks observed with first-generation CD47 inhibitors and to highlight strategies aimed at overcoming their limitations. Clinical challenges, including anemia, thrombocytopenia, suboptimal pharmacokinetics, and limited… More >

Iqbal Singh^1,*, Himanshu Agrawal², Vidhi Maurya², Sanjay Gupta², Alpana Raizada³

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.32, No.4, pp. 299-308, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cju.2025.064827 - 29 August 2025

Abstract Objectives: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common benign tumor in men, with an age-related prevalence of multifactorial etiology. The present study aimed to accurately assess and predict the effect of co-existing metabolic syndrome (MtS) upon treatment outcomes of combination medical therapy in select patients of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to BPH. Methods: After obtaining informed consent from the patients, 70 eligible patients with LUTS due to BPH with and without MtS were enrolled in this study from September 2022 to January 2024 from the outpatient clinic at the University College of Medical… More >

Jiahao Xue^1,#, Jingchang Zhang^2,#, Gang Chen³, Liucui Chen^4,*, Xinjun Lu^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.9, pp. 2309-2329, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.063719 - 28 August 2025

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy, largely driven by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) that facilitates tumor growth, immune escape, and resistance to therapy. Although immunotherapy—particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)—has transformed the therapeutic landscape by restoring T cell-mediated anti-tumor responses, their clinical benefit as monotherapy remains suboptimal. This limitation is primarily attributed to immunosuppressive components within the TME, including tumor-associated macrophages, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). To address these challenges, combination strategies have been explored, such as dual checkpoint blockade targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand More >

ROGHAYEH GHORBANI¹, MAHMOUD GHARBAVI², ALI SHARAFI^3,4, ELHAM RISMANI⁵, HAMED REZAEEJAM⁶, YOUSEF MORTAZAVI^1,*, BEHROOZ JOHARI^3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.1, pp. 101-125, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.044741 - 15 November 2023

Abstract In the present study, we investigated the synergistic effects of targeted methotrexate-selenium nanostructure containing Myc decoy oligodeoxynucleotides along with X-irradiation exposure as a combination therapy on LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Myc decoy ODNs were designed based on the promoter of Bcl-2 gene and analyzed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics assays. ODNs were loaded on the synthesized Se@BSA@Chi-MTX nanostructure. The physicochemical characteristics of nanostructures were determined by FTIR, DLS, UV-vis, TEM, EDX, in vitro release, and hemolysis tests. Subsequently, the cytotoxicity properties of them with and without X-irradiation were investigated by uptake, MTT, cell cycle, apoptosis, and… More > Graphic Abstract

KAIMIN FAN, JUNWEI WENG^*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.6, pp. 1199-1211, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.028516 - 19 May 2023

Abstract Immunotherapy targets the dysfunctional immune system to induce cancer cell killing by CD8-positive T cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), specifically anti-PD-1 antibodies, anti-PD-L1 antibodies, and anti-CTLA4 antibodies, have revolutionized the management of many malignancies due to their significant role in generating a durable clinical response. However, clinical data suggest that response rates to ICI monotherapy are low due to the immunologically silent characteristics of breast cancer (BC). Chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy were recently reported to alter the tumor microenvironment and enhance the ICI response. Some clinical studies supported that ICIs, in combination with More >

NADIRE ÖZENVER^1,2, THOMAS EFFERTH^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.10, pp. 2151-2157, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.019937 - 13 June 2022

Abstract Carnosic acid (CA) is a natural phenolic diterpene mainly occurring in some species of the Lamiaceae family. Numerous studies described the cytotoxicity of CA towards different types of cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Particularly, the influence of CA in combination with other drugs, vitamins or natural products through affecting various targets has raised interest. Current experimental in vivo data suggested that CA may cooperate with clinically used anticancer drugs promoting their activity against cancer. From this point of view, CA gained importance, because it may alter pharmacodynamic profiles of various agents in the More >

Jianping Xu, Xiaoyan Liu, Sheng Yang, Yuankai Shi

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.2, pp. 127-133, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504019X15707896762251

Abstract Apatinib, an oral small molecular receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) developed first in China, exerts antiangiogenic and antineoplastic function through selectively binding and inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). In this study, we aimed to explore the efficacy and safety profile of apatinib monotherapy, or combined with chemotherapy or endothelial growth factor receptor (EGFR)-TKI in heavily pretreated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with brain metastases. We performed a retrospective analysis for relapsed NSCLC patients with brain metastases from our institute, who received apatinib (250 mg or 500 mg p.o. qd) monotherapy, or… More >

Qiuyun Luo^*†1, Wentao Pan^*†‡1, Suna Zhou^*†1, Guangfeng Wang^‡, Hanjie Yi^*§, Lin Zhang^*¶, Xianglei Yan^*†, Luping Yuan^*†, Zhenyi Liu^#, Jing Wang^**, Haibo Chen^#, MiaoZhen Qiu^*††, DaJun Yang^*†‡, Jian Sun^*‡‡

Oncology Research, Vol.28, No.4, pp. 331-344, 2020, DOI:10.3727/096504020X15825405463920

Abstract Despite therapeutic advances, the effective treatment for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains a major clinical challenge. Evasion of apoptosis through upregulating antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) family members and p53 inactivation, and abnormal activation of B-cell receptor signaling pathway are two important pathogenic factors for DLBCL. In this study, our aim is to explore a rational combination of BCL-2 inhibitor plus Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) blockade or p53 activation for treating DLBCL with the above characteristics. We demonstrated that a novel BCL-2 selective inhibitor APG-2575 effectively suppressed DLBCL with BCL-2 high expression… More >

Jack Barkin¹, Demitri Diles², Billy Franks³, Todd Berner⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.22, No.4, pp. 7914-7923, 2015

Abstract Introduction: Patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) often present with voiding and storage symptoms, which may require combination therapy with an alpha blocker and an antimuscarinic (AM). This study compared treatment persistence in LUTS/BPH patients on alpha blocker monotherapy with those using combination alpha blocker and AM therapy (AB/AM).
Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of anonymized patient longitudinal prescription reimbursement claims data. All patients who had claims for any of four alpha blocker medications and six AM agents during an index period from April 1, 2011 to March 31,… More >