RUIFANG LI¹, XINRONG NAN^2,*, MING LI^3,*, OMAR RAHHAL³

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.8, pp. 1323-1334, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.046965

Abstract Background: Fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a cell surface serine protease, plays roles in tumor invasion and immune regulation. However, there is currently no pan-cancer analysis of FAP. Objective: We aimed to assess the pan-cancer expression profile of FAP, its molecular function, and its potential role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC). Methods: We analyzed gene expression, survival status, immune infiltration, and molecular functional pathways of FAP in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) tumors. Furthermore, to elucidate the role of FAP in HNSC, we performed proliferation, migration, and invasion assays… More >

CHUNLING LIANG^1,#, JING CHEN^2,#, XIAOJIE CHEN¹, WEI YAN³, JIE YU^4,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.7, pp. 1105-1113, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.050509

Abstract Background: A differential gene, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM1), was identified in blood sequencing datasets from myocardial infarction patients and healthy controls. Myocardial fibrosis following myocardial infarction significantly contributes to cardiac dysfunction. Objectives: This study aimed to unveil the intrinsic regulatory mechanism of TREM1 in myocardial fibrosis. Methods: Mimicking pathology by angiotensin II (Ang II) treatment of human cardiac fibroblasts (HCFs), the impacts of TREM1 knockdown on its proliferation, migration, and secretion of the pro-fibrotic matrix were identified. Using the Human Transcription Factor Database (HumanTFDB) website, lysine-specific demethylase 5B (KDM5B) was found to… More >

PAULINA CHMIEL^1,2, ALEKSANDRA SłOWIKOWSKA^1,2, ŁUKASZ BANASZEK^1,2, ANNA SZUMERA-CIEćKIEWICZ³, BARTłOMIEJ SZOSTAKOWSKI¹, MATEUSZ J. SPAłEK^1,4,*, TOMASZ ŚWITAJ¹, PIOTR RUTKOWSKI¹, ANNA M. CZARNECKA¹

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.7, pp. 1141-1162, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.050350

Abstract Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) is a rare neoplasm with intermediate malignancy characterized by a propensity for recurrence but a low metastatic rate. Diagnostic challenges arise from the diverse pathological presentation, variable symptomatology, and lack of different imaging features. However, IMT is identified by the fusion of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene, which is present in approximately 70% of cases, with various fusion partners, including ran-binding protein 2 (RANBP2), which allows confirmation of the diagnosis. While surgery is the preferred approach for localized tumors, the optimal long-term treatment for advanced or metastatic disease is difficult… More >

Xuyang Wen^*, Xiaoping He^†, Feng Jiao^‡, Chunhui Wang^§, Yang Sun^‡, Xuequn Ren^¶, Qianwen Li^*

Oncology Research, Vol.25, No.4, pp. 629-640, 2017, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14768383625385

Abstract Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the main causes of cancer death. The tumor microenvironment has a profound effect on inducing tumor growth, metastasis, and immunosuppression. Fibroblast activation protein-a (FAP) is a protein that is usually expressed in fibroblasts, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, which are major components of the tumor microenvironment. However, the role of FAP in GC progression and treatment is still unknown. In this study, we explored these problems based on GC patient samples and experimental models. We found that high FAP expression was an independent prognosticator of poor survival in GC patients. More >

Lulin Zhang, Jun Yao, Wenyao Li, Ce Zhang

Oncology Research, Vol.26, No.6, pp. 827-836, 2018, DOI:10.3727/096504017X14934840662335

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths due to its highly aggressive biological nature and resistance to chemotherapy. Previous studies indicate that miR-21 is an important regulator in the activation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). However, whether miR-21 in CAFs would regulate PDAC’s tumor microenvironment and lead to drug resistance remain unknown. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between CAF activation, miR-21 expression, and drug resistance using tumor samples from PDAC patients. We changed the miR-21 expression level in CAFs and tested its roles in regulating the function of… More >

SAIFEI XIE^1,2,4, HUI XIE^2,*, JINCAI GUO³, JIN TAN⁴, YULIN YU¹, MINYI ZHANG¹, SHANG WEN¹

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.4, pp. 591-599, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.046691

Abstract Background: Puerarin (Pue) has been reported to be a natural active ingredient with multiple antifibrotic properties. This work aimed at exploring the function of Pue in oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) treatment. Methods: Human oral mucosa fibroblasts (hOMF) were induced with transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) and intervened with Pue. Expressions of fibrosis-related markers were analyzed by Western blot and IF staining. Cell viability was characterized by the CCK-8 assay. Expressions of miR-30 family members were quantified by qRT-PCR. The correlation between fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and miR-30 family expression was evaluated by the Pearson correlation… More > Graphic Abstract

SAMANEH MOSTAFAVI, ZUHAIR MOHAMMAD HASSAN^*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.3, pp. 477-487, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.043926

Abstract Intracellular communications between breast cancer and fibroblast cells were reported to be involved in cancer proliferation, growth, and therapy resistance. The hallmarks of cancer-fibroblast interactions, consisting of caveolin 1 (Cav1) and mono-carboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) (metabolic coupling markers), along with IL-6, TGFβ, and lactate secretion, are considered robust biomarkers predicting recurrence and metastasis. In order to promote a novel phenotype in normal fibroblasts, we predicted that breast cancer cells could be able to cause loss of Cav1 and increase of MCT4, as well as elevate IL-6 and TGFβ in nearby normal fibroblasts. We created a… More >

SHUANGSHUANG ZENG^1,2, XI CHEN^1,2, QIAOLI YI^1,2, ABHIMANYU THAKUR³, HUI YANG^4,*, YUANLIANG YAN^1,2, SHAO LIU^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.2, pp. 261-272, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.042345

Abstract Finding biomarkers for immunotherapy is an urgent issue in cancer treatment. Cellular retinoic acid-binding protein 2 (CRABP2) is a controversial factor in the occurrence and development of human tumors. However, there is limited research on the relationship between CRABP2 and immunotherapy response. This study found that negative correlations of CRABP2 and immune checkpoint markers (PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4) were observed in breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA), skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM), stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) and testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). In particular, in SKCM patients who were treated with PD-1 inhibitors, high levels of CRABP2 predicted poor… More >

ELYN AMIELA SALLEH¹, YEONG YEH LEE², ANDEE DZULKARNAEN ZAKARIA³, NUR ASYILLA CHE JALIL⁴, MARAHAINI MUSA^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.10, pp. 2233-2244, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.030541

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major global health concern. Accumulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in CRC is associated with poor prognosis and disease recurrence. CAFs are the main cellular component of the tumor microenvironment. CAF-tumor cell interplay, which is facilitated by various secretomes, drives colorectal carcinogenesis. The complexity of CAF populations contributes to the heterogeneity of CRC and influences patient survival and treatment response. Due to their significant roles in colorectal carcinogenesis, different clinical applications utilizing or targeting CAFs have been suggested. Circulating CAFs (cCAFs) which can be detected in blood samples, have been proposed… More > Graphic Abstract

GUANQIONG HU¹, RISHENG HUANG², LUELUE LU¹, QINSHI PAN³, XIAOXIN CHEN^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.6, pp. 1243-1251, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.027763

Abstract Background: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a central role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). While previous studies have revealed a cross-talk between vitamin D and TGF-β1 signaling, it is still unclear how they interact with each other to regulate the progression of IPF. Methods: In this work, we searched for a novel mediator of TGF-β1 activity in lung fibroblasts and examined its regulation by vitamin D. In addition, we investigated the mechanism underlying the interaction between vitamin D and TGF-β1 signaling in lung fibroblast activation. Bioinformatic analysis was… More >