ZEYIN LAI¹, HANGYUAN ZHAO¹, HONG DENG^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.11, pp. 1569-1578, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.053983 - 07 November 2024

Abstract In the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a pivotal role in establishing tumor-permissive extracellular matrix structures, angiogenesis, and modulating the immune status of the tumor microenvironment (TME), thereby influencing tumor metastasis and resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The pleiotropic effects of CAFs in the TME may be attributed to the heterogeneous origin and high plasticity of their population. Given the specificity of CAFs, they provide a variety of potential target molecules for future CRC treatment, which may play an indispensable role in CRC therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes the origin of More >

SULING XU¹, XIAO LI², WENXUE MA^3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.11, pp. 1701-1708, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.055161 - 16 October 2024

Abstract The environment surrounding a tumor, known as the tumor microenvironment (TME), plays a role in how cancer progresses and responds to treatment. It poses both challenges and opportunities for improving cancer therapy. Recent progress in understanding the TME complexity and diversity has led to approaches for treating cancer. This perspective discusses the strategies for targeting the TME, such as adjusting networks using extracellular vesicles to deliver drugs and enhancing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIS) through combined treatments. Furthermore, it highlights adoptive cell transfer (ACT) therapies as an option for tumors. By studying how components of the More >

YONGJIAN HUANG, JINZHOU WANG, JIUHUA XU, NING RUAN^*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.11, pp. 1765-1776, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.045564 - 16 October 2024

Abstract Background: Despite significant advancements in the development of anticancer therapies over the past few decades, the clinical management of colorectal cancer remains a challenging task. This study aims to investigate the inhibitory effects of cancer-targeting liposomes against colorectal cancer. Materials and Methods: Liposomes consisting of 3β-[N-(N′, N′-dimethylamino ethane)carbamoyl]-cholesterol (DC-CHOL), cholesterol (CHOL), and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) at a molar ratio of 1:1:0.5 were created and used as carriers to deliver an apoptosis-inducing plasmid encoding the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (pTRAIL) gene, along with the toll-like receptor (TLR7) agonist Rsiquimod (R848). The rationale behind this design is that More > Graphic Abstract

YUN WANG¹, XIAOJIANG LI², DALONG LIU², ZHIFENG WANG³, JICHEN XIA⁴, LIJUN WANG⁵, XUDONG ZHANG^6,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.10, pp. 1649-1660, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.043482 - 18 September 2024

Abstract Exosomes, minute vesicles ubiquitously released by diverse cell types, serve as critical mediators in intercellular communication. Their pathophysiological relevance, especially in malignancies, has garnered significant attention. A meticulous exploration of the exosomal impact on cancer development has unveiled avenues for innovative and clinically valuable techniques. The cargo conveyed by exosomes exerts transformative effects on both local and distant microenvironments, thereby influencing a broad spectrum of biological responses in recipient cells. These membrane-bound extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a pivotal role in delivering bioactive molecules among cells and organs. Cellular and biological processes in recipient cells, ranging… More > Graphic Abstract

KERAN JIA¹, YANHAO ZHANG¹, MENGYU JIANG², MENGGE CUI², JIA WANG², JIAJIA ZHANG², HUIHAI ZHAO², MENGYAN LI², HUA WANG², QUANMING ZOU^1,#,*, HAO ZENG^1,#,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.9, pp. 1355-1368, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.051383 - 04 September 2024

Abstract Objective: Candida albicans is a common fungal pathogen that triggers complex host defense mechanisms, including coordinated innate and adaptive immune responses, to neutralize invading fungi effectively. Exploring the immune microenvironment has the potential to inform the development of therapeutic strategies for fungal infections. Methods: The study analyzed individual immune cell profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Candida albicans-infected mice and healthy control mice using single-cell transcriptomics, fluorescence quantitative PCR, and Western blotting. We investigated intergroup differences in the dynamics of immune cell subpopulation infiltration, pathway enrichment, and differentiation during Candida albicans infection. Results: Our findings indicate that infiltration… More >

XUEJIA ZHAI^1,2,3,4,#, JIE LIU^2,3,4,#, JINWEI XIAO^2,3,4, TAO ZHANG^2,3,4, JUN WANG^2,3,4,5, JIANJUN LI^1,*, SHICANG YU^2,3,4,5,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.8, pp. 1223-1239, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.050803 - 02 August 2024

Abstract Background: Protein lactylation is a new way for the “metabolic waste” lactic acid to perform novel functions. Nevertheless, our understanding of the contribution of protein lactylation to both tumor progression and therapeutic interventions remains imited. The construction of a scoring system for lactylation to predict the prognosis of pan-cancer patients and to evaluate the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) would improve our understanding of the clinical significance of lactylation. Methods: Consensus clustering analysis of lactylation-related genes was used to cluster 177 pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) patients. Subsequently, a scoring system was developed using the least absolute shrinkage… More >

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 - 17 July 2024

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 >

KUN FENG^1,#, HAO PENG^2,#, QINGPENG LV¹, YEWEI ZHANG^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.6, pp. 1063-1078, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.047078 - 23 May 2024

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignancy known for its unfavorable prognosis. The dysregulation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) can affect the sensitivity to immunotherapy or chemotherapy, leading to treatment failure. The elucidation of PHLDA2’s involvement in HCC is imperative, and the clinical value of PHLDA2 is also underestimated. Here, bioinformatics analysis was performed in multiple cohorts to explore the phenotype and mechanism through which PHLDA2 may affect the progression of HCC. Then, the expression and function of PHLDA2 were examined via the qRT-PCR, Western Blot, and MTT assays. Our findings indicate a substantial upregulation of… More >

KAIWEN TIAN^#, HANZHONG CHEN^#, QIANQIAN WANG, FENGLIAN JIANG, CHUNXIANG FENG, TENG LI, XIAOYONG PU, YANLIN TANG^*, JIUMIN LIU^*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.5, pp. 817-834, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.048737 - 06 May 2024

Abstract Background: The incidence of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is globally high; however, despite the introduction of innovative drug therapies, there remains a lack of effective biomarkers for evaluating treatment response. Recently, Caspase recruiting domain-containing protein 11 (CARD11) has garnered attention due to its significant association with tumor development and the immune system. Methods: The expression of CARD11 mRNA and protein in ccRCC were analyzed by public database and immunohistochemistry. The focus of this study is on the epigenomic modifications of CARD11, its expression of ccRCC immunophenotype, and its correlation with response to immunotherapy… More > Graphic Abstract

ZHEN LIU^1,#, LIANGWANG YANG^2,#, ZHENGXING XIE¹, HUI YU³, TIANYI GU³, DAOMING SHI⁴, NING CAI^1,*, SHENGHUA ZHUO^2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.5, pp. 965-981, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.045769 - 23 April 2024

Abstract Clinical data indicates that glioma patients have poor treatment outcomes and clinical prognosis. The role of olfactory signaling pathway-related genes (OSPRGs) in glioma has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role and relationship between OSPRGs and glioma. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the relationship between OSPRGs and the overall survival of glioma based on public cohorts, and the target gene (G Protein Subunit Alpha L, GNAL) was screened. The association of GNAL expression with clinicopathological characteristics, gene mutation landscape, tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), deoxyribonucleic acid… More >