Xinyang Li^1,2,3,#, Luyuan Ma^1,2,3,#, Chuan Shen^1,2,3, Ruolan Gu^1,2,3, Shilong Dong^1,2,3, Mingjie Liu^1,2,3, Ying Xiao^1,2,3, Wenpeng Liu^1,2,3, Yuexia Liu^1,2,3, Caiyan Zhao^1,2,3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.073179 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive and lethal malignancy. Metabolic reprogramming dynamically remodels the tumor microenvironment (TME) and drives HCC progression. This study investigated the mechanism through which metabolic reprogramming remodels the TME in HCC. Methods: HCC patient transcriptome data were subjected to bioinformatics analysis to identify differentially expressed genes and immune infiltration status. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed to determine the correlation between succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit A (SDHA) expression and M2 macrophage infiltration. SDHA-knockdown or SDHA-overexpressing HCC cells were used for in vitro experiments, including co-culturing, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Western blotting… More >

Harpreet Kaur^1,*, Dhrubalochan Rana², Sowvik Bag², Paramjeet Singh³

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.071209 - 19 January 2026

Abstract The prolonged and intricate history of oncological treatments has transitioned significantly since the introduction of chemotherapy. Substantial therapeutic benefits in cancer therapy have been achieved by the integration of conventional treatments with molecular biosciences and omics technologies. Human epidermal growth factor receptor, hormone receptors, and angiogenesis factors are among the established therapies in tumor reduction and managing side effects. Novel targeted therapies like KRAS G12C, Claudin-18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2), Trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (TROP2), and epigenetic regulators emphasize their promise in advancing precision medicine. However, in many cases, the resistance mechanisms associated with these interventions… More > Graphic Abstract

Keiko Yanagihara^1,*, Masato Yoshida², Kensaku Awaji², Tamami Yamakawa¹, Sena Kato¹, Miki Tamura¹, Koji Nagata³

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.073891 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors have transformed the management of hormone receptor–positive/HER2–negative (HR+/HER2–) advanced breast cancer, yet evidence for elderly or poor-performance patients remains limited. This study examined real-world outcomes of palbociclib plus endocrine therapy in Asian patients, with additional subgroup analyses by age and performance status. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 46 consecutive Asian patients with recurrent or de novo HR+/HER2− breast cancer treated with first-line palbociclib plus ET between April 2021 and March 2025. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety.… More >

Cheng-Hsun Chuang^1,2,3,#, Ping-Kun Tsai^3,4,5,6,#, Shih-Wen Kao^7,8, Yu-Hsun Wang^8,9,*, Chao-Bin Yeh^1,2,3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.072875 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Background: To determine whether initiating a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) within 3 months of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) diagnosis alters the subsequent risk of overall and site-specific cancer and whether this association differs by baseline body-mass index (BMI). Methods: This retrospective cohort study used electronic health records from the TriNetX U.S. research network. Adults aged 20 years or older diagnosed with T2DM between 2016 and 2024 were included if they received any hypoglycemic agents within 3 months before and after diagnosis. Following 1:1 propensity score matching, both the GLP-1 RA user and non-user… More > Graphic Abstract

Kun Deng^1,2,3, Jianliang Huang^1,2,3, Danyang Li^2,3, Wei Gao^2,3, Minghua Wu^2,3,4,*, Mingsheng Lei^1,5,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.069442 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) prognosis has seen little improvement over the past two decades. While immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, its impact on GBM remains limited. To characterize the evolving research landscape and identify future directions in GBM immunotherapy, we conducted a comprehensive bibliometric review. Methods: All literature related to immunotherapy in GBM from 1999 to 2024 was collected from the Web of Science Core Collection. CtieSpace and VOSviewer were used to conduct bibliometric analysis and visualize the data. Results: Bibliometric analysis identified 5038 publications authored by 23,335 researchers from 4699 institutions across 96 countries/regions, published in… More >

Muhammad Noman Khan^1,2,3,*, Kang Tian², John R. Gordon⁴, Fang Li², Song-Ze Ding^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.12, pp. 3837-3854, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.069408 - 27 November 2025

Abstract Objectives: Chemotherapy-induced lung inflammation limits the efficacy of anticancer therapies such as gefitinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Glutamic acid-leucine-arginine positive (ELR+) CXC chemokines and their receptors, CXC chemokine receptor 1 and 2 (CXCR1 and CXCR2), mediate both inflammatory responses and tumor progression. This study evaluated the effects of CXCR1/2 antagonism by G31P, a CXC motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8)-mutated peptide, alone or in combination with gefitinib, on lung cancer growth and chemotherapy-induced pulmonary inflammation. Methods: Human NSCLC cell lines (A549 and H460) were treated with gefitinib and/or G31P. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, and signaling… More > Graphic Abstract

Yizhen Zhang^1,2,#, Juan Li^1,3,#, Huanqing Liu^1,4,#, Hong Xia¹, Jian Su^1,5, Fang Liu¹, Bo Su^6,*, Qi Su^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.12, pp. 3869-3886, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.068689 - 27 November 2025

Abstract Objectives: Gastric cancer (GC) is often associated with high invasiveness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), highlighting the need for novel therapeutic targets. This study explored whether diallyl disulfide (DADS) upregulates retinoic acid-related orphan receptor alpha (ROR) to weaken the protein kinase C alpha (PKC)/RORα-mediated RORα/β-catenin pathway, thereby inhibiting GC cell invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and enhancing 5-FU sensitivity. Methods: Human GC cell lines MGC-803 and SGC7901 were treated with DADS, RORα agonist SR1078/antagonist T0901317, and PKCα agonist TPA/antagonist GO6976. Cell proliferation (MTT), migration (scratch assay), invasion (Transwell), protein expression (Western blot), protein… More >

Yuri A. Piven¹, Danila V. Sorokin², Nastassia A. Varabyeva¹, Alexandra L. Mikhaylova², Fedor B. Bogdanov², Elena V. Shafranovskaya¹, Raman M. Puzanau³, Fedor A. Lakhvich¹, Alexander M. Scherbakov^2,4,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.12, pp. 4049-4072, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.067832 - 27 November 2025

Abstract Background: The most aggressive forms of breast cancer are characterized by independence from steroid hormones but a strong dependence on growth factors. In such cancer cells, oncogenic receptors, including human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), are activated, and their targeted inhibition represents an attractive therapeutic strategy. The study aimed to develop small-molecule potential dual heat shock protein 90 (HSP90)-HER2 inhibitors and evaluate them as anticancer agents in HER2-positive cells. Methods: The research project involved obtaining a series of compounds with potential dual inhibitory activity against HSP90 and HER2 by targeted organic synthesis, which was… More > Graphic Abstract

Jianan Lei^*, Zhuona Ni, Ruidi Zhang

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.11, pp. 3347-3373, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.067445 - 22 October 2025

Abstract This review aims to explore the development, challenges, and future directions of UCAR cell therapy as a scalable alternative to autologous CAR-T for cancer treatment. Consequently, limitations of autologous CAR-T, including long production, variable quality, and cost, drive off-the-shelf UCAR development to standardize manufacturing and improve access. Current UCAR-T cell strategies focus on mitigating the risks of graft-vs.-host disease and host-vs.-graft rejection through advanced gene editing technologies, including clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated system Cas9-mediated knockout of the T cell receptor, human leukocyte antigen, and cluster of differentiation 52 (CD52). Beyond conventional T cells, cell… More >

Tian-Tian Li^1,2,3,#, Ming-Yao Meng^1,2,4,#, Zheng Yu⁵, Yang-Fan Guo^1,2,4, Yi-Yi Zhao^1,2,4, Hui Gao^1,2,4, Li-Li Yang^1,2,3, Li-Rong Yang^1,2,3, Meng-Yuan Chu^1,2,3, Shan He^1,2,4, Yuan Liu^1,2,4, Xiao-Dan Wang^1,2,4, Wen-Ju Wang^1,2,4, Zong-Liu Hou^1,2,4, Li-Wei Liao^1,2,4,*, Lin Li^1,2,4,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.11, pp. 3447-3467, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.065394 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Background: Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapies have demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in hematological malignancies. However, their application to solid tumors remains substantially limited by multiple challenges, including the risk of off-target effects. Hence, optimizing CAR-T cells for stronger antigen binding is essential. Methods: In this study, we employed a classical anti-human endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) single-chain variable fragment (scFv) derived from trastuzumab, alongside an anti-HER2-13 scFv identified from a combinatorial cellular CAR library, for the construction of a third-generation CAR-T cell. Meanwhile, the phenotypes and both in vitro and in vivo functions of… More > Graphic Abstract