Zhitao Yang^1,#, Huanyu Cheng^1,#, Xinli Liu¹, Jie Li¹, Xin Ming¹, Beibei Li¹, Luyao Zhang¹, Chunqing MA¹, Yi Jiao¹, Shenjia Wu¹, Ibrar Muhammad Khan², Guanghua Xiong¹, Hongcheng Wang^1,*, Yong Liu^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.072736 - 23 January 2026

Abstract Objectives: Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most common form of osteoporosis in clinical practice, affecting millions of postmenopausal women worldwide. Postmenopausal osteoporosis demands safe and effective therapies. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of hederagenin (Hed) for treating osteoporosis and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms of action. Methods: The anti-osteoporotic potential of Hed was assessed by investigating its effects on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced bone loss in mice and on receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation in RAW264.7 cells. Network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were employed to identify key targets, which were subsequently validated experimentally. Results:… More >

Marta Pawłowska^1,*, Dorian Jarek², Jan Milanowski², Karolina Szewczyk-Golec¹

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.071891 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Parasitic infections are increasingly recognized as contributors to cancer development, yet the underlying oncogenic mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Growing evidence from molecular oncology, immunology, and microbiome research suggests that chronic parasitic infections may drive tumorigenesis through sustained inflammation, deregulated signaling pathways, genomic instability, and the release of parasite-derived exosomes that reshape the tumor microenvironment. These insights underscore the need to integrate parasitology with cancer biology to understand infection-associated malignancies better. The aim of this narrative review is to synthesize current knowledge on how selected parasites contribute to cancer development and to highlight emerging therapeutic and… More > Graphic Abstract

Ruoxue Cai^1,#, Shuyi Hu^2,#, Feiyang Li², Huanhuan Sha^3,*, Guoren Zhou^2,*, Ying Fang³

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.070893 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Objective: To determine whether immunotherapy can bring new hope for patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). We conducted this retrospective study to evaluate whether immunotherapy can achieve better efficacy in LS-SCLC patients. Methods: We evaluated 122 LS-SCLC patients who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) or sequential chemoradiotherapy (SCRT) (Group A) and immunotherapy combined with CCRT/SCRT followed by immunotherapy (Group B), to assess the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and progression-free survival (PFS). Factors affecting prognosis were also explored using Cox analysis. The prognosis of patients with type 2 diabetes and patients with… More >

Zhilong He^1,#, Jing Qin^1,#, Sixuan Wu^2,#, Xian Liang¹, Yu Liu¹, Jinfeng Qiu¹, Zhimin Li^2,*, Kai Hu^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.070567 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Objective: The contribution of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with protein palmitoylation to the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains largely unclear. This study sought to establish a prognostic signature based on palmitoylation-related lncRNAs and explore their functional implications in HCC. Methods: RNA sequencing and clinical data for HCC and normal tissues were sourced from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify lncRNAs that were co-expressed with palmitoylation-related genes. Univariate Cox regression was applied to select lncRNAs with prognostic value, followed by the construction of a predictive model using the… More >

Kamila Mozga¹, Olga Synowiecka¹, Igor Rydzyk¹, Anna Marek¹, Ewelina Wieczorek¹, Alicja Petniak^2,*, Paulina Gil-Kulik²

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.070505 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Objectives: Immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has become a key treatment for melanoma. However, the increasing number of cases of melanoma resistant to immunotherapy highlights the need to develop methods to overcome this resistance. This study aims to collect the most recent information on melanoma immunotherapy, discuss potential strategies to overcome resistance to immunotherapy, and identify areas that require further analysis. Methods: To achieve this goal, scientific publications from 2021–2024 available in PubMed and Google Scholar databases were analyzed. The databases were searched using the following terms: “melanoma”, “immunotherapy”, “Immune Checkpoint Blockade”, and More >

Bu Zou^1,#, Yi-En Xu^2,#, Hui-Chan He³, Zu-Lu Ye², Da-Lei Zhou², Cai-Yun He^2,*, Chan Huang^4,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.069453 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Objectives: Gastric cancer (GC) remains a major global health concern, and Phosphoinositide-3-Kinase Regulatory Subunit 1 (PIK3R1), a regulatory subunit of the PI3K signaling pathway, may play a critical yet underexplored role in GC progression. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of PIK3R1 in GC and its association with the tumor immune microenvironment. Methods: PIK3R1 expression and its clinical relevance were analyzed using datasets from GC patients who underwent gastrectomy, including cohorts from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC). Prognostic models integrating PIK3R1 expression with clinical parameters… More >

Dongchi Cai^1,2,#, Jialin Ji^3,#, Chunhui Yang^1,*, Hong Cai^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.071152 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Metabolic reprogramming involving branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)—leucine, isoleucine, and valine—is increasingly recognized as pivotal in cancer progression, metastasis, and immune modulation. This review comprehensively explores how cancer cells rewire BCAA metabolism to enhance proliferation, survival, and therapy resistance. Tumors manipulate BCAA uptake and catabolism via high expression of transporters like L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) and enzymes including branched chain amino acid transaminase 1(BCAT1), branched chain amino acid transaminase 2 (BCAT2), branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase (BCKDH), and branched chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase (BCKDK). These alterations sustain energy production, biosynthesis, redox homeostasis, and oncogenic… More >

Shenghui Su, Yu Zeng, Jiaxin Chen, Xieping Dong^*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.070558 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Background: Recent studies have shown glycerolipid metabolism played an essential role in multiple tumors, however, its function in osteosarcoma is unclear. This study aimed to explore the role of glycerolipid metabolism in osteosarcoma. Methods: We conducted bioinformatics analysis using data from the Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) database and single-cell RNA sequencing. Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression was used to identify the Glycerolipid metabolism-related genes associated with the clinical outcome of osteosarcoma. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and their interactions with immune cells were examined through single-cell analysis and co-culture experiments.… More >

Giacomo Iovane^1,*, Luca Traman², Michele Maffezzoli^1,3, Giuseppe Fornarini², Domenico Corradi⁴, Debora Guareschi⁴, Matteo Santoni^5,#, Sebastiano Buti^1,#

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.070523 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Background: While the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is evolving due to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), optimal strategies for later lines of therapy have yet to be defined. The combination of lenvatinib and everolimus represents a viable option, and the present review aimed to summarize its activity, effectiveness, and safety. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted using PubMed, targeting studies published between 2018 and 2025. Eligible studies included English-language prospective and retrospective trials reporting survival outcomes in mRCC patients treated with lenvatinib and everolimus after at least one ICI-containing regimen. Results:… More > Graphic Abstract

Tao Zhu¹, Taofeng Wei¹, Mingdong Yang¹, Junjun Xu¹, Huifang Jiang¹, Wei He¹, Juyan Zheng^2,*, Haibin Dai^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.070180 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Background: Aberrant expression of transcription factors (TFs) is a key mechanism mediating tumor immune escape and therapeutic resistance. The involvement of E26 transformation-specific (ETS) family of TFs in immune regulation is not fully understood. The study aimed to elucidate the function of E-twenty-six variant 4 (ETV4) in tumor immune evasion and its potential as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy in melanoma. Methods: The expression patterns of ETS family TFs were analyzed in melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to dissect the cellular expression and function of ETV4 in the tumor… More >