ZHEN WANG¹, JUN FU¹, SAISAI ZHU¹, HAODONG TANG², KUI SHI¹, JIHUA YANG³, MENG WANG³, MENGGE WU¹, DUNFENG QI^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.12, pp. 1851-1866, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.055286 - 13 November 2024

Abstract Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a rich and complex tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). M2 macrophages are among the most extensively infiltrated immune cells in the TIME and are necessary for the growth and migration of cancers. However, the mechanisms and targets mediating M2 macrophage infiltration in pancreatic cancer remain elusive. Methods: The M2 macrophage infiltration score of patients was assessed using the xCell algorithm. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), module genes associated with M2 macrophages were identified, and a predictive model was designed. The variations in immunological cell patterns, cancer mutations, and… More > Graphic Abstract

CHUAN JIANG^1,2, CHUNLEI LIU^1,3, XI YAO^1,3, JINGYA SU^1,2, WEI LU^1,3, ZHENGBO WEI^3,*, YING XIE^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.12, pp. 1935-1948, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.052244 - 13 November 2024

Abstract Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent form of cancer globally, with chemoresistance posing a major challenge in treatment outcomes. The efficacy of the commonly used chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin, is diminished in patients with poor prognoses. Methods: Various bioinformatics databases were utilized to examine Carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) gene expression, clinicopathologic features, patient survival analysis, and gene function. An organoid model of HNSCC was established, along with the induction of drug-resistant HNSCC in the organoid model. CES1 expression was assessed using qRT-PCR and Western Blot, and differential markers were identified through transcriptome… More >

YUSHI YANG^1,#, CHUJIAO HU^2,#, SHAN LEI³, XIN BAO³, ZHIRUI ZENG^3,*, WENPENG CAO^4,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.12, pp. 1921-1934, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.046191 - 13 November 2024

Abstract Background: The heterogeneity of prognosis and treatment benefits among patients with gliomas is due to tumor microenvironment characteristics. However, biomarkers that reflect microenvironmental characteristics and predict the prognosis of gliomas are limited. Therefore, we aimed to develop a model that can effectively predict prognosis, differentiate microenvironment signatures, and optimize drug selection for patients with glioma. Materials and Methods: The CIBERSORT algorithm, bulk sequencing analysis, and single-cell RNA (scRNA) analysis were employed to identify significant cross-talk genes between M2 macrophages and cancer cells in glioma tissues. A predictive model was constructed based on cross-talk gene expression, and… More >

RONG LIU^1,#, SHENG LI^2,#, SITU XIONG², FUCUN ZHENG², XIANGPENG ZHAN², JIN ZENG², BIN FU², SONGHUI XU², SHAOXING ZHU^1,*, RU CHEN^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.11, pp. 1733-1746, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.050851 - 16 October 2024

Abstract EVI2A has emerged as a significant biomarker in various diseases; however, its biological role and mechanism in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) remains unexplored. We used TCGA and GEO databases to analyze EVI2A gene expression comprehensively and performed pan-cancer assessments. Clinical relevance was evaluated through Kaplan-Meier analysis and ROC curves. The gene’s immune relevance was explored through analyses of the tumor microenvironment (TME), Tumor Immune Single-cell Hub (TISCH), immune checkpoints, and immunotherapy sensitivity. Our results indicate that EVI2A expression is upregulated in KIRC, showing correlations with tumor grade and T/N/M stage. EVI2A demonstrates high… More >

PEILING WU^#, LIFANG ZHAO^#, HONGYAN ZHANG, YUEYAN LOU, DONGFANG CHEN, SHAN XUE, XUEQING LIU^*, HANDONG JIANG^*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.9, pp. 1439-1452, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.047490 - 23 August 2024

Abstract Objectives: The pro-oncogenic effects of NCAPD2 have been extensively studied across various tumor types; however, its precise role within the context of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains elusive. This study aims to elucidate the biological functions of NCAPD2 in LUAD and unravel the underlying mechanistic pathways. Methods: Utilizing bioinformatics methodologies, we explored the differential expression of NCAPD2 between normal and tumor samples, along with its correlations with clinical-pathological characteristics, survival prognosis, and immune infiltration. Results: In the TCGA-LUAD dataset, tumor samples demonstrated significantly elevated levels of NCAPD2 expression compared to normal samples (p < 0.001). Clinically, higher… 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 >

Wenjie Dong^1,2,#, Zhibin Hong^1,#, Aqian Wang², Kaiyu Jiang², Hai Zhu², Fu zhang², Zhaoxia Guo², Hongling Su^2,*, Yunshan Cao^3,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 325-339, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.052267 - 26 July 2024

Abstract Background: Current guidelines for managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) recommend a risk stratification approach. However, the applicability and accuracy of these strategies for PAH associated with congenital heart disease (PAH-CHD) require further validation. This study aims to validate the reliability and predictive accuracy of a simplified stratification strategy for PAH-CHD patients over a three-year follow-up. Additionally, new prognostic variables are identified and novel risk stratification methods are developed for assessing and managing PAH-CHD patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 126 PAH-CHD patients. Clinical and biochemical variables across risk groups were assessed using Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher’s… More > Graphic Abstract

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 >

JING HUI^1,2, NANA SUN³, YONG LIU⁴, CHUNBO YU^1,2, YONG KE⁴, YONG CAO⁴, ANXIAO YU⁴, QINGHONG KONG^1,2,*, YUN LIU^1,2,4,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.5, pp. 803-815, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.047122 - 06 May 2024

Abstract Background: Although it has been established that the human Solute Carrier Family 22 (SLC22) functions as a cationic transporter, influencing cellular biological metabolism by modulating the uptake of various cations, its impact on cancer prognosis remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive analysis utilizing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and other databases to assess the prognostic value and functional implications across various tumors. Silence of SLC22A1 RNA in glioma U251 cells was performed to access the impact of SLC22A1 on lower-grade glioma (LGG) progression. Results: Our findings demonstrated a significant correlation between SLC22A1 expression… More >

JIAN TANG¹, CHENQIANG ZHU¹, YUN CHEN¹, YUNLONG WU¹, MING HE¹, YI ZHOU², MINGHUA XIE^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.4, pp. 639-651, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.047562 - 09 April 2024

Abstract Background: The specific impact of sphingolipid metabolism on developing hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. This study aims to explore the relationship between sphingolipid metabolism and HCC prognosis, immune response, and drug sensitivity. Methods: Data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LIHC) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO, GSE14520 datasets). 47 sphingolipid metabolism genes were obtained from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. After classifying HCC samples using the Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) clustering method, differentially expressed genes were screened. Then, 8 risk genes were obtained by univariate analysis, survival random forest… More > Graphic Abstract