Special lssues

Cancer Metastasis

Submission Deadline: 31 December 2023 (closed)

Guest Editors

Aamir Ahmad, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar. Email: Aahmad9@hamad.qa

Summary

Metastasis of primary tumors to distant organs is the major reason for cancer-associated mortality. Recent advancements have provided some mechanistic insights but the information is far from definite and the clinical management of patients remains dismal, thus underlying the need for more concerted efforts to better understand the process and identify and validate putative targets for therapy. A number of factors, including growth factors, chemokines, cytokines etc. have been linked with cancer metastasis, as also several non-coding RNAs, such as, microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, circular RNAs etc. Further, several cellular signaling pathways, transcription factors and the acquisition of cancer stem cells phenotype and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition also have a role to play in cancer metastasis. The characterization of in vivo metastasis models has helped evolve the field and the clinical evaluations of patients-derived samples have helped list many potential metastasis-related biomarkers. This special issue on Cancer Metastasis invites articles on all different aspects that define the complexity of the phenomenon and may contribute towards a better understanding of the subject and/or identify/validate targets for therapy.


Keywords

Cancer Metastasis; Cytokines; Growth factors; Non-coding RNAs; Cancer stem cells; Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; Biomarkers

Published Papers


  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    ROR2 promotes invasion and chemoresistance of triple-negative breast cancer cells by activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling

    XIA DA, HAN GE, JUNFENG SHI, CHUNHUA ZHU, GUOZHU WANG, YUAN FANG, JIN XU
    Oncology Research, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.045433
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cancer Metastasis)
    Abstract Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (ROR2) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Methods: ROR2 expression in primary TNBC and metastatic TNBC tissues was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining and PCR. ROR2 expression in TNBC cell lines was detected by PCR and Western blot analysis. The migration, invasion and chemosensitivity of TNBC cells with overexpression or knockdown of ROR2 were examined. Results: ROR2 expression was high in metastatic TNBC tissues. ROR2 knockdown suppressed the migration, invasion and chemoresistance of TNBC cells. ROR2 overexpression in MDA-MB-435 cells promoted the migration, invasion, and chemoresistance. Moreover,… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) promotes distant metastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma via activation of LOXL2

    HYUNG SUN KIM, YUN SUN LEE, SEUNG MYUNG DONG, HYO JUNG KIM, DA EUN LEE, HYEON WOONG KANG, MYEONG JIN KIM, JOON SEONG PARK
    Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.4, pp. 615-624, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.044029
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cancer Metastasis)
    Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most aggressive solid malignancies. A specific mechanism of its metastasis has not been established. In this study, we investigated whether Neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) plays a role in distant metastasis of PDAC. We found that N-WASP is markedly expressed in clinical patients with PDAC. Clinical analysis showed a notably more distant metastatic pattern in the N-WASP-high group compared to the N-WASP-low group. N-WASP was noted to be a novel mediator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via gene expression profile studies. Knockdown of N-WASP in pancreatic cancer cells significantly inhibited cell invasion, migration,… More >

    Graphic Abstract

    Neural Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) promotes distant metastasis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma via activation of LOXL2

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Degradation of FAK-targeting by proteolytic targeting chimera technology to inhibit the metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma

    XINFENG ZHANG, SHUANG LI, MEIRU SONG, YUE CHEN, LIANGZHENG CHANG, ZHERUI LIU, HONGYUAN DAI, YUTAO WANG, GANGQI YANG, YUN JIANG, YINYING LU
    Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.4, pp. 679-690, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.046231
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cancer Metastasis)
    Abstract Liver cancer is a prevalent malignant cancer, ranking third in terms of mortality rate. Metastasis and recurrence primarily contribute to the high mortality rate of liver cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has low expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which increases the risk of metastasis and recurrence. Nevertheless, the efficacy of FAK phosphorylation inhibitors is currently limited. Thus, investigating the mechanisms by which FAK affects HCC metastasis to develop targeted therapies for FAK may present a novel strategy to inhibit HCC metastasis. This study examined the correlation between FAK expression and the prognosis of HCC. Additionally, we explored the impact of… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Identifying and validating MMP family members (MMP2, MMP9, MMP12, and MMP16) as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC)

    KUNLUN LI, DANDAN LI, BARBOD HAFEZ, MOUNIR M. SALEM BEKHIT, YOUSEF A. BIN JARDAN, FARS KAED ALANAZI, EHAB I. TAHA, SAYED H. AUDA, FAIQAH RAMZAN, MUHAMMAD JAMIL
    Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.4, pp. 737-752, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.042925
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cancer Metastasis)
    Abstract Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC) is a malignant tumor that carries a substantial risk of morbidity and mortality. The MMP family assumes a crucial role in tumor invasion and metastasis. This study aimed to uncover the mechanistic relevance of the MMP gene family as a therapeutic target and diagnostic biomarker in Kidney Renal Clear Cell Carcinoma (KIRC) through a comprehensive approach encompassing both computational and molecular analyses. STRING, Cytoscape, UALCAN, GEPIA, OncoDB, HPA, cBioPortal, GSEA, TIMER, ENCORI, DrugBank, targeted bisulfite sequencing (bisulfite-seq), conventional PCR, Sanger sequencing, and RT-qPCR based analyses were used in the present study to analyze MMP… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Dual ligand-targeted Pluronic P123 polymeric micelles enhance the therapeutic effect of breast cancer with bone metastases

    HUAN GAO, JIE ZHANG, TONY G. KLEIJN, ZHAOYONG WU, BING LIU, YUJIN MA, BAOYUE DING, DONGFENG YIN
    Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.4, pp. 769-784, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.044276
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cancer Metastasis)
    Abstract Bone metastasis secondary to breast cancer negatively impacts patient quality of life and survival. The treatment of bone metastases is challenging since many anticancer drugs are not effectively delivered to the bone to exert a therapeutic effect. To improve the treatment efficacy, we developed Pluronic P123 (P123)-based polymeric micelles dually decorated with alendronate (ALN) and cancer-specific phage protein DMPGTVLP (DP-8) for targeted drug delivery to breast cancer bone metastases. Doxorubicin (DOX) was selected as the anticancer drug and was encapsulated into the hydrophobic core of the micelles with a high drug loading capacity (3.44%). The DOX-loaded polymeric micelles were spherical,… More >

    Graphic Abstract

    Dual ligand-targeted Pluronic P123 polymeric micelles enhance the therapeutic effect of breast cancer with bone metastases

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    ELK3-ID4 axis governs the metastatic features of triple negative breast cancer

    JIN-HO CHOI, JOO DONG PARK, SEUNG HEE CHOI, EUN-SU KO, HYE JUNG JANG, KYUNG-SOON PARK
    Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.1, pp. 127-138, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.042945
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cancer Metastasis)
    Abstract Purpose: Cancer cell metastasis is a multistep process, and the mechanism underlying extravasation remains unclear. ELK3 is a transcription factor that plays a crucial role in regulating various cellular processes, including cancer metastasis. Based on the finding that ELK3 promotes the metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), we investigated whether ELK3 regulates the extravasation of TNBC by forming the ELK3-ID4 axis. ID4 functions as a transcriptional regulator that interacts with other transcription factors, inhibiting their activity and subsequently influencing various biological processes associated with cell differentiation, survival, growth, and metastasis. Methods: We assessed the correlation between the expression of ELK3… More >

    Graphic Abstract

    ELK3-ID4 axis governs the metastatic features of triple negative breast cancer

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Deciphering key genes involved in cisplatin resistance in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma through a combined in silico and in vitro approach

    MUNEEBA MALIK, MAMOONA MAQBOOL, TOOBA NISAR, TAZEEM AKHTER, JAVED AHMED UJAN, ALANOOD S. ALGARNI, FAKHRIA A. AL JOUFI, SULTAN SHAFI K. ALANAZI, MOHAMMAD HADI ALMOTARED, MOUNIR M. SALEM BEKHIT, MUHAMMAD JAMIL
    Oncology Research, Vol.31, No.6, pp. 899-916, 2023, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.030760
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cancer Metastasis)
    Abstract The low survival rate of Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) patients is largely attributed to cisplatin resistance. Rather than focusing solely on individual proteins, exploring protein-protein interactions could offer greater insight into drug resistance. To this end, a series of in silico and in vitro experiments were conducted to identify hub genes in the intricate network of cisplatin resistance-related genes in KIRC chemotherapy. The genes involved in cisplatin resistance across KIRC were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database using search terms as “Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma” and “Cisplatin resistance”. The genes retrieved were analyzed… More >

  • Open Access

    ARTICLE

    Elucidating the clinical and immunological value of m6A regulator-mediated methylation modification patterns in adrenocortical carcinoma

    WENHAO XU, HAOMING LI, YASIR HAMEED, MOSTAFA A. ABDEL-MAKSOUD, SAEEDAH MUSAED ALMUTAIRI, AYMAN MUBARAK, MOHAMMED AUFY, WAEL ALTURAIKI, ABDULAZIZ J. ALSHALANI, AYMAN M. MAHMOUD, CHEN LI
    Oncology Research, Vol.31, No.5, pp. 819-831, 2023, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.029414
    (This article belongs to this Special Issue: Cancer Metastasis)
    Abstract N6-methyladenosine methylation (m6A) is a common type of epigenetic alteration that prominently affects the prognosis of tumor patients. However, it is unknown how the m6A regulator affects the tumor microenvironment (TME) cell infiltration in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and how it affects the prognosis of ACC patients yet. The m6A alteration patterns of 112 ACC patients were evaluated, furthermore, the association with immune infiltration cell features was investigated. The unsupervised clustering method was applied to typify the m6A alteration patterns of ACC patients. The principal component analysis (PCA) technique was taken to create the m6A score to assess the alteration pattern… More >

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