Jung-Yeon Kim^#, Min Hui Park^#, Kiryeong Kim, Jaechan Leem^*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.11, pp. 2147-2166, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.070188 - 24 November 2025

Abstract Background: Cisplatin (CDDP) is a cornerstone chemotherapeutic agent for many solid tumors, but its clinical use is severely limited by dose-dependent nephrotoxicity, which results in acute kidney injury (AKI) in a significant proportion of patients. CDDP-induced AKI involves interconnected mechanisms, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and tubular cell death. In this study, we aimed to investigate the renoprotective effects of esculetin (ES), a natural antioxidant coumarin, in a murine model of CDDP-induced AKI. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice (8–10 weeks) received a single intraperitoneal injection of CDDP (20 mg/kg) with or without ES (40 mg/kg/day, oral gavage).… More >

Ana Clara Ciglioni Salustiano^1,2, Gabriela Barbosa^1,3,4, Rodolfo Borges dos Reis^2,4, Amílcar Castro de Mattos^5,6, Athanase Billis⁶, Leonardo O. Reis^1,3,4,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.11, pp. 3417-3428, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.068023 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Objective: The tumor microenvironment plays a pivotal role in prostate cancer progression and may differ across metastatic sites. This study aimed to evaluate and compare the primary and metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma tumor microenvironment. Methods: A total of 27 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples derived from 17 patients diagnosed with prostate adenocarcinoma, including the primary tumors, and the corresponding metastatic lymphatic and hematogenous lesions from various anatomical sites. Immunohistochemical labeling was performed using antibodies against Cluster of Differentiation 3 epsilon chain (CD3e), CD8 alpha chain (CD8a), Cluster of Differentiation 68 (CD68), Cluster of Differentiation 163 (CD163), Forkhead… More > Graphic Abstract

Bi Feng^#, Siqi Yang^#, Zhiqiang He, Yushi Dai, Ruiqi Zou, Yafei Hu, Haijie Hu^*, Fuyu Li^*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.9, pp. 2353-2377, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.061422 - 28 August 2025

Abstract Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most frequently occurring malignant tumors of the digestive tract and is associated with an increased mortality rate worldwide. This study aimed to develop and validate a prognostic model based on immunogenic cell death (ICD)-related genes to predict patient survival and guide individualized treatment strategies for HCC. Methods: ICD-related genes were identified from the GeneCards database using a relevance score threshold of >10. A combination of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and multivariate Cox analysis was used to screen prognostic genes and construct a risk score… More >

Chuncheng Liu¹, Xiaohan Liu¹, Ziqi Li¹, Yanruoxue Wei¹, Bangdong Liu², Peng Zhu², Yukun Liu^1,2,*, Ran Zhao^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.8, pp. 2085-2105, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.065739 - 18 July 2025

Abstract Background: VPS37A (VPS37A subunit of ESCRT-I), a component of the ESCRT-I (endosomal sorting complex required for transport I) complex, mediates vesicular trafficking through sorting endocytic ubiquitinated cargos into multivesicular bodies (MVBs). Although accumulating evidence indicates that VPS37A deficiency occurs in numerous malignancies and exerts tumor-suppressive effects during cancer progression, its functional significance in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis remains poorly characterized. Therefore, this study aims to further investigate the functional and molecular mechanisms by which VPS37A downregulation contributes to malignant biological phenotypes in CRC, with a specific focus on how its dysregulation affects cell death pathways.… More > Graphic Abstract

CHENG CHENG^1,2,3, CHAO SHI^1,2, SHANG WU^1,2, WEIXING WU³, JINGPING LI^1,2, SINUO GAO^1,2, MENG HAN³, YIMIN WANG³, XIANGMEI ZHANG^2,4,*, YUNJIANG LIU^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.7, pp. 1633-1648, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.061637 - 26 June 2025

Abstract Objectives: While programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors have improved cancer treatment, the function and mechanisms of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), particularly when expressed by cancer cells, remain unclear. This study aims to explore the role of PD-L1 within breast cancer cells and identify key targets for future immunotherapy. Methods: RNA-seq was performed on breast cancer cells with silenced PD-L1 to screen for differentially expressed genes, followed by bioinformatics analysis. Clinical specimens from breast cancer patients undergoing primary surgery without preoperative treatment were collected, along with in vitro analysis to validate the potential mechanism. Results:… More >

Anton Tkachenko^*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.5, pp. 721-741, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.063301 - 27 May 2025

Abstract Ferroptosis is an iron-driven, phospholipid hydroperoxide-mediated cell death, which has recently emerged as an attractive tool in cancer research due to its ability to govern the anti-tumor immune response. A growing research interest in ferroptosis biology has revealed the contribution of this regulated cell death to multiple diseases. In addition to iron, ferroptosis has been reported to be triggered by multiple heavy metals, which sheds light on the novel aspects of heavy metals-induced cytotoxicity. In this review, the ability of zinc, an essential biogenic element with a wide array of biological functions, to modulate ferroptosis… More >

CHENXIAO QIAO¹, YIPENG XU², YEDIE HE², ZHIJIAN CAI^1,*, HUA WANG^2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.5, pp. 1161-1172, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.055746 - 18 April 2025

Abstract Objective: To investigate the anti-tumor effects of an E1B55KD-deleted oncolytic adenovirus, H101, in combination with a humanized anti-PD-1 (Programmed cell death protein 1) monoclonal antibody, Camrelizumab. Methods: Anti-tumor efficacy of intratumoral injection of H101 or/and intraperitoneal injection of Camrelizumab were evaluated in an immune system humanized NOD Prkdc^scid Il2rg^-/- mice subcutaneous (S.C.) tumor model, established with human glioblastoma of unknown origin cell line U87-MG, and human bladder cancer cell line T24 and YTS-1. The mechanism by which H101 induced anti-tumor immunity were also investigated. Results: Combining H101 with Camrelizumab demonstrated more potent anti-tumor effects than monotherapy in… More >

Olga Koval^1,2,*, Maria Zhilnikova¹, Maria Balantaeva^1,2, Mikhail Biryukov^1,2, Vasiliy Atamanov^1,3

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 355-379, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.059987 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Melanomas are aggressive cancers, with a high rate of metastatic disease. Cutaneous (CM) and uveal (UM) melanomas are intrinsically different diseases, and most cell death inducers effective for CM do not function for UM. This is primarily due to the fact the eye is an immunologically privileged organ, and it fails to achieve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) comparable to that for CM. However, approaches utilizing specific melanoma-associated antigens are being developed for metastatic forms of CM and UM. The most promising to date are gp100 and tyrosinase related protein 1 (TYRP1), primarily… More >

Emmanuel Mago¹, Jiayi Xu¹, Dan Weng^1,*, Yan Pan^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.3, pp. 381-398, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.059432 - 31 March 2025

Abstract Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1) has emerged as a critical player in cancer biology, functioning as a cytosolic nucleic acid sensor that triggers PANoptosis, a form of programmed cell death that integrates pyroptosis, apoptosis, and necroptosis. Although ZBP1 was initially recognized for its role in antiviral defense, recent research has highlighted its importance in the tumor microenvironment (TME), where it is essential for suppressing tumor growth and proliferation. This review explores the multifaceted role of ZBP1 in various cancer types, emphasizing its ability to detect Z-nucleic acids and double-stranded RNAs, leading to the initiation of… More >

Sahel Abyar^1,2, Shahrzad Shoraka², Seyed Masoud Hosseini², Mohammad Reza Zali³, Seyed Reza Mohebbi^3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.2, pp. 221-251, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.059787 - 28 February 2025

Abstract Oncogenic viruses include both DNA and RNA viruses which contribute to cancer development by disrupting cellular regulation and interfering in the immune responses. These viruses do not directly cause cancer but instead integrate their genetic material into the host genome thus, affecting cell cycle and tumor suppression. This deregulation also leads to impaired immune function and promotes tumor progression by disrupting the removal of infected cells. Generally, innate immunity consists of two important members, including mitochondria and cell deaths, which impact each other as well. Due to the close correlation between viruses, cell death pathways… More >