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 >

SHUANG CHEN^1,2,#, XUEMEI DENG^2,#, XINGTING HE², KEWEI XIANG², GUIHONG CHEN², HONGRU YANG^2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.3, pp. 687-694, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.052133 - 28 February 2025

Abstract Background: Previous experiments have demonstrated that hypofractionated radiation therapy (HFRT), low-dose radiation therapy (LDRT), and combined anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (αPD-1) can enhance the abscopal effect. Combined with the phenomenon of low prognosis in patients with breast cancer lung metastasis, our study establishes a mouse model and changes the irradiation regimen of LDRT to explore its preventive effect on breast cancer lung metastasis. Methods: The breast cancer subcutaneous graft tumor model was developed. Two-lung prophylactic LDRT was performed prior to the onset of lung metastases, in combination with HFRT (8 Gy, 3f), and αPD-1… More >

GAMALELDIN I. HARISA^1,*, RIYAD F. ALZHRANI¹, ABDULRAHMAN A. ALLUHAIDAN¹, SULTAN M. ALAMRI¹, AHMED H. BAKHEIT², HANADI H. ASIRI², SABRY M. ATTIA³

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.2, pp. 477-492, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.053337 - 16 January 2025

Abstract Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a health problem due to multi-drug resistance (MDR). Codelivery of multiple oncotherapy in one cargo as chimeric cancer therapy (CCT) is suggested as a solution for MDR. This study aims to engineer chitosan-coated nanostructure lipid carriers (NLCs) loaded with gefitinib (GF) and simvastatin (SV) as CCT for HCC. Methods: Both GF and SV-loaded nanostructure lipids carriers (GFSVNLC) and chitosan-capped GF and SV-loaded nanostructure lipids carriers (CGFSVNLC) formulations were assembled by top-down techniques. Moreover, particle size (PS), zeta potential (ZP), and polydispersity index (PDI) were measured by Zetasizer. The biosafety of… More > Graphic Abstract

EDMUND CHEUNG SO^1,2,#, LOUIS W. C. CHOW^3,#, CHIN-MIN CHUANG⁴, CING YU CHEN^5,6, CHENG-HSUN WU⁷, LIAN-RU SHIAO⁸, TING-TSZ OU⁹, KAR-LOK WONG¹⁰, YUK-MAN LEUNG^8,*, YI-PING HUANG^8,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.2, pp. 397-406, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.052743 - 16 January 2025

Abstract Objectives: Mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uniporter (MCU) provides a Ca²⁺ influx pathway from the cytosol into the mitochondrial matrix and a moderate mitochondrial Ca²⁺ rise stimulates ATP production and cell growth. MCU is highly expressed in various cancer cells including breast cancer cells, thereby increasing the capacity of mitochondrial Ca²⁺ uptake, ATP production, and cancer cell proliferation. The objective of this study was to examine MCU inhibition as an anti-cancer mechanism. Methods: The effects of MCU-i4, a newly developed MCU inhibitor, on cell viability, apoptosis, cytosolic Ca²⁺, mitochondrial Ca²⁺ and potential, glycolytic rate, generation of ATP, and reactive oxygen species,… More >

MEIR DJALDETTI^*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.9, pp. 1389-1399, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.049745 - 23 August 2024

Abstract Resveratrol (RSV), the primary polyphenol found in grapes, has been revealed to have anti-inflammatory properties by reducing the capacity of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-1ra and TNFα. Considering the close association between chronic inflammation and cancer development, RSV’s immunomodulatory properties are one way by which the polyphenol may inhibit cancer initiation, proliferation, neovascularization, and migration. Resveratrol influences the generation of microtumor environment which is one of the key factors in cancer progress. In addition to immunomodulation, RSV inhibits cancer development by expressing anti-oxidant effects, causing cell cycle… More > Graphic Abstract