MICHELE MAFFEZZOLI^1,2,#, GIULIA CLAIRE GIUDICE^1,2,#,*, GIACOMO IOVANE^1,2, MARTINA MANINI^1,2, ELENA RAPACCHI¹, GIUSEPPE CARUSO¹, NICOLA SIMONI³, STEFANIA FERRETTI⁴, STEFANO PULIATTI⁴, DAVIDE CAMPOBASSO⁵, SEBASTIANO BUTI^1,2

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.4, pp. 741-757, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.057278 - 19 March 2025

Abstract Background: immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC), significantly improving survival outcomes. However, a subset of patients do not respond to ICIs, prompting research into potential predictive factors. Commonly prescribed medications such as corticosteroids, proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), antibiotics (Abs), antihypertensives, and analgesics may influence ICI effectiveness. Methods: we conducted a literature search on PubMed to investigate the impact of concomitant medications on the outcomes of patients with mUC, treated with ICIs. We selected the most relevant studies and performed a narrative review. Results: corticosteroids, PPIs and Abs have been associated 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 >

MARTA SANTOS¹, DIANA MARTINS^1,2,3,4, FERNANDO MENDES^1,2,3,4,5,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.2, pp. 263-281, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.052207 - 16 January 2025

Abstract Background: Gastric Cancer (GC) is the 5th most prevalent and 4th most deadly neoplasm globally. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment approach in GC, potentially improving positive clinical outcomes while addressing the limitations of conventional therapies. GC immunotherapy modalities consist of adoptive cell therapy (ACT), cancer vaccines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Objectives: This systematic review aims to provide an overview of the advances in immune-based therapeutic approaches in GC, highlighting the potential of this therapy as a strategy for GC treatment. Methods: Key studies investigating several immunotherapeutic agents and combination therapies were searched in… More > Graphic Abstract

Evangelia Vlachou¹, Burles Avner Johnson 3rd^1,2, Elizabeth Guancial³, Kara A. Lombardo^1,2,4, Jean Hoffman-Censits^1,2

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 11875-11879, 2024

Abstract Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are approved for advanced urothelial cancer alone and as first line in combination with enfortumab vedotin. Platinum based chemotherapy which is another frontline choice is often not a treatment option for older patients due to comorbidities that increase with age. Despite ICIs being better tolerated compared to traditional chemotherapy little is known about their efficacy and toxicity in patients ≥ 90 years due to the rarity of this population in clinical trials. Our objective was to analyze the efficacy and toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients ≥ 90 years.
Materials and… More >

SNJEŽANA KAŠTELAN^1,2, ANA DIDOVIĆ PAVIČIĆ³, DARIA PAŠALIĆ⁴, TAMARA NIKUŠEVA-MARTIĆ⁵, SAMIR ČANOVIĆ^3,7, PETRA KOVAČEVIĆ^1,6,*, SUZANA KONJEVODA^3,7

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.8, pp. 1265-1285, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.048437 - 17 July 2024

Abstract Uveal and conjunctival melanomas are relatively rare tumors; nonetheless, they pose a significant risk of mortality for a large number of affected individuals. The pathogenesis of melanoma at different sites is very similar, however, the prognosis for patients with ocular melanoma remains unfavourable, primarily due to its distinctive genetic profile and tumor microenvironment. Regardless of considerable advances in understanding the genetic characteristics and biological behaviour, the treatment of uveal and conjunctival melanoma remains a formidable challenge. To enhance the prospect of success, collaborative efforts involving medical professionals and researchers in the fields of ocular biology… More > Graphic Abstract

KAIWEN TIAN^#, HANZHONG CHEN^#, QIANQIAN WANG, FENGLIAN JIANG, CHUNXIANG FENG, TENG LI, XIAOYONG PU, YANLIN TANG^*, JIUMIN LIU^*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.5, pp. 817-834, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.048737 - 06 May 2024

Abstract Background: The incidence of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is globally high; however, despite the introduction of innovative drug therapies, there remains a lack of effective biomarkers for evaluating treatment response. Recently, Caspase recruiting domain-containing protein 11 (CARD11) has garnered attention due to its significant association with tumor development and the immune system. Methods: The expression of CARD11 mRNA and protein in ccRCC were analyzed by public database and immunohistochemistry. The focus of this study is on the epigenomic modifications of CARD11, its expression of ccRCC immunophenotype, and its correlation with response to immunotherapy… More > Graphic Abstract

QIUQIANG CHEN^1,*, XUEJUN GUO², WENXUE MA^3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.32, No.1, pp. 49-60, 2024, DOI:10.32604/or.2023.042383 - 15 November 2023

Abstract Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy for the treatment of cancer, with the tumor microenvironment (TME) playing a pivotal role in modulating the immune response. CD47, a cell surface protein, has been identified as a crucial regulator of the TME and a potential therapeutic target for cancer therapy. However, the precise functions and implications of CD47 in the TME during immunotherapy for cancer patients remain incompletely understood. This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of CD47’s multifaced role in TME regulation and immune evasion, elucidating its impact on various types of immunotherapy… More > Graphic Abstract

Erin Howells¹, Lucas Wigston², Gavin Mackie¹, Ben Tran³, Louise Nott⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.30, No.3, pp. 11558-11561, 2023

Abstract Fumarate hydratase deficient (FHdef) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rare, highly aggressive and is believed to arise mostly in the setting of hereditary leiomyomatosis RCC (HLRCC) syndrome with a germline mutation of fumarate hydratase (FH) gene. There is currently little evidence regarding the most effective systemic treatment for advanced FHdef RCC. We present three cases of metastatic FHdef RCC, all achieving tumor response with combination immunotherapy ipilimumab and nivolumab (Ipi/Nivo). A 50-year-old male, a 27-year-old male and a 48-year-old female. The clinical features, diagnosis and medical imaging are reviewed. More >

Aly-Khan A. Lalani

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.30, No.4, pp. 11633-11638, 2023

Abstract For more than four decades, platinum-based chemotherapy regimens have served as the established standard-of-care for advanced urothelial carcinoma (aUC). However, advancements in our understanding of cancer biology and tumor microenvironment have reshaped the therapeutic landscape and prognosis of this incurable disease. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that target programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) are firmly established tools in aUC management, leading to enhanced life span and improved quality of life for patients.
In patients who achieved stable disease or better following platinum-based chemotherapy, maintenance therapy with the PD-L1 antibody… More >

KAIMIN FAN, JUNWEI WENG^*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.6, pp. 1199-1211, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.028516 - 19 May 2023

Abstract Immunotherapy targets the dysfunctional immune system to induce cancer cell killing by CD8-positive T cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), specifically anti-PD-1 antibodies, anti-PD-L1 antibodies, and anti-CTLA4 antibodies, have revolutionized the management of many malignancies due to their significant role in generating a durable clinical response. However, clinical data suggest that response rates to ICI monotherapy are low due to the immunologically silent characteristics of breast cancer (BC). Chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy were recently reported to alter the tumor microenvironment and enhance the ICI response. Some clinical studies supported that ICIs, in combination with More >