Jiang-Nan Xia^#, Shan-Dong Zhu^#, Wei-Ling Qu, Yi-Lin Hu, Wen-Yi Ma, Wenyan Wang, Qian-Lan Huang, Bing-Yuan Lin, Jia-En Guo, Ying-Wei Li^*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.10, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.084576 - 14 September 2026

Abstract Objectives: As an aggressive subtype of breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is constrained by the limited availability of effective treatments and the absence of well-validated therapeutic targets. This study aimed to explore whether honokiol, a potent YAP/TAZ inhibitor, suppresses stem cell–like properties and enhances chemotherapeutic efficacy in TNBC by blocking YAP/TAZ–TEAD transcriptional complex. Methods: Through both in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC, the current study examined how honokiol influences cell proliferation, cancer stem cell (CSC) traits, and paclitaxel sensitivity. To uncover the molecular mechanisms, we analyzed the transcript levels and protein abundance of core YAP/TAZ–TEAD… More >

Jie Wu^1,2, Zhewei Zhang^1,2, Kit Ying Chan^1,2, Tat San Lau^1,2,*, Chi Chiu Wang^1,2,3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.9, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.083359 - 13 August 2026

Abstract Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy, with most patients diagnosed at an advanced stage and eventually relapsed after post-platinum-taxane chemotherapy. High intratumoral heterogeneity, extensive peritoneal dissemination, and acquired chemoresistance continue to restrict the clinical benefits of current therapeutic strategies. Increasing evidence indicates that ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs), a rare but highly plastic subpopulation characterized by self-renewal, multilineage differentiation, quiescence, tumor-initiating capacity, and intrinsic stress tolerance, play pivotal roles in tumor initiation, metastasis, recurrence, and therapeutic resistance. In this review, we systematically summarize current knowledge regarding the identification and functional characterization of OCSCs More >

Chao Han, Ming Hou, Ruifeng Yang, Xiaoping Wei, Cheng Wang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.9, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.081222 - 13 August 2026

Abstract Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by a poor long-term prognosis. Aberrant activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway serves as a central oncogenic driver in ESCC, with large-scale genomic analyses revealing that most patients harbor alterations in pathway-associated genes. This signaling axis orchestrates a wide array of malignant phenotypes, including tumor proliferation, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer stemness, and therapeutic resistance. Therefore, this review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the multifaceted crosstalk between various ncRNA classes and the Wnt/β-catenin axis, highlighting their roles in ESCC progression and their… More >

Babu Santha Aswani^1,#, Bethsebie Lalduhsaki Sailo^1,#, Young Yun Jung^2,#, Sosmitha Girisa¹, Mangala Hegde¹, Mohammed S Alqahtani^3,4, Mohamed Abbas⁵, Hassan Ali Almubarak⁶, Anupam Bishayee⁷, Kwang Seok Ahn^2,*, Ajaikumar B. Kunnumakkara^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.073397 - 27 July 2026

Abstract Despite the advancements achieved in chemotherapy, cancer continues to remain a formidable and lethal global threat, ranking as the second leading cause of death worldwide. The development of chemoresistance poses a significant hurdle in cancer treatment. Nonetheless, a therapeutic strategy known as chemosensitization has emerged to counteract cancer cell resistance, wherein the efficacy of one drug is augmented by another. Accumulating evidence suggests that natural products have attracted considerable attention in the cancer therapeutic realm due to their ability to combat multidrug resistance with minimal side effects. Ginsenosides, triterpene saponins extracted from Panax ginseng, have demonstrated… More > Graphic Abstract

Nadezhda Palkina¹, Aleksandra Esimbekova¹, Ekaterina Lapkina¹, Victoriia Kutsenko¹, Ivan Zinchenko¹, Egor Dereviankin¹, Elena Anisimova², Andrei Savchenko², Tatiana Ruksha^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.069234 - 22 April 2026

Abstract Background: Cancer cells are characterized by the ability to exit reversibly from the cell cycle to resist an unfavorable environment. This study elucidates alterations in adhesion molecule expression in melanoma cells acquiring resistance to dacarbazine (DTIC) and entering the G0 state. Plexin A2 (PLXNA2) was identified as a focal adhesion-related molecule implicated in carcinogenesis. Methods: Applying siRNA-mediated knockdown, the effects of altered PLXNA2 expression in melanoma cells were evaluated. PLXNA2 expression was determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR, immunoblotting, and immunocytochemistry. Cell cycle phase distribution among dacarbazine-treated cells and their apoptosis levels were quantified by… More >

Candela Cives-Losada^1,2, Cristiana Soldani², Michela Anna Polidoro², Barbara Franceschini², Ana Lleo^3,4, Marcello Di Martino^1,5, Matteo Donadon^1,5,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.074093 - 23 March 2026

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second deadliest cancer worldwide, being the presence of metastasis, mainly in the liver, a major contributor to high mortality rates in affected patients. The tumor microenvironment (TME)—comprised of interacting endothelial, stromal, and immune cells—plays a critical role in creating a supportive niche for tumor cell colonization and immune evasion and, thus, the establishment of metastases. The liver’s intrinsic nature further facilitates the development of immune tolerance, mediated by regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and soluble factors such as anti-inflammatory cytokines, which together dampen antitumor immune responses. This immunosuppressive milieu More > Graphic Abstract

Yen-Pin Chen^1,2,3, Rathinasamy Baskaran⁴, Hema Sri Devi⁴, Chaouhan Hitesh Singh⁴, Yu-Jung Lin^4,5, Marthandam Asokan Shibu⁶, Wei-Wen Kuo⁷, Shih-Chieh Liao⁸, Ming-Cheng Chen⁹, Tso-Fu Wang¹⁰, Chi-Cheng Li¹¹, Tsung-Jung Ho¹², Tzu-Ching Shih¹³, Shinn-Zong Lin^14,15,16,*, Chih-Yang Huang^4,17,18,19,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.073080 - 23 March 2026

Abstract Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that play a key role in the development of chemoresistance in various cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we aimed to study the underlying mechanisms of miRNA in chemotherapy-resistant CRC. Methods: LoVo CRC cell line was exposed to oxaliplatin at an increased dose, and cells were cultured in the presence of oxaliplatin to develop LoVoOXR cells. Microarray and Quantitative Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot, and transwell assay were used to evaluate the chemoresistance in LoVo^OXR CRC cells. Results: Microarray and qRT-PCR analysis showed… More >

Xiaoyu Zhang^1,#, RenFei Zong^1,#, Yan Sun¹, Nan Chen², Kunyao Zhu¹, Hang Tong¹, Tinghao Li¹, Junlong Zhu¹, Zijia Qin¹, Linfeng Wu¹, Aimin Wang¹, Weiyang He^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.072084 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Objective: While cisplatin-based chemotherapy is pivotal for advanced bladder cancer, acquired resistance remains a major obstacle. This study investigates key molecular drivers of this resistance and potential reversal strategies. Methods: We established GC (Gemcitabine and Cisplatin)-resistant T24-R and UC3-R cell lines from T24 and UM-UC-3 (UC3) cells. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses identified differentially expressed molecules. Apoptosis and cell viability were assessed by flow cytometry and CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) assays, while RT-qPCR (Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction) and Western blot analyzed gene and protein expression. Immunofluorescence evaluated FAK (Focal Adhesion Kinase) phosphorylation, and a… More >

Sha Hu^1,2,#, Wenjing Wang^1,#, Qianfang Hu^3,#, Rujuan Zheng^1,2, Qinghe Huang^1,2, Hui Shi^1,2, Xinyuan Ding^3,*, Wenjuan Wang^1,2,*, Zengyan Zhu^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.068967 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Objectives: Acquired resistance to paclitaxel represents a critical barrier to the effective chemotherapy of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The present study aimed to elucidate the molecular and pharmacological mechanisms promoting paclitaxel resistance in NSCLC and to explore potential strategies for overcoming this resistance. Methods: Here, we report an integrated pharmacological and analytical approach to quantify paclitaxel disposition and overcome resistance in a A549/TAX cell model (paclitaxel-resistant A549 cells). Results: Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation, and apoptosis assays confirmed that A549/TAX cells exhibited marked resistance to paclitaxel relative to parental A549 cells. Based on… More >

Jianfa Wu^1,2,3, Huang Chen³, Sihong Wang^1,2, Lei Peng^1,2, Xiaoying Hu^1,2, Zhou Liu^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.070542 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Objectives: Ribosomal protein S6 kinase A2 (RPS6KA2) has been identified as a potential prognostic biomarker in several cancers, including breast cancer, glioblastoma, and prostate cancer. However, its functional significance in ovarian cancer is not well characterized. This study was designed to explore the therapeutic relevance of modulating RPS6KA2 in the context of ovarian cancer, particularly in relation to cisplatin resistance. Methods: The expression levels of RPS6KA2 and key regulators involved in autophagy and ferroptosis were assessed using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, immunofluorescence staining, immunohistochemistry, and western blotting. Prognostic associations were conducted using the Kaplan-Meier Plotter database.… More >