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 >

Shujie Yin¹, Zong Li¹, Wen-Bin Ou^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.069049 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent, excessive lipid peroxidation-driven form of regulated cell death. The core mechanisms of ferroptosis include lipid peroxidation cascade, System X_c⁻-glutathioneglutathione peroxidase 4 axis, iron and lipid metabolism chaos, the NAD(P)Hferroptosis suppressor protein 1—ubiquinone axis, and GTP cyclohydrolase 1 tetrahydrobiopterin-dihydrofolate reductase axis. Cuproptosis is triggered by copper ions and involves ferredoxin 1-mediated aggregation of lipoylated proteins, differing fundamentally from ferroptosis. Both ferroptosis and cuproptosis exhibit dual roles (promote or inhibit) in cancers. And the sensitivity of different cancer types to ferroptosis varies, which may depend on special metabolic signatures (e.g., E-cadherin loss causes epithelial–mesenchymal More > Graphic Abstract

Mingxuan Lei¹, Jiayin Xu², Xiaoying Hu², Lin Feng³, Baoping Luo^4,5,6,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.10, pp. 1947-1965, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.068926 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically begins inconspicuously and progresses swiftly, leading to most patients being diagnosed at an advanced stage. Accordingly, a pressing priority is to clarify the development mechanisms of HCC and devise efficient intervention and treatment protocols. Methods: An upstream miRNA of solute carrier transporter family 1 member 5 (SLC1A5) was predicted to be miR-122-5p by various databases, and a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the SLC1A5- and miR-122-5p-targeting relationship. SLC1A5 and miR-122-5p expression in HCC cells was quantitatively assessed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT–PCR). Western blotting… More >

Songhua Bei^1,2,#, Qianqian Guo^1,#, Xinglei Wu^1,#, Fan Li^2,#, Yaya Xie³, Xiaohong Zhang^2,*, Li Feng^2,*, Xingxing Zhang^1,3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.10, pp. 3101-3125, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.067247 - 26 September 2025

Abstract Background: Ferroptosis is a type of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, which has been linked to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. However, the contribution of lactate metabolism and its receptor, hydroxycarboxylic acid receptor 1 (HCAR1), in ferroptosis regulation in gastric cancer (GC) remains poorly understood. Focusing specifically on its effects on cell proliferation, ferroptosis regulation, and the disruption of lactate-mediated metabolic pathways, the study aimed to clarify the role of HCAR1 in GC progression. Methods: Bioinformatics analysis identified prognostic genes associated with ferroptosis in GC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated… More >

Wei Hu¹, Dan Xiong^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.9, pp. 1711-1731, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.067670 - 25 September 2025

Abstract Objectives: Podocytes undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and ferroptosis in response to hyperglycemic stimulation. This is considered an important early event in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Rhein is the main active anthraquinone derivative in several common traditional herbal medicines. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Rhein on podocyte ferroptosis and EMT. Methods: The mouse glomerular podocyte cell line MPC5 was stimulated with high glucose (HG), Rhein, and the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). Mechanistic investigations employed plasmids to overexpress and knockdown Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11),… 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 >

MOEKA NAKASHIMA, NAOKO SUGA, AKARI FUKUMOTO, SAYURI YOSHIKAWA, SATORU MATSUDA^*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.5, pp. 1007-1017, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.059657 - 18 April 2025

Abstract Malignant tumors are heterogeneous diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and/or recurrence of their malignancies. In particular, cancer stem cells (CSCs) within these tumors might be responsible for the property of invasiveness and/or therapies-resistance. CSCs are a self-renewing, awfully tumorigenic subpopulation of cancer cells, which are notorious for strong chemoresistance and are frequently responsible the aggravated invasion, metastasis, and/or recurrence. Developing targeting therapies against CSCs, therefore, may be deliberated a more encouraging mission for the greater cancer therapy. Innovation for a more potent anti-CSC treatment has been required as soon as possible.… More > Graphic Abstract

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 >

LIANGJIANG XIA¹, GUANGBIN LI², QINGWU ZHOU³, YU FENG^2,*, HAITAO MA^2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.2, pp. 465-475, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.050835 - 16 January 2025

Abstract Background: Circular RNAs play an important role in regulating lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Bioinformatics analysis identified circ_0015278 as differentially expressed in LUAD. However, the biological mechanism of circ_0015278 in LUAD has not been fully clarified, especially in ferroptosis. Materials and Methods: Bioinformatics analysis was employed to explore the downstream mechanisms of Circ_0015278, subsequently confirmed by luciferase reporter assays. The impact of Circ_0015278 on cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and ferroptosis was investigated through a loss-of-function experiment. A xenotransplantation mouse model elucidated the effect of Circ_0015278 on tumour growth. Results: Circ_0015278 exhibited downregulation in LUAD. It inhibited cell proliferation, More >

CANCAN HE^1,2,*, TINGTING ZHANG³, WEI XIONG⁴, SHENGYU WANG⁵, XIN SUN⁶

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.2, pp. 421-429, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2024.049757 - 16 January 2025

Abstract Background: The outcomes of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) remain far less than favorable. While apigenin is an anti-cancer agent, studies on the mechanism by which it regulates ALL cell cycle progression are inadequate. Ferroptosis and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling are important processes for ALL patients. However, it remains unclear whether apigenin works by affecting AMPK and apoptosis. Materials and Methods: SUP-B15 and T-cell Jurkat ALL cells were treated with apigenin, and cell viability and apoptosis were measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assays, respectively.… More >