Emmanuel Naveen Raj^1,#, Chia-Jung Li^1,2,3,4,5,#, Shih-Hsuan Cheng¹, Su-Boon Yong^6,7, Zhi-Hong Wen^3,8, An-Jen Chiang^1,9,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.9, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.079551 - 13 August 2026

Abstract Objectives: Cervical squamous cell carcinoma and endocervical adenocarcinoma (CESC) necessitate the discovery of novel biomarkers for prognostic and therapeutic advancement. This study aims to evaluate the clinical significance of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) and its association with the tumor microenvironment (TME) in CESC. Methods: We meticulously sourced CESC data from renowned repositories such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), leveraging cutting-edge techniques including single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), spatial transcriptomics, and pharmacogenomics. Through multifaceted data analysis, we endeavored to unravel the intricate role and potential value of UBE2C in… More > Graphic Abstract

Zebiao Liu^1,#, Xuebing Zhan^1,#, Mingquan Chen¹, Junxi Lai², Wenli Zhao^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.081173 - 27 July 2026

Abstract Background: Immunosuppression contributes to breast cancer treatment failure, yet Cluster of Differentiation 74 (CD74) function in macrophages remains unclear. This study investigated how CD74 influences M1 macrophage polarization and its functional and expression profiles in breast cancer. Methods: We used bioinformatics analysis combined with in vitro cell experiments. The expression of CD74 in THP-1-derived M1 macrophages induced by Lipopolysaccharide/Interferon-gamma (LPS/IFN-γ) was knocked down by shRNA. Polarization markers were detected by WB, qPCR, and flow cytometry. Cytokines were detected by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The phagocytosis and killing effect of macrophages on MCF-7 cells were evaluated by a… More >

Katerina Basharova^1,2,#,*, Anastasia Bezrukova^1,2,#, Alena Kopytova^1,2, Anna Lavrinova^1,2, Galina Baydakova³, Irina Miliukhina^1,4, Ekaterina Zakharova^1,3, Anton Emelyanov^1,2, Sofya Pchelina^1,2, Tatiana Usenko^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.079585 - 27 July 2026

Abstract Objectives: Synucleinopathies—Parkinson’s disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA)—involve alpha-synuclein aggregation and lysosomal dysfunction. We conducted a longitudinal study of lysosomal hydrolase activities and lysosphingolipid levels in blood and PBMC-derived macrophages from patients, and assessed the effects of LRRK2 inhibition (MLi-2). Methods: Blood and PBMC-derived macrophages were collected from patients with idiopathic PD (iPD), DLB, MSA, and controls. Enzyme activities (GCase, ASMase, GLA, GALC) and lysosphingolipids (HexSph, LysoGb3, LysoSM) were measured. Autophagy markers (p62, LC3B-II) and cathepsin D (CTSD) were analyzed by western blot. Effects of MLi-2 were evaluated in macrophages. Results:… More >

Deborah Joyce¹, Wan Muhammad Farhan Syafiq Wan Mohd Nor², Ivy Chung², Amira Hajirah Abd Jamil¹, Nur Akmarina Mohd Said^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.077378 - 27 July 2026

Abstract Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and cholesterol metabolism have independently been recognized as critical regulators of cancer progression. NcRNAs modulate various aspects of cancer cell behaviour, including metabolic reprogramming, proliferation, migration, and intercellular communication. Concurrently, dysregulated cholesterol metabolism has emerged as a hallmark of cancer, influencing tumour growth, immune evasion, chemoresistance, and metastasis. While numerous studies have explored the role of ncRNAs like long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in modulating cholesterol metabolism within either cancer cells or immune cells, the mechanism of their action largely depends on the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs). However, the… More >

Hui Zhou^1,2, Jiarui Wang³, Zhili Qiao⁴, Xin Liao^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.082613 - 16 July 2026

Abstract Objectives: Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) has been extensively studied as a metabolic regulator in glioma; however, its relationship with the tumour immune microenvironment and the cellular source of its expression within the glioma tumour microenvironment (TME) remains poorly understood. This study aimed to characterise UCP2 expression at single-cell resolution and evaluate its immunological significance in glioma. Methods: This study employed an integrative multi-omics approach incorporating bulk transcriptomics, scRNA-seq (GSE70630, GSE84465, and GSE89567; n = 13,216 cells), immune deconvolution, immunohistochemistry (n = 96 glioma patients), and immunofluorescence co-staining (n = 6). Results: Pan-cancer analysis confirmed UCP2… More >

Jia Liu^1,2,#, Binqian Wang^1,#, Yannan Jin¹, Wenquan Chen¹, Ruohan Shi¹, Weijia Wang¹, Xiaojing Zhang¹, Yi Tan³, Zhongran Man³, Bo Hu¹, Lisen Zhu¹, Biao Zhang^3,*, Chongchan Bao^4,5,*, Gongsheng Jin^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.079137 - 16 July 2026

Abstract Backgrounds: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype with a unique tumor microenvironment, and while Programmed cell death protein 1/Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) blockade represents a standard immunotherapy, most patients develop primary or acquired resistance, with few alternative immunotherapeutic targets currently available. Therefore, we aimed to identify potential immune checkpoint-related molecules involved in TNBC-macrophage crosstalk, clarify the underlying molecular mechanism mediated by small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), and provide a theoretical basis for the future development of novel immunotherapeutic targets against TNBC. Methods: Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets for various breast cancer… More >

Mao-Lin Chen¹, I-Che Chung¹, Kevin Chih-Yang Huang^2,3,4,5, K. S. Clifford Chao^6,7,8, Ta-Tung Yuan^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.077930 - 16 July 2026

Abstract Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by an immunosuppressive and metabolically rewired tumor microenvironment (TME). Although α-enolase (ENO1) is frequently overexpressed in PDAC and associated with poor prognosis, its functional role in TME remodeling remains unclear. This study investigated the role of ENO1 in plasmin-dependent transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) activation and metabolic adaptation in PDAC and evaluated the therapeutic potential of HuL001, a first-in-class humanized anti-ENO1 monoclonal antibody. Methods: ENO1 expression and clinical relevance were evaluated in PDAC tissues by immunohistochemistry. Mechanistic studies were performed using PDAC-monocyte co-culture systems, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), enzyme-linked… More >

Qing Yang¹, Yi Yang^2,*, Jia Yang^3,*

Journal of Polymer Materials, Vol.43, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/jpm.2026.077474 - 30 June 2026

Abstract The pathological progression of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is closely associated with synovial inflammation and a microenvironment characterized by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Celecoxib (CEL), a commonly used cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor suffers from poor targeting and systemic side effects when administered systemically. To achieve precise drug delivery and synergistic therapy at the joint lesion site, this study designed and synthesized an amphiphilic poly (2-oxazoline) block copolymer (POxSP) with a thioketal-based ROS-responsive linker. This polymer was used to construct intelligent nanoparticles (POxSP-CEL) loaded with CEL. These nanoparticles self-assembled in aqueous solution to form spherical structures with an… More >

Gang Yang^#, Xiongwu Long^#, Xingchang Fu^*

BIOCELL, Vol.50, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2026.075362 - 29 June 2026

Abstract Objectives: Macrophage ferroptosis is linked to the pathogenesis of gouty arthritis (GA), yet the precise regulatory mechanism needs to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the role of macrophage ferroptosis in GA and its potential mechanisms. Methods: THP-1 macrophages were stimulated with monosodium urate (MSU) crystals to simulate the GA model. The co-culture system of macrophages and primary chondrocytes (hCDs) was employed to analyze the effects of macrophage-mediated inflammation on chondrocyte degeneration. Results: MSU stimulation induced ferroptosis in macrophages, accompanied by increased methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) expression (p = 0.003) and total m6A modification level (p = 0.0058).… More >

Yangyang Zhang^1,2,3,#, Ilyar Mamtili^4,#, Yonghao Chen⁵, Guangjie Ji^1,2,3,*, Chaozhao Liang^1,2,3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.079316 - 16 June 2026

Abstract Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) responds poorly to immunotherapy. We investigated the myeloid checkpoint TIM3 (HAVCR2) to define its lineage localization and regulatory logic in the PCa microenvironment. Methods: We integrated stage-resolved public single-cell RNA-seq datasets spanning primary PCa, metastatic hormone-sensitive PCa, and castration-resistant PCa. Myeloid compartments were analyzed via differential expression, regulon inference, and ligand–receptor modeling. Clinical relevance was evaluated in the Cancer Genome Atlas prostate adenocarcinoma (TCGA-PRAD) cohort and independent cohorts using a myeloid TIM3 signature. Mechanistic validation was achieved through PR domain zinc finger protein 1 (PRDM1) chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation (ChIP)–qPCR… More >