Ping Wang^1,2,#, Yan-Han Chen^1,2,#, Ze-Tao Zhan^1,2, Jun-Xiang Zeng^1,2, Yu Chen^3,4, Yuan Lin^1,2, Tao Chen^1,5,*, Wei-Jie Zhou^1,2,5,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.071902 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Background: Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative widely used in vaccines. This study aimed to investigate its potential antitumor effects and mechanisms in solid malignancies, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC) and melanoma. Methods: A combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches was employed. Cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion were assessed using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, ATP viability, Western blotting, flow cytometry, wound-healing and Transwell assays. Subcutaneous, lung metastases, and Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium Salt (AOM/DSS)-induced colitis-associated CRC models were established to examine antitumor efficacy and safety. The functional role of mercury ions was validated using structural… More >

Stefano Dore¹, Matteo Sacchi¹, Antonio Pinna¹, Giuseppe Palmieri^2,3, Panagiotis Paliogiannis^4,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.071831 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular cancer, with approximately 5.2 individuals per million affected annually in the United States. It represents approximately 3% of the global malignant melanoma cases, accounting for 80% of the overall noncutaneous melanomas. Clinically, it remains silent in about 30% of the cases; when symptomatic, it generally causes metamorphopsia (painless loss or distortion of vision) and/or photopsia (flashing or flickering of light in the visual field). Discoloration of the iris, astigmatism, glaucoma, and even blindness are other, less common clinical manifestations. Several pathophysiological mechanisms underlie the development of UM.… More >

Kamila Mozga¹, Olga Synowiecka¹, Igor Rydzyk¹, Anna Marek¹, Ewelina Wieczorek¹, Alicja Petniak^2,*, Paulina Gil-Kulik²

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.070505 - 19 January 2026

Abstract Objectives: Immunotherapy based on immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has become a key treatment for melanoma. However, the increasing number of cases of melanoma resistant to immunotherapy highlights the need to develop methods to overcome this resistance. This study aims to collect the most recent information on melanoma immunotherapy, discuss potential strategies to overcome resistance to immunotherapy, and identify areas that require further analysis. Methods: To achieve this goal, scientific publications from 2021–2024 available in PubMed and Google Scholar databases were analyzed. The databases were searched using the following terms: “melanoma”, “immunotherapy”, “Immune Checkpoint Blockade”, and More >

Tao Zhu¹, Taofeng Wei¹, Mingdong Yang¹, Junjun Xu¹, Huifang Jiang¹, Wei He¹, Juyan Zheng^2,*, Haibin Dai^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.1, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.070180 - 30 December 2025

Abstract Background: Aberrant expression of transcription factors (TFs) is a key mechanism mediating tumor immune escape and therapeutic resistance. The involvement of E26 transformation-specific (ETS) family of TFs in immune regulation is not fully understood. The study aimed to elucidate the function of E-twenty-six variant 4 (ETV4) in tumor immune evasion and its potential as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy in melanoma. Methods: The expression patterns of ETS family TFs were analyzed in melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to dissect the cellular expression and function of ETV4 in the tumor… More >

Meng Cao, Rundong Zhang, Anlan Hong, Shanyuan Ye, Zequn Qiu, Dongqing Li, Tong Lin^*, Yan Wang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.9, pp. 2507-2527, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.064780 - 28 August 2025

Abstract Introduction: Acral melanoma (AM) is the predominant subtype of cutaneous melanoma in Asian populations, characterized by more aggressive clinical features and limited neoadjuvant therapy response. Centrosomal protein 55 kDa (CEP55) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various malignancies, but its role in AM remains undefined. Methods: CEP55 expression in melanoma tissues and cell lines was analyzed by RT-qPCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Databases (GEPIA, Sangerbox, Kaplan-Meier plotter, and TIMER) were used to analyze the expression of CEP55 and its correlation with clinical data of melanoma patients. Functional assays were conducted in vitro and in vivo.… More >

Yuriy Mayasin¹, Maria Osinnikova¹, Daria Osadchaya¹, Victoria Dmitrienko¹, Anna Gorodilova¹, Chulpan Kharisova¹, Kristina Kitaeva¹, Ivan Filin¹, Valeria Solovyeva¹, Albert Rizvanov^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.9, pp. 2221-2242, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.064677 - 28 August 2025

Abstract Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm with a high propensity to metastasize, arising from melanocytes and contributing significantly to global morbidity and mortality. Despite the demonstrated efficacy of many immunotherapy approaches, these methods rely on direct destruction of tumor cells with minimal impact on the aggregate of nearby non-tumor cells, the extracellular matrix, and blood vessels that form the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME is known to be heterogeneous and dynamic, exerting both antitumor and pro-tumor effects depending on the specific features and stage of carcinogenesis. TME has been shown in several studies to promote… More >

Kun Lan¹, Feiyang Gao¹, Xiaoliang Jiang^1,*, Jianzhen Cheng^2,*, Simon Fong³

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.84, No.3, pp. 4805-4824, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2025.065864 - 30 July 2025

Abstract With the continuous development of artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques, there have been effective methods supporting the work of dermatologist in the field of skin cancer detection. However, object significant challenges have been presented in accurately segmenting melanomas in dermoscopic images due to the objects that could interfere human observations, such as bubbles and scales. To address these challenges, we propose a dual U-Net network framework for skin melanoma segmentation. In our proposed architecture, we introduce several innovative components that aim to enhance the performance and capabilities of the traditional U-Net. First, we establish… More >

Wenfei Luo^1,#, Dingming Song^2,#, Yibo He³, Judong Song^4,*, Yunzhen Ding^5,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.8, pp. 1875-1893, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.063843 - 18 July 2025

Abstract Malignant melanoma, characterized by its high metastatic potential and resistance to conventional therapies, presents a major challenge in oncology. This review explores the current status and advancements in tumor vaccines for melanoma, focusing on peptide, DNA/RNA, dendritic cell, tumor cell, and neoantigen-based vaccines. Despite promising results, significant challenges remain, including the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, patient heterogeneity, and the need for more effective antigen presentation. Recent strategies, such as combining vaccines with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), aim to counteract immune evasion and enhance T cell responses. Emerging approaches, including personalized neoantigen vaccines and the use of 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 >

Chang-Eui Hong¹, Su-Yun Lyu^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.2, pp. 289-314, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.061334 - 28 February 2025

Abstract Objectives: Among cutaneous malignancies, melanoma stands out for its particularly aggressive nature, with therapeutic interventions becoming notably limited once the disease progresses. In this research, we investigate the tumor-suppressing capabilities of water-extracted Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) and its purified lectin component (V. album var. coloratum agglutinin, VCA) using two distinct mouse melanoma models: B16BL6 and B16F10 cell lines. Methods: The impact of water extract and VCA treatments on melanoma cells was assessed through multiple experimental approaches, examining cellular survival rates, programmed cell death pathways, multicaspase activity, and cell cycle distribution patterns. To elucidate the interconnections among… More >