Russel J. Reiter^1,*, Ramaswamy Sharma^2,*, Walter Manucha³, Walter Balduini⁴, Doris Loh⁵, Demetrios A. Spandidos⁶, Alejandro Romero⁷, Vasiliki E. Georgakopoulou⁸, Wei Zhu⁹

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.11, pp. 2033-2067, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.067661 - 24 November 2025

Abstract The development of cancer cell resistance to conventional treatments continues to be a major obstacle in the successful treatment of tumors of many types. The discovery of a highly efficient direct and indirect free radical scavenger, melatonin, in the mitochondrial matrix may be a factor in determining both the occurrence of cancer cell drug insensitivity as well as radioresistance. This relates to two of the known hallmarks of cancer, i.e., exaggerated free radical generation in the mitochondria and the development of Warburg type metabolism (glycolysis). The hypothesis elaborated in this report assumes that the high… More >

Tetiana O. Yastreb^1,2, Mykola V. Shevchenko², Liubov N. Kobyzeva^1,3, Alexander I. Oboznyi¹, Yuriy E. Kolupaev^1,2,4,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 3125-3143, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.071822 - 29 October 2025

Abstract β-Aminobutyric acid (BABA) is a physiologically active plant compound that has not been extensively studied. It has been shown to increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stress factors and enhance seed germination in certain plant species. However, its effects on cereal grains with low germination rates have not yet been studied. This study investigated the effects of BABA on the germination of aged triticale seeds, the metabolite content of seedlings, and the state of their antioxidant systems. The study found that a three-hour treatment of seeds in BABA solutions at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to… More > Graphic Abstract

Xiaomei He¹, Xiaoting Wan¹, Muhammad Arif ², Ziyang Hu¹, Haiyu Wang¹, Muhammad Aamir Manzoor^3,*, Cheng Song^1,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.10, pp. 2985-3002, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070697 - 29 October 2025

Abstract Melatonin is a multifunctional molecule found in all organisms that has been shown to play a crucial role in plant growth, development, and stress response. Plant melatonin is typically synthesized in organelles termed chloroplasts, and the mechanisms of its synthesis and metabolic pathways have been extensively studied. Melatonin serves a significant regulatory function in plant growth and development, influencing the morphological and physiological characteristics of plants by modulating biological processes. While studies on plant melatonin receptors are in their early stages compared to studies in animal receptors, the binding mechanism with melatonin is now recognized… More >

Sihai Duan^1,2,#, Xiaoyan Li^3,#, Cailu Song³, Song Wu³, Yunyun Tang^3,4, Qing Bao^3,4, Na Li^3,*, Hailin Tang^3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.11, pp. 3543-3556, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.068292 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Objectives: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the breast cancer subtype with the poorest prognosis. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular pathways through which isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a natural chalcone compound derived from licorice and other plant roots, targets interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) in TNBC. Methods: TNBC cell lines were cultured and subjected to IRF5 knockdown using short hairpin RNA. Cell proliferation was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and colony formation assays. Western blotting and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were employed to measure expression levels of IRF5, solute carrier family… More >

Botao Pan¹, Zirun Luo², Xiujuan Yang¹, Qingqing Liu³, Zhimin Yang^4,*, Chenglai Xia^1,3,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.11, pp. 3557-3582, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.068119 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Objectives: Breast cancer is characterized by significant metabolic dysregulation, in which altered enzyme activity plays a central role. Malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2), a key enzyme in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, has been implicated in several malignancies, but its role in breast cancer tumorigenesis and progression remains unclear. We aimed to elucidate the oncogenic role of MDH2 in breast cancer and to evaluate its potential as a diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic biomarker. Methods: We combined in vitro cell-based assays with mouse xenograft models to systematically dissect how MDH2 governs breast cancer growth. In vitro, we assessed the effects… More >

Xiangnan Feng^1,#, Dayong Li^2,#, Pingyu Wang¹, Xinyu Li², Guangyao Li^2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.11, pp. 3327-3346, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.067343 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Lactylation, a post-translational modification process that adds lactate groups to lysine residues, plays a crucial role in cancer biology, especially in drug resistance. However, the specific molecular mechanisms of lactylation in cancer progression and drug resistance are still unclear, and therapeutic strategies targeting the lactylation pathway are expected to overcome metabolic reprogramming and immune evasion. Therefore, this article provides a comprehensive description and summary of lactylation modification and tumor drug resistance. Numerous studies have shown that, due to the Warburg effect, there is an abnormally high level of lactate in tumor cells. Elevated levels of… More >

Wenjie Zhou^#, Jiawei Ding^#, Danfeng Xu^*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.11, pp. 3493-3522, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.066783 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Objectives: Despite the fact that prostate cancer is one of the most common tumors in men, this study intends to evaluate the predictive significance of immune and metabolic genes in prostate cancer using multi-omics data and experimental validation. Methods: The research developed and validated a prognostic model utilizing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, integrating immune and metabolic gene sets. Additionally, the prognostic gene Adenylate Kinase 5 (AK5) was analyzed in prostate cancer tissue microarrays from Ruijin Hospital. The functional role of the AK5 gene was validated through knockdown and… More >

Yuanyuan Yang^1,2,#, Peipei Zhao^1,2,#, Hepu Chen^1,3, Yixuan Tu⁴, Yujia Zhou², Xu Liu³, Lyly Sreang³, Zhigang Zhou^3,5,*, Jian Tu^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.11, pp. 3247-3268, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.066440 - 22 October 2025

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by its highly invasive and metastatic potential, as well as a propensity for recurrence, contributing to treatment failure and increased mortality. Under physiological conditions, the liver maintains a balance in lipid biosynthesis, degradation, storage, and transport. HCC exhibits dysregulated lipid metabolism, driving tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. This review aims to elucidate the roles of fatty acid, sphingolipid, and cholesterol metabolism in HCC pathogenesis and explore emerging therapeutic strategies targeting these pathways. Key findings demonstrate that upregulated enzymes like fatty acid synthase (FASN), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), enhance de novo lipogenesis and… More >

Cheng Song^1,*, Muhammad Abdullah², Muhammad Aamir Manzoor^3,*

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.94, No.9, pp. 2949-2955, 2025, DOI:10.32604/phyton.2025.070974 - 30 September 2025

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Minseo Hong, Jea-Hyun Baek^*

Oncology Research, Vol.33, No.10, pp. 2699-2724, 2025, DOI:10.32604/or.2025.067487 - 26 September 2025

Abstract AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase that functions as a central regulator of cellular energy status. In cancer, where metabolic reprogramming enables rapid proliferation and survival under stress, AMPK functions as a metabolic checkpoint that restrains tumor growth by inhibiting biosynthetic pathways and promoting catabolic processes, such as autophagy and fatty acid oxidation. Given its role in opposing many hallmarks of cancer metabolism, AMPK has attracted significant interest as a therapeutic target. This review examines the molecular mechanisms by which AMPK influences tumor progression and evaluates the preclinical and clinical evidence… More >