Tingting Yang¹, Meng Guan¹, Xin Guan¹, Lihua Kang¹, Xiaomeng Wang¹, Yanjie Guan¹, Yang Yang², Wei Deng³, Guoxiang Wang^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.083563 - 16 July 2026

Abstract Background: Tumor-driven vascular remodeling is crucial for breast cancer metastasis; yet, the role of tumor-derived exosomal miRNAs in this process remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the clinical relevance and the underlying mechanism of breast cancer-derived exosomal miR-92b-3p in endothelial reprogramming. Methods: miR-92b-3p expression was evaluated in the TCGA cohort and clinical patient samples. The effects of exosomal miR-92b-3p from breast cancer cells on recipient human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) were assessed using in vitro angiogenesis, migration, and permeability assays, alongside in vivo murine xenograft models. Mechanistic targets were validated via dual-luciferase and rescue experiments. Results: miR-92b-3p was… More >

Xin Qian, Xian Deng, Rongjia Zhang, Xu Li, Dehui Qiao, Xiaodong Chen, Hui Yang^*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.8, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.079674 - 16 July 2026

Abstract Background: Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) is a rare, aggressive malignancy. Cardiac metastasis from PDTC is exceedingly uncommon. We report early cardiac metastasis occurring shortly after radical thyroidectomy to highlight atypical distant spread and management challenges. Case Description: A 62-year-old woman presented four months after thyroidectomy with progressive exertional dyspnoea, fatigue, productive cough, facial oedema, lip cyanosis, and dizziness. Postoperative pathology showed poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma of the right lobe and isthmus (pT2N1bM0) with capsular and recurrent laryngeal nerve invasion. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a right atrial mass that enlarged to 5.3 × 4.0 cm and extended toward… More >

Hsing-Ju Wu^1,2, Yu-Chieh Tsai^3,*, Hung-Yu Lin^2,4,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.37, No.2, pp. 121-135, 2026, DOI:10.32604/ecn.2026.079012 - 30 June 2026

Abstract Backgrounds: Lymph node metastasis is a critical determinant of breast cancer prognosis, yet the specific microenvironmental cytokines driving this process remain elusive. This study aims to identify key prognostic cytokines linking nodal metastasis to tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling and to evaluate their clinical utility. Methods: A predefined panel of 176 microenvironmental genes was evaluated using differential expression analysis and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) algorithm on the TCGA-BRCA cohort to identify optimal predictors of nodal metastasis. Prognostic value was assessed via Kaplan-Meier, subgroup, and multivariate Cox regression analyses, and validated across five… More > Graphic Abstract

Zhengzheng Li^1,2,#, Haitong Xie^1,2,#, Yujuan Chen^1,2, Qiuyan Li³, Xing Yuan⁴, Xinyue Dai³, Jie Chen^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.081209 - 16 June 2026

Abstract Objectives: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapies. Phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) drives TNBC progression, but mechanisms governing its protein stability remain unclear. This study aims to identify the E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for PGK1 degradation and evaluate its therapeutic potential against metastasis. Methods: Clinical datasets and 50 human TNBC tissues were analyzed via multiplex immunohistochemistry. Co-immunoprecipitation, ubiquitination linkage assays, and structural modeling were utilized for in vitro mechanistic studies in TNBC cells. Additionally, functional impacts on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis were evaluated using transwell assays and an in vivo mouse lung metastasis… More >

Ye Ri Han^1,*, Sang Bong Lee^2,3,4,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.7, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.079556 - 16 June 2026

Abstract Colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with clinical outcomes limited by biological heterogeneity and inconsistent therapeutic responses. Despite advances in systemic chemotherapy, targeted agents, immunotherapy, and liver-directed interventions, the translation of preclinical efficacy into clinical benefit remains suboptimal, highlighting the need for predictive experimental models. However, therapeutic efficacy in CRLM is highly model-dependent, and discrepancies between preclinical findings and clinical outcomes often arise from differences in biological fidelity across experimental platforms. This review critically examines preclinical platforms used to study CRLM, with emphasis on orthotopic and metastatic models that More >

Dat Quoc Tran¹, Mayu Takeda², Eiji Sugihara², Tetsuya Tsukamoto^2,3, Yasushi Hoshikawa⁴, Yasuyoshi Mizutani¹, Kazuya Shiogama⁵, Naoya Asai⁶, Atsuko Niimi¹, Makoto Sumitomo², Hideyuki Saya², Motoshi Suzuki^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.078309 - 21 May 2026

Abstract Objectives: Genetic risk models have substantially advanced our understanding of germline pathogenic variants (GPVs) in some malignancies, whereas their clinical significance in lung cancer remains unclear. The present study aimed to better understand potential contribution of GPVs to lung cancer etiology. Methods: A targeted sequencing panel of 143 cancer-related genes was applied to analyze 26 distinct lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tumors from 11 patients histopathologically diagnosed with multiple primary lung cancers (MPLC). Tumor classification was performed through integrated evaluation of mutation profiles, and variants shared among tumor lesions were further validated as likely germline or somatic mutations… More >

Evangelia Pantazaka^1,#, Dimitrios Papakonstantinou^1,#, Argyro Roumeliotou¹, Dafni Graikioti², Sotirios Tsakas¹, Nefeli Zacharopoulou³, Stuart S. Martin⁴, Athanasios Kotsakis⁵, Constantinos M. Athanassopoulos², Catherine Alix-Panabières^6,7,8, Galatea Kallergi^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.075600 - 21 May 2026

Abstract Objectives: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) drive metastasis and exhibit resistance to conventional therapies, making them crucial therapeutic targets. Artesunate (AS), a derivative of artemisinin, displays anticancer activity, including inhibition of JunB proto-oncogene (JUNB) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and upregulation of Vimentin (VIM), markers related to poor prognosis in CTCs. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of AS on adherent and non-adherent cancer cell lines (breast, lung, colon), the patient-derived colon cancer CTC-MCC-41 line, and CTCs from small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients. Methods: AS’s effect was evaluated using TetherChip technology. Cell viability was measured using… More > Graphic Abstract

Teng Zhu^1,#, Siwen Zang^2,#, Bo Chen^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.6, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.067876 - 21 May 2026

Abstract Background: Orbital metastases are rare in breast cancer, representing only 3–10% of ocular metastases. This report highlights a case where orbital involvement was the first indicator of systemic metastatic spread. Case Presentation: A 72-year-old woman with a history of Estrogen Receptor (ER)-positive (5%), Progesterone Receptor (PR)-negative, Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer (diagnosed 3 years prior) presented with right orbital pain, diplopia, and periorbital swelling. Imaging revealed multiple myositis of the extraocular muscles, compressive displacement of the optic nerve, and right periorbital edema. Bone scintigraphy identified multifocal skeletal metastases. A navigation-assisted biopsy confirmed metastatic invasive More >

Cong Liu¹, Zhenyu Zhang¹, Ronghua Feng¹, Mengsi Zeng¹, Hui Li¹, Mei Zhu¹, Lan Zhuang^2,*, Zongjuan Li^1,*, Tao Wu^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.077059 - 22 April 2026

Abstract Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, primarily due to distant metastasis. Metabolic reprogramming plays a critical role in tumor growth and spread, but the metabolic mechanisms underlying metastasis in breast cancer remain unclear. The primary objective of this study is to identify molecular targets mediating breast cancer progression and to evaluate whether targeting the metabolic reprogramming represents a potential therapeutic strategy. Methods: To uncover key metabolic regulators involved in breast cancer progression, we analyzed high-throughput RNA sequencing data and identified Paired Like Homeodomain 1 (PITX1) as a frequently upregulated… More >

Nevena Todorovic^1,#, Sara Bertorello^1,#, Giulia Nannini¹, Serena Pillozzi², Simonetta Bianchi³, Maria Raffaella Ambrosio⁴, Elena Niccolai¹, Simone Baldi¹, Amedeo Amedei^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.076380 - 22 April 2026

Abstract Background: Cancer remains one of the leading global health challenges, with lung cancer (LC), breast cancer (BC), and colorectal cancer (CRC) among the most prevalent and deadly malignancies. The intratumoral microbiota (IM), a distinct microbial ecosystem within tumor tissues, has recently emerged as a potential modulator of carcinogenesis, immune responses, and metastatic progression. However, comparative cross-cancer analyses remain limited. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the IM across these cancer types, with particular emphasis on distinguishing metastatic from non-metastatic malignancies, to identify tumor-specific microbial signatures with potential relevance for biomarker discovery, patient stratification, and microbiota-informed… More >