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 >

Pengtao Hu¹, Junjie Sun¹, Jian Lu², Chunlei Ge³, Hanzhi Sun¹, Chengyu Lv^1,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.076013 - 22 April 2026

Abstract Liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) are a primary cause of poor patient prognosis, closely linked to the liver’s unique tumor microenvironment (TME). Compared to primary tumors, research on the TME of liver metastases remains insufficient. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in TME research concerning colorectal liver metastases (CRLM), emphasizing its organ-specific characteristics, pivotal role in tumor progression, and influence on treatment response. We delve into the intricate cellular components of the TME—including tumor-associated macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells—and non-cellular constituents such as the extracellular matrix and soluble factors. Furthermore, we explore More >

Haojie Yang^1,2,#, Zicong Tan^1,2,#, Zihao Liu^3,#, Kang Chen^1,2, Ning Liufu^1,2,*, Fengtao Ji^1,2,*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.5, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.073081 - 22 April 2026

Abstract Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a crucial role in the progression of malignant tumors such as breast cancer. Methods: A circRNA microarray was used to detect key circRNAs in breast cancer. Expression of Circ72688 was verified by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay. Transwell assay and in vivo assay were conducted to prove the function of Circ72688. Exploring the downstream mechanism, dual-luciferase reporter assay, western blotting, and tissue microarray were performed. Results: We sequenced and identified a circRNA, hsa-circ-0072688, also known as Circ72688. Our research found that Circ72688 enhanced tumor metastasis both More >

Chang He^#, An Wang^#, Youbo Wang^#, Qinyun Ma^*, Xiaofeng Chen^*

Oncology Research, Vol.34, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/or.2026.074880 - 23 March 2026

Abstract Objectives: Combined chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT) represents a promising approach for enhancing cancer treatment efficacy. This study aimed to develop arsenic trioxide (ATO) and poly(cyclopentadithiophene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (PCPDTBT)-loaded nanoparticles (ATO/PCPDTBT@NPs) to evaluate their synergistic efficacy in inhibiting lung cancer growth and metastasis. Methods: Nanovesicles were synthesized via a streamlined protocol and subjected to 808 nm NIR irradiation to assess their photothermal conversion capabilities. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated in vitro using A549 lung carcinoma cells to assess apoptosis, invasion, and migration, and in vivo to monitor tumor volume reduction. Results: The nanoparticles exhibited excellent hemocompatibility and low cytotoxicity while More >