Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-10-24DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2025.5814
Rama Rao Malla, Hari Raghu, Jasti S Rao
Following the publication of the above paper, a potential problem regarding the presentation of the co‑localization experiments shown in Fig. 5A and C was brought to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader. Specifically, the Flotillin/gp91 co‑localization panels (Fig. 5A) appeared to be unexpectedly similar to the Flotillin/p22 panels (Fig. 5C), even though, according to the Materials and methods section, the different antibody treatments that were reported might have precluded the possibility of these images looking so similar. The authors were contacted by the Editorial Office to offer an explanation for this potential anomaly in the presentation of the data in this paper (or to clarify how the experiments had been performed), although up to this time, no response from them has been forthcoming. Owing to the fact that the Editorial Office has been made aware of potential issues surrounding the scientific integrity of this paper, we are issuing an Expression of Concern to notify readers of this potential problem while the Editorial Office continues to investigate this matter further. [International Journal of Oncology 37: 1483‑1493, 2010; DOI: 10.3892/ijo_00000801].
{"title":"[Expression of Concern] Regulation of NADPH oxidase (Nox2) by lipid rafts in breast carcinoma cells.","authors":"Rama Rao Malla, Hari Raghu, Jasti S Rao","doi":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5814","DOIUrl":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5814","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Following the publication of the above paper, a potential problem regarding the presentation of the co‑localization experiments shown in Fig. 5A and C was brought to the Editor's attention by a concerned reader. Specifically, the Flotillin/gp91 co‑localization panels (Fig. 5A) appeared to be unexpectedly similar to the Flotillin/p22 panels (Fig. 5C), even though, according to the Materials and methods section, the different antibody treatments that were reported might have precluded the possibility of these images looking so similar. The authors were contacted by the Editorial Office to offer an explanation for this potential anomaly in the presentation of the data in this paper (or to clarify how the experiments had been performed), although up to this time, no response from them has been forthcoming. Owing to the fact that the Editorial Office has been made aware of potential issues surrounding the scientific integrity of this paper, we are issuing an Expression of Concern to notify readers of this potential problem while the Editorial Office continues to investigate this matter further. [International Journal of Oncology 37: 1483‑1493, 2010; DOI: 10.3892/ijo_00000801].</p>","PeriodicalId":14175,"journal":{"name":"International journal of oncology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12668826/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145354615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-07DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2025.5815
Zhefei Du, Zhenyu Cao, Chao Fang, Daihan Xie, Lixin Xie, Chunxia Su, Yu Huo
Transition‑metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively studied owing to their unique physical and chemical properties, ability to form a variety of nanostructures and targeting properties. After surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy, immunotherapy has emerged as a major strategy for cancer treatment. In particular, immune checkpoint inhibition has attracted much attention in preclinical and clinical applications. The combination of transition‑metal NPs with tumor immunotherapy offers great potential. Therefore, the present review focused on four major transition‑metal NPs (Au, Ag, Cu and Fe NPs) and their respective categories, presented their characteristics and roles in the biomedical field and discussed their potential toxicities. In addition, the mechanisms of action of different tumor immunotherapies and the applications of transition‑metal NPs in tumor immunotherapy are discussed. The current status of, and challenges associated, with the clinical transformation of transition‑metal NPs in tumor immunotherapy are described to provide ideas for the subsequent development and clinical application of transition‑metal NPs.
{"title":"Cancer immunotherapy strategies based on transition‑metal medical materials: Still a long way to go (Review).","authors":"Zhefei Du, Zhenyu Cao, Chao Fang, Daihan Xie, Lixin Xie, Chunxia Su, Yu Huo","doi":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5815","DOIUrl":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5815","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Transition‑metal nanoparticles (NPs) have been extensively studied owing to their unique physical and chemical properties, ability to form a variety of nanostructures and targeting properties. After surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy, immunotherapy has emerged as a major strategy for cancer treatment. In particular, immune checkpoint inhibition has attracted much attention in preclinical and clinical applications. The combination of transition‑metal NPs with tumor immunotherapy offers great potential. Therefore, the present review focused on four major transition‑metal NPs (Au, Ag, Cu and Fe NPs) and their respective categories, presented their characteristics and roles in the biomedical field and discussed their potential toxicities. In addition, the mechanisms of action of different tumor immunotherapies and the applications of transition‑metal NPs in tumor immunotherapy are discussed. The current status of, and challenges associated, with the clinical transformation of transition‑metal NPs in tumor immunotherapy are described to provide ideas for the subsequent development and clinical application of transition‑metal NPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":14175,"journal":{"name":"International journal of oncology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12668827/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145458607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-28DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2025.5825
Fangying Li, Zhenhua Gao
Obesity is a global epidemic strongly associated with increased breast cancer (BC) risk and mortality, particularly in postmenopausal women. Obesity‑induced chronic breast inflammation drives carcinogenesis via dysregulated adipokine signaling (leptin and adiponectin), insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and pro‑inflammatory cytokines (TNF‑α and IL‑6). These factors activate oncogenic pathways (NF‑κB and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways), which promote DNA damage, cell proliferation and immunosuppression. Clinically, obesity is associated with advanced tumor presentation, reduced treatment efficacy and poorer survival compared with those of normal‑weight patients with BC. Despite progress, the molecular interactions between obesity‑related inflammation and BC remain incompletely understood, and diagnostic/prognostic tools for obese patients require refinement. The present review synthesizes current evidence on obesity‑BC mechanisms and their clinical translation to inform prevention and precision oncology strategies.
{"title":"Obesity, chronic breast inflammation and carcinogenesis: Molecular pathways and clinical implications (Review).","authors":"Fangying Li, Zhenhua Gao","doi":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5825","DOIUrl":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5825","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Obesity is a global epidemic strongly associated with increased breast cancer (BC) risk and mortality, particularly in postmenopausal women. Obesity‑induced chronic breast inflammation drives carcinogenesis via dysregulated adipokine signaling (leptin and adiponectin), insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia and pro‑inflammatory cytokines (TNF‑α and IL‑6). These factors activate oncogenic pathways (NF‑κB and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways), which promote DNA damage, cell proliferation and immunosuppression. Clinically, obesity is associated with advanced tumor presentation, reduced treatment efficacy and poorer survival compared with those of normal‑weight patients with BC. Despite progress, the molecular interactions between obesity‑related inflammation and BC remain incompletely understood, and diagnostic/prognostic tools for obese patients require refinement. The present review synthesizes current evidence on obesity‑BC mechanisms and their clinical translation to inform prevention and precision oncology strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":14175,"journal":{"name":"International journal of oncology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12674201/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145633726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-28DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2025.5824
Li Liu, Li Yang, Hongmin Li, Tianlu Shang, Lihan Liu
Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer‑related death. Despite advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy, treatment outcomes remain suboptimal due to tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance. The tumor microenvironment (TME), a dynamic ecosystem comprising immune cells, stromal components, extracellular matrix and bioactive molecules, serves a critical role in promoting tumor progression and resistance. The present review comprehensively analyzes the molecular mechanisms underlying TME‑mediated immune evasion, and resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. In addition, emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the TME are highlighted, such as immune microenvironment modulation, metabolic and epigenetic interventions, and nanotechnology‑based drug delivery systems. By integrating multi‑omics datasets and spatial transcriptomics, TME‑directed interventions are moving toward biomarker‑guided, personalized regimens.
{"title":"The tumor microenvironment in lung cancer: Heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance and emerging treatment strategies (Review).","authors":"Li Liu, Li Yang, Hongmin Li, Tianlu Shang, Lihan Liu","doi":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5824","DOIUrl":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5824","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer‑related death. Despite advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy, treatment outcomes remain suboptimal due to tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance. The tumor microenvironment (TME), a dynamic ecosystem comprising immune cells, stromal components, extracellular matrix and bioactive molecules, serves a critical role in promoting tumor progression and resistance. The present review comprehensively analyzes the molecular mechanisms underlying TME‑mediated immune evasion, and resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. In addition, emerging therapeutic strategies targeting the TME are highlighted, such as immune microenvironment modulation, metabolic and epigenetic interventions, and nanotechnology‑based drug delivery systems. By integrating multi‑omics datasets and spatial transcriptomics, TME‑directed interventions are moving toward biomarker‑guided, personalized regimens.</p>","PeriodicalId":14175,"journal":{"name":"International journal of oncology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12674202/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145633709","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to rank as a predominant contributor to cancer‑related mortality on a global scale, attributed to its insidious onset and unfavorable prognosis. The ribosomal protein lateral stalk subunit P0 (RPLP0) has recently gathered widespread attention as a crucial factor in the pathological progression of various neoplasms; however, its exact role in HCC remains inadequately defined. Consequently, the present study endeavored to shed light on the function and mechanistic underpinnings of RPLP0 in HCC and assess its clinical significance and potential as a therapeutic target. qPCR and western blot analyses indicated that RPLP0 was markedly upregulated in HCC, with its elevated levels correlating with poorer survival outcomes. Silencing RPLP0 expression suppressed the proliferative, invasive, migratory, and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) abilities of HCC cells, while concurrently promoting apoptosis, autophagy, and G2/M cell cycle arrest, as evidenced by CCK‑8, colony formation, Transwell assays and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Moreover, the findings revealed that RPLP0 downregulation mediated the suppression of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway through reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, which in turn downregulated c‑Myc expression. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual luciferase assays demonstrated that c‑Myc directly bound to the promoter sequence of RPLP0, thereby augmenting its transcriptional activity. In summary, the current study highlighted that RPLP0 establishes a feedback circuit with c‑Myc by facilitating JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation through suppressing ROS levels, while c‑Myc reciprocally activates RPLP0, forming a regulatory circuit loop that drives HCC progression. Thus, targeting the c‑Myc/RPLP0/ROS/JAK2/STAT3 axis emerges as a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of HCC.
{"title":"c‑Myc‑regulated RPLP0 via the ROS‑mediated JAK2/STAT3 positive feedback loop facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy progression.","authors":"Yanqiu Meng, Lebin Yuan, Gangrui Meng, Hongxiang Huang, Xianbin Huang, Xinping Xu, Xiaodong Peng","doi":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5826","DOIUrl":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5826","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) continues to rank as a predominant contributor to cancer‑related mortality on a global scale, attributed to its insidious onset and unfavorable prognosis. The ribosomal protein lateral stalk subunit P0 (RPLP0) has recently gathered widespread attention as a crucial factor in the pathological progression of various neoplasms; however, its exact role in HCC remains inadequately defined. Consequently, the present study endeavored to shed light on the function and mechanistic underpinnings of RPLP0 in HCC and assess its clinical significance and potential as a therapeutic target. qPCR and western blot analyses indicated that RPLP0 was markedly upregulated in HCC, with its elevated levels correlating with poorer survival outcomes. Silencing RPLP0 expression suppressed the proliferative, invasive, migratory, and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) abilities of HCC cells, while concurrently promoting apoptosis, autophagy, and G<sub>2</sub>/M cell cycle arrest, as evidenced by CCK‑8, colony formation, Transwell assays and flow cytometry analysis, respectively. Moreover, the findings revealed that RPLP0 downregulation mediated the suppression of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway through reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, which in turn downregulated c‑Myc expression. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual luciferase assays demonstrated that c‑Myc directly bound to the promoter sequence of RPLP0, thereby augmenting its transcriptional activity. In summary, the current study highlighted that RPLP0 establishes a feedback circuit with c‑Myc by facilitating JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation through suppressing ROS levels, while c‑Myc reciprocally activates RPLP0, forming a regulatory circuit loop that drives HCC progression. Thus, targeting the c‑Myc/RPLP0/ROS/JAK2/STAT3 axis emerges as a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of HCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":14175,"journal":{"name":"International journal of oncology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12674198/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145633714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-28DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2025.5823
Jinlan Luo, Yi Yang, Lulu Cheng, Fangting Cheng, Huangwenlong Zhuang, Shanshan Chen, Panpan Qiao, Yinbin Liang, Li Chen, Yang Sun, Haijun Chen, Qinying Liu
<p><p>Breast cancer is characterized by notable heterogeneity and remains one of the leading causes of cancer‑related death among women. Autophagy, a process by which cells use lysosomes to degrade cytoplasmic proteins and damaged organelles, is not only associated with chemotherapy resistance, but is also involved in immune‑mediated tumor cell killing and immune evasion, making it a promising target for cancer therapy. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy in breast cancer cells suppresses tumor progression. In the present study, the small molecular compound FZU‑0045‑053 (053) was identified, which exhibited autophagic and immunomodulatory effects. The effect of 053 on autophagy regulation in breast cancer cells was evaluated using transmission electron microscopy, an mRFP‑GFP‑ microtubule‑associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) tandem fluorescent adenovirus, the CYTO‑ID Autophagy Detection Kit and western blot analysis. Cell viability was subsequently assessed with proliferation assay and ATP assay kits. Apoptosis induction and the expression of immune‑related molecules were measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, a triple‑negative breast cancer mouse model was established to validate the antitumor and autophagy‑modulating effects of 053 <i>in vivo</i> using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining. Finally, a 4T1 syngeneic mouse model was utilized to corroborate the immunomodulatory effects of 053 <i>in vivo</i> through immunohistochemistry and flow cytometric analysis. The findings indicated that 053 regulated autophagy in the breast cancer cell lines MDA‑MB‑231 and MCF‑7, similar to the late autophagy inhibitor chloroquine. This regulation resulted in the accumulation of autophagic substrates, specifically LC3‑II and sequestosome 1, by blocking autophagic flux. By blocking autophagy flux, 053 suppressed proliferation, induced apoptosis and ultimately restored chemosensitivity in MDA‑MB‑231 cells. In addition, the MDA‑MB‑231 xenograft model indicated that 053 inhibited autophagy by blocking autophagic flux, which lead to the accumulation of LC3 and sequestosome 1. 053 also negatively regulated the expression of programmed death‑ligand 1 (PD‑L1) in tumor cells. The 4T1 xenograft model showed that 053 had a notable immune‑promoting effect, whereby it not only negatively regulated the expression of PD‑L1 in tumor cells but also modulated T cell activation and proliferation by downregulating the expression of co‑inhibitory molecules (T‑cell immunoglobulin and mucin‑domain containing‑3 and programmed cell death protein 1) on T cells and upregulating co‑stimulatory molecules (4‑1BB, OX40 and inducible T‑cell co‑stimulator). <i>In vivo</i> xenograft models demonstrated that 053 had notable antitumor effects and high biosafety, with improved antitumor efficacy when combined with the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. In summary, 053 can block autophagy and promote antitumor immune responses, showing promise as a new generation of adjuvant
{"title":"Discovery of the late autophagy inhibitor FZU‑0045‑053 and its anti‑breast cancer and immunomodulatory effects.","authors":"Jinlan Luo, Yi Yang, Lulu Cheng, Fangting Cheng, Huangwenlong Zhuang, Shanshan Chen, Panpan Qiao, Yinbin Liang, Li Chen, Yang Sun, Haijun Chen, Qinying Liu","doi":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5823","DOIUrl":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5823","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Breast cancer is characterized by notable heterogeneity and remains one of the leading causes of cancer‑related death among women. Autophagy, a process by which cells use lysosomes to degrade cytoplasmic proteins and damaged organelles, is not only associated with chemotherapy resistance, but is also involved in immune‑mediated tumor cell killing and immune evasion, making it a promising target for cancer therapy. Pharmacological inhibition of autophagy in breast cancer cells suppresses tumor progression. In the present study, the small molecular compound FZU‑0045‑053 (053) was identified, which exhibited autophagic and immunomodulatory effects. The effect of 053 on autophagy regulation in breast cancer cells was evaluated using transmission electron microscopy, an mRFP‑GFP‑ microtubule‑associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) tandem fluorescent adenovirus, the CYTO‑ID Autophagy Detection Kit and western blot analysis. Cell viability was subsequently assessed with proliferation assay and ATP assay kits. Apoptosis induction and the expression of immune‑related molecules were measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, a triple‑negative breast cancer mouse model was established to validate the antitumor and autophagy‑modulating effects of 053 <i>in vivo</i> using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining. Finally, a 4T1 syngeneic mouse model was utilized to corroborate the immunomodulatory effects of 053 <i>in vivo</i> through immunohistochemistry and flow cytometric analysis. The findings indicated that 053 regulated autophagy in the breast cancer cell lines MDA‑MB‑231 and MCF‑7, similar to the late autophagy inhibitor chloroquine. This regulation resulted in the accumulation of autophagic substrates, specifically LC3‑II and sequestosome 1, by blocking autophagic flux. By blocking autophagy flux, 053 suppressed proliferation, induced apoptosis and ultimately restored chemosensitivity in MDA‑MB‑231 cells. In addition, the MDA‑MB‑231 xenograft model indicated that 053 inhibited autophagy by blocking autophagic flux, which lead to the accumulation of LC3 and sequestosome 1. 053 also negatively regulated the expression of programmed death‑ligand 1 (PD‑L1) in tumor cells. The 4T1 xenograft model showed that 053 had a notable immune‑promoting effect, whereby it not only negatively regulated the expression of PD‑L1 in tumor cells but also modulated T cell activation and proliferation by downregulating the expression of co‑inhibitory molecules (T‑cell immunoglobulin and mucin‑domain containing‑3 and programmed cell death protein 1) on T cells and upregulating co‑stimulatory molecules (4‑1BB, OX40 and inducible T‑cell co‑stimulator). <i>In vivo</i> xenograft models demonstrated that 053 had notable antitumor effects and high biosafety, with improved antitumor efficacy when combined with the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. In summary, 053 can block autophagy and promote antitumor immune responses, showing promise as a new generation of adjuvant ","PeriodicalId":14175,"journal":{"name":"International journal of oncology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12674200/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145633692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Biliary tract cancer (BTC) encompasses a group of aggressive malignancies arising from the bile duct epithelium, including gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma, which are characterized by aggressive progression, frequent metastases and poor prognoses. BTC accounts for ~3% of all digestive system tumors, with a 5‑year overall survival rate of <20%. BTC presents a clinical challenge. Despite multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches incorporating surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, persistent obstacles, including high tumor recurrence rates (>50%) and the development of treatment resistance remains, underscoring the urgent need for novel treatment strategies such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Ferroptosis, a distinct mechanism of regulated cell death triggered by lipid peroxidation, serves critical roles in disease occurrence and progression. Increasing evidence supports the potential of ferroptosis as a targeted therapy in malignancies, with emerging implications for personalized BTC treatment. The present review investigated the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that govern ferroptosis, the advances in the understanding of ferroptosis during the initiation and progression of BTC, and the translation potential of ferroptosis for precision therapeutics. By integrating current knowledge, the present study aimed to provide theoretical suggestions for future mechanistic investigations and clinical studies of ferroptosis‑based interventions for patients with BTC.
{"title":"Ferroptosis in biliary tract cancer: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic applications (Review).","authors":"Ruiqi Zou, Yushi Dai, Siqi Yang, Haijie Hu, Fuyu Li, Fei Liu","doi":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5819","DOIUrl":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5819","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biliary tract cancer (BTC) encompasses a group of aggressive malignancies arising from the bile duct epithelium, including gallbladder cancer and cholangiocarcinoma, which are characterized by aggressive progression, frequent metastases and poor prognoses. BTC accounts for ~3% of all digestive system tumors, with a 5‑year overall survival rate of <20%. BTC presents a clinical challenge. Despite multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches incorporating surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, persistent obstacles, including high tumor recurrence rates (>50%) and the development of treatment resistance remains, underscoring the urgent need for novel treatment strategies such as targeted therapies and immunotherapies. Ferroptosis, a distinct mechanism of regulated cell death triggered by lipid peroxidation, serves critical roles in disease occurrence and progression. Increasing evidence supports the potential of ferroptosis as a targeted therapy in malignancies, with emerging implications for personalized BTC treatment. The present review investigated the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that govern ferroptosis, the advances in the understanding of ferroptosis during the initiation and progression of BTC, and the translation potential of ferroptosis for precision therapeutics. By integrating current knowledge, the present study aimed to provide theoretical suggestions for future mechanistic investigations and clinical studies of ferroptosis‑based interventions for patients with BTC.</p>","PeriodicalId":14175,"journal":{"name":"International journal of oncology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12668828/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145512693","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-07DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2025.5817
Chen-Yi Wang, Meng-Hui Wang, Chuan Xie
Gastric cancer (GC) has a high incidence, resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and a bleak prognosis. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) can promote GC development through Correa's cascade by impacting various forms of programmed cell death (PCD). As an iron‑dependent form of PCD, ferroptosis has emerged as a major focus in biomedical research. Notably, there have been developments in elucidating the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis dysregulation throughout Correa's cascade. On one hand, targeting ferroptosis may provide a promising direction for the development of drugs for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM). On the other hand, targeting ferroptosis in GC may be a potential option to overcome the challenges in conventional therapies such as resistance to chemotherapy. Consequently, the present review aims to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis dysregulation in H. pylori‑associated GC and summarize the latest progress of ferroptosis‑related studies in CAG, IM and GC. The present study identifies key regulators of ferroptosis at distinct pathological stages, thereby providing insight of novel strategies for the management of precancerous lesion‑related diseases and GC.
胃癌发病率高,对化疗药物耐药,预后较差。幽门螺杆菌(Helicobacter pylori, H. pylori)通过Correa's级联影响多种形式的程序性细胞死亡(programmed cell death, PCD),促进GC的发展。作为一种依赖铁的PCD形式,铁下垂已成为生物医学研究的主要焦点。值得注意的是,在整个Correa级联中阐明铁下垂失调的机制方面已经取得了进展。一方面,针对铁下垂可能为慢性萎缩性胃炎(CAG)和肠化生(IM)药物的开发提供了一个有希望的方向。另一方面,针对GC中的铁下垂可能是克服常规治疗(如化疗耐药)挑战的潜在选择。因此,本文旨在全面了解幽门螺杆菌相关GC中铁下垂失调的机制,并对CAG、IM和GC中铁下垂相关研究的最新进展进行综述。本研究确定了不同病理阶段铁下垂的关键调节因子,从而为癌前病变相关疾病和GC的管理提供了新的策略。
{"title":"Targeting ferroptosis in <i>Helicobacter pylori</i>‑associated gastric cancer development: From molecular mechanisms to application prospects (Review).","authors":"Chen-Yi Wang, Meng-Hui Wang, Chuan Xie","doi":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5817","DOIUrl":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5817","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gastric cancer (GC) has a high incidence, resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and a bleak prognosis. <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) can promote GC development through Correa's cascade by impacting various forms of programmed cell death (PCD). As an iron‑dependent form of PCD, ferroptosis has emerged as a major focus in biomedical research. Notably, there have been developments in elucidating the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis dysregulation throughout Correa's cascade. On one hand, targeting ferroptosis may provide a promising direction for the development of drugs for chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and intestinal metaplasia (IM). On the other hand, targeting ferroptosis in GC may be a potential option to overcome the challenges in conventional therapies such as resistance to chemotherapy. Consequently, the present review aims to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying ferroptosis dysregulation in <i>H. pylori</i>‑associated GC and summarize the latest progress of ferroptosis‑related studies in CAG, IM and GC. The present study identifies key regulators of ferroptosis at distinct pathological stages, thereby providing insight of novel strategies for the management of precancerous lesion‑related diseases and GC.</p>","PeriodicalId":14175,"journal":{"name":"International journal of oncology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12668830/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145458552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-11-21DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2025.5821
Ding Ding, Xiaoshan Wang, Ran Xuan, Rui Li, Yalu Zhang, Zhengguang Wang
Gastric cancer (GC) ranks among the most prevalent malignancies worldwide and is associated with high mortality rates. Ephrin‑B2 (EFNB2), a membrane‑bound ligand that interacts with Eph receptor tyrosine kinases, has been implicated in various cancer‑related biological processes; however, its precise role in GC remains poorly understood. By integrating data from multiple public databases with immunohistochemical analyses of tissue microarrays, significant upregulation of EFNB2 expression in GC specimens compared with paired adjacent normal tissue was demonstrated. Elevated EFNB2 levels were associated with the poor overall survival and disease‑free survival in patients with GC. EFNB2 knockdown inhibited cellular proliferation and viability, increased apoptosis, and induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase in GC cells. By contrast, EFNB2 overexpression resulted in the opposite oncogenic effects. Mechanistically, rescue experiments identified the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling cascade as the primary molecular pathway mediating EFNB2‑driven tumorigenic effects. These results were further validated in vivo using cell‑derived xenograft models, which confirmed the key role of Wnt/β‑catenin pathway activation in EFNB2‑induced tumor progression. Collectively, these results suggested that EFNB2 represents a promising molecular target for therapeutic intervention in GC.
{"title":"Ephrin‑B2 promotes gastric cancer growth by inhibiting apoptosis and regulating the cell cycle via the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway.","authors":"Ding Ding, Xiaoshan Wang, Ran Xuan, Rui Li, Yalu Zhang, Zhengguang Wang","doi":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5821","DOIUrl":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5821","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gastric cancer (GC) ranks among the most prevalent malignancies worldwide and is associated with high mortality rates. Ephrin‑B2 (EFNB2), a membrane‑bound ligand that interacts with Eph receptor tyrosine kinases, has been implicated in various cancer‑related biological processes; however, its precise role in GC remains poorly understood. By integrating data from multiple public databases with immunohistochemical analyses of tissue microarrays, significant upregulation of EFNB2 expression in GC specimens compared with paired adjacent normal tissue was demonstrated. Elevated EFNB2 levels were associated with the poor overall survival and disease‑free survival in patients with GC. EFNB2 knockdown inhibited cellular proliferation and viability, increased apoptosis, and induced cell cycle arrest at the G<sub>0</sub>/G<sub>1</sub> phase in GC cells. By contrast, EFNB2 overexpression resulted in the opposite oncogenic effects. Mechanistically, rescue experiments identified the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling cascade as the primary molecular pathway mediating EFNB2‑driven tumorigenic effects. These results were further validated <i>in vivo</i> using cell‑derived xenograft models, which confirmed the key role of Wnt/β‑catenin pathway activation in EFNB2‑induced tumor progression. Collectively, these results suggested that EFNB2 represents a promising molecular target for therapeutic intervention in GC.</p>","PeriodicalId":14175,"journal":{"name":"International journal of oncology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12674197/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145563892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Following the publication of the above paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by an interested reader that the middle and right‑hand protein blots shown for the RIPK4 data in Fig. 2B (relating to the PANC‑1‑Rsh1 and PANC‑1‑Rsh2 experiments) were strikingly similar to western blot data shown in Fig. 3B for the RAF‑1 data (and the same PANC‑1‑Rsh1 and PANC‑1‑Rsh2 experiments), albeit the bands were presented with different exposures/a change in contrast, also with apparent horizontal flipping and vertical resizing. Upon contacting the authors, they realized that errors had been made during the assembly of the experimental images presented in Fig. 3B. These errors were likely to have resulted from oversights made during the process of data consolidation and figure assembly; specifically, this led to the inadvertent use of incorrect images for the RAF‑1 western blot results in both the PANC‑1 cell line (as was correctly identified by the interested reader on PubPeer) and in the Capan‑1 cell line (which the authors identified themselves upon performing their own subsequent review). The authors were also able to present photos of the raw, unedited versions of the gels to the Editorial Office. A revised version of Fig. 3, now showing the correct data for the RAF‑1 blots for both the PANC‑1 and Capan‑1 cell lines, as specified above, is shown on the next page. The authors confirm that the errors made in assembling Fig. 3 did not have a major impact on the conclusions reported in the above article, and they thank the Editor of International Journal of Oncology for allowing them the opportunity to publish a Corrigendum. Furthermore, all the authors agree to the publication of this Corrigendum, and apologize to the readers for any inconvenience caused. [International Journal of Oncology 52: 1105‑1116, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2018.4269].
在上述论文发表后,一位感兴趣的读者引起了编辑的注意,图2B中显示的RIPK4数据(与PANC‑1‑Rsh1和PANC‑1‑Rsh2实验有关)的中间和右手蛋白质印迹与图3B中显示的RAF‑1数据(以及相同的PANC‑1‑Rsh1和PANC‑1‑Rsh2实验)的western印迹数据惊人地相似,尽管这些条带以不同的曝光方式呈现/对比度变化。也有明显的水平翻转和垂直调整大小。在与作者联系后,他们意识到在图3B所示的实验图像的组装过程中出现了错误。这些错误很可能是由于数据合并和数字汇编过程中的疏忽造成的;具体来说,这导致在PANC‑1细胞系(由感兴趣的读者在PubPeer上正确识别)和Capan‑1细胞系(作者在执行自己的后续审查时识别)中无意中使用了错误的RAF‑1 western blot结果图像。作者还可以向编辑部提供未经编辑的原始凝胶版本的照片。图3的修订版本,现在显示了PANC‑1和Capan‑1细胞系的RAF‑1印迹的正确数据,如上所述,显示在下一页。作者确认图3中的错误对上述文章的结论没有重大影响,并感谢《国际肿瘤学杂志》的编辑给他们发表勘误表的机会。此外,所有作者同意发表此勘误表,并对由此给读者带来的不便表示歉意。国际肿瘤学杂志52:1105 - 1116,2018;DOI: 10.3892 / ijo.2018.4269]。
{"title":"[Corrigendum] RIPK4/PEBP1 axis promotes pancreatic cancer cell migration and invasion by activating RAF1/MEK/ERK signaling.","authors":"Zi-Hao Qi, Hua-Xiang Xu, Shi-Rong Zhang, Jin-Zhi Xu, Shuo Li, He-Li Gao, Wei Jin, Wen-Quan Wang, Chun-Tao Wu, Quan-Xing Ni, Xian-Jun Yu, Liang Liu","doi":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5822","DOIUrl":"10.3892/ijo.2025.5822","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Following the publication of the above paper, it was drawn to the Editor's attention by an interested reader that the middle and right‑hand protein blots shown for the RIPK4 data in Fig. 2B (relating to the PANC‑1‑Rsh1 and PANC‑1‑Rsh2 experiments) were strikingly similar to western blot data shown in Fig. 3B for the RAF‑1 data (and the same PANC‑1‑Rsh1 and PANC‑1‑Rsh2 experiments), albeit the bands were presented with different exposures/a change in contrast, also with apparent horizontal flipping and vertical resizing. Upon contacting the authors, they realized that errors had been made during the assembly of the experimental images presented in Fig. 3B. These errors were likely to have resulted from oversights made during the process of data consolidation and figure assembly; specifically, this led to the inadvertent use of incorrect images for the RAF‑1 western blot results in both the PANC‑1 cell line (as was correctly identified by the interested reader on PubPeer) and in the Capan‑1 cell line (which the authors identified themselves upon performing their own subsequent review). The authors were also able to present photos of the raw, unedited versions of the gels to the Editorial Office. A revised version of Fig. 3, now showing the correct data for the RAF‑1 blots for both the PANC‑1 and Capan‑1 cell lines, as specified above, is shown on the next page. The authors confirm that the errors made in assembling Fig. 3 did not have a major impact on the conclusions reported in the above article, and they thank the Editor of <i>International Journal of Oncology</i> for allowing them the opportunity to publish a Corrigendum. Furthermore, all the authors agree to the publication of this Corrigendum, and apologize to the readers for any inconvenience caused. [International Journal of Oncology 52: 1105‑1116, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2018.4269].</p>","PeriodicalId":14175,"journal":{"name":"International journal of oncology","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12674195/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145633720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}