Acupuncture therapy shows promise for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), but its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates whether acupuncture alleviates PCOS by regulating granulosa cell (GC) ferroptosis via extracellular vesicles (EVs).

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death and is associated with high recurrence rates. Solute carrier family 7 member 5 (SLC7A5), a core transporter that facilitates the transmembrane movement of tryptophan, plays a role in various cancers. However, whether and how SLC7A5 promotes colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) through tryptophan metabolism reprogramming and immune remodelling remain unexplored.

BCL6 is a master transcriptional regulator of germinal center (GC) B cells. BCL6 is frequently translocated at the major translocation cluster (MTC) within intron 1 of the BCL6 locus, a hotspot commonly rearranged in diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). BCL6 amplifications are associated with therapeutic resistance and poor survival outcomes in hematological and solid cancers. However the mechanisms suppressing genome instability at the BCL6-MTC preventing BCL6 rearragements remain unclear. Here, transcriptome analysis and genome-wide mapping of histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) in hydroxyurea (HU)-treated Raji cells (a Burkitt's lymphoma model) revealed the induced expression of MBD1, encoding the DNA CpG methylation-binding protein. Functional studies using shRNA silencing and ectopic overexpression demonstrated that MBD1 suppresses BCL6 transcription whose promoter harbors conserved CpG methylation sites, suggesting a DNA methylation-dependent regulation of BCL6 trasncription by MBD1. Conversely, BCL6 repressed MBD1 expression by binding to its promoter. MBD1-depleted Raji cells exhibited increased genomic instability at the BCL6-MTC upon HU treatment, heightened sensitivity to DNA replication inhibitors (HU, gemcitabine, and etoposide), and reduced tumorigenicity in xenograft mouse models. We propose that MBD1 prevents genomic instability at the BCL6-MTC to suppress DLBCL formation. Moreover, MBD1 promotes genomic stability and cell viability during DNA replication stress. MBD1 thus represents a potential therapeutic target for cancers exhibiting resistance to chemotherapies targeting DNA replication.

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women worldwide. Although genomic alterations in oncogenic signaling pathways have been implicated in cervical carcinogenesis, the functional impact of recurrent driver mutations remains incompletely understood. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on paired tumor and matched non-tumor tissues from 61 patients to identify recurrent somatic alterations. Functional significance was subsequently evaluated using cervical cancer cell models through proliferation, invasion, apoptosis, and signaling pathway analyses. Tumorigenic potential was further assessed using a xenograft mouse model. Genomic profiling identified PIK3CA as one of the most frequently mutated genes in cervical cancer. Functional analyses demonstrated that PIK3CA E545K mutation (PIK3CA-E545K-MUT) significantly enhanced tumor cell proliferation and invasive capacity while suppressing apoptosis. Mechanistically, these effects were associated with sustained activation of the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, as evidenced by increased phosphorylation of key downstream effectors. Consistently, in vivo xenograft experiments confirmed that PIK3CA-E545K-MUT-driven signaling activation promoted tumor growth. Our findings establish a functional and mechanistic link between recurrent PIK3CA-E545K-MUT and aggressive tumor behavior in cervical cancer via AKT/mTOR pathway activation. These results provide experimental support for targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis as a potential therapeutic strategy in cervical cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common subtype of lung cancer, characterized by high invasiveness, poor prognosis, and limited therapeutic options. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as a core component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), have been shown to promote the malignant progression of NSCLC, but the specific regulatory mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study aims to investigate the role of CAFs and their metabolic products, particularly lactate, in the progression of NSCLC. CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) were cultured, and the conditioned media (CM) were collected and used to treat NSCLC cells. Cell proliferation was assessed using CCK-8 and EdU assays, while cell migration was evaluated through transwell assays. The expression of E-cadherin and N-cadherin was detected by immunofluorescence (IF). Additionally, lactate levels, gene expression, and lactylation levels were assessed using a lactate detection kit, RT-qPCR, Western blot (WB), and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). The CM from CAFs enhanced the proliferation, migration, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of NSCLC cells. Our experiments revealed that the metabolites from CAFs, particularly lactate, had a promoting effect on NSCLC. In lactate-treated NSCLC cells, the expression levels of stemness genes were significantly upregulated, accompanied by increased lactylation levels of H3K18. In in vivo experiments, tumors from the lactate treatment group exhibited higher growth rates and increased expression of stemness genes. Furthermore, human NSCLC tumor tissues showed significant upregulation of stemness genes. This study demonstrates that lactate derived from CAFs promotes the expression of stemness genes by mediating H3K18 lactylation in the promoters of these genes in NSCLC cells, thereby accelerating the malignant phenotype formation of NSCLC cells. These findings provide new insights into the role of CAFs in the TME and identify potential therapeutic targets for NSCLC.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Current tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting oncogenic KIT and PDGFRA have improved patient outcomes, yet off-target toxicities and drug resistance mutations remain major clinical challenges. Many approved TKIs, often repurposed from other cancer indications, harbor diverse hinge-binding motifs that limit activity against resistance mutations clustering in the ATP-binding pocket of the kinase domain. Here, we describe a structure-based scaffold-hopping strategy to design kinase inhibitors with selectivity for mutant KIT/PDGFRA. Using structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies and 14 determined co-crystal structures, including a structure of the PDGFRA-G680R solvent-front mutation, we define key molecular interactions underlying resistance and inhibitor selectivity. Our lead 6,7-quinazoline-based inhibitors show high potency against clinically relevant KIT/PDGFRA mutations and effectively suppress downstream signaling. These compounds provide selective chemical tools to interrogate resistance mechanisms, and the PDGFRA-G680R structure shows the molecular basis for targeting solvent-front mutations across oncogenic kinases.

Pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy whose molecular basis remains poorly understood. N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) RNA modification, mediated particularly through methyltransferase 3 (METTL3), has emerged as a critical regulator in various cancers. Here, we investigated the role of METTL3-mediated RNA methylation in ACC development and progression. We used transgenic mouse models overexpressing Mettl3 and SV40 large T antigen under the pancreatic elastase I promoter. Comprehensive analyses included m⁶A-methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq), single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), functional studies using the METTL3 inhibitor STM2457, and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-binding domain deletion mutants to assess functional requirements. Mettl3 overexpression significantly accelerated ACC development and increased tumor aggressiveness. The SAM-binding domain was essential for tumor formation, as deletion mutants failed to promote carcinogenesis. MeRIP-seq revealed preferential methylation of cell cycle and DNA replication genes in Mettl3-overexpressing tumors. scRNA-seq analysis demonstrated enhanced malignancy signatures, including epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and transforming growth factor-β signaling. METTL3 also promoted PRSS1-mediated signaling from ACC cells to inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts, creating a feed-forward loop involving IGF1 that amplifies tumor growth. Conditional Mettl3 deletion induced rapid tumor apoptosis. Pharmacological inhibition with STM2457 similarly triggered caspase-3/7-dependent apoptosis in pancreatic tumors. METTL3-mediated RNA methylation drives ACC pathogenesis through tumor-intrinsic cell cycle regulation and tumor-extrinsic stromal interactions. These findings establish METTL3 as a promising therapeutic target and provide mechanistic insights supporting the clinical development of METTL3 inhibitors for ACC treatment.

Cancer metabolism is characterized by profound reprogramming, yet the mechanisms enabling rapid and precise adaptation remain incompletely understood. This review establishes post-translational modifications (PTMs) as the central processing unit of oncogenic metabolic reprogramming. PTMs execute a conserved three-tiered regulatory logic: they interpret oncogenic and environmental signals, command metabolic flux, and cement malignant phenotypes through epigenetic and feedback mechanisms. We systematically demonstrate how this PTM-driven logic governs key pillars of cancer metabolism-glucose, lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide utilization-and extends its command to critical cell fate execution programs, including mitochondrial dynamics, autophagy, and ferroptosis. Furthermore, we delineate how PTMs act as master regulators of immunometabolic reprogramming within the tumor microenvironment (TME), directly linking tumor metabolism to T cell exhaustion, myeloid cell polarization, and immune evasion. By integrating recent advances on the determinants and crosstalk of PTM networks, we describe how metabolic plasticity and heterogeneity are encoded at the PTM level, with metabolic gradients shaping distinct "PTM geographies" within tumors. Finally, we translate these insights into clinical prospects, highlighting PTM-based biomarkers, PTM-targeted drugs and emerging therapeutic strategies, including targeted protein degradation, PTM-targeted vaccines and dietary interventions. Deciphering this PTM-encoded program reveals a new landscape of therapeutic vulnerabilities, shifting the paradigm toward rationally targeting the fundamental computational logic that sustains tumors.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, claudin-18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2), and the programmed cell death ligand-1 combined positive score (PD-L1 CPS) are predictive biomarkers for the efficacy of combination chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer. However, only a small proportion of these patients are positive for at least two of these predictive biomarkers.

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Cuneo et al.1 propose an equilibrium between two quaternary states of SPOP that can become dysregulated in cancer. SPOP oligomers form inactive double donuts or active linear filaments, as seen in gain-of-function cancer mutations.

The generation of highly plastic cell states in colorectal cancer that are prone to metastatic dissemination involves complex epigenetic reprogramming, rather than new genetic traits. Goto et al.1 implement a serial orthotopic organoid transplantation framework to uncover the idea that losing Gata6, a guardian of the colonic lineage, promotes metastatic competence.

To analyze the results of the 15-gene expression profile/preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (15-GEPP) prognostic classifier and associated survival outcomes in a series of Brazilian patients with posterior uveal melanoma.

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in developed countries. Currently, there are no reliable screening methods available for the early diagnosis or prognostic evaluation of the disease. MicroRNAs are small non-coding ribonucleic acid molecules primarily involved in the regulation of gene expression. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare serum levels of microRNA-204 and microRNA-652-3p between patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer and healthy controls in order to determine their potential diagnostic and prognostic value as candidate biomarkers.

Breast cancer is one of the most distressing cancers affecting women, and early detection is considered the most effective way to reduce breast cancer mortality. However, the benefits of early detection vary among different risk groups. Therefore, using a combination of genetic information, family history, and other factors to stratify populations by risk can help more people benefit from early detection. Traditional polygenic risk score (PRS) is essentially a weighted sum calculation method that has achieved some success, but it neglects the interactions between genes-genes, genes-environment, and their potential impact on breast cancer risk. In this context, we developed a new deep learning-based method called wide, deep, and cross network (WDCN). Experimental results show that our algorithm outperforms PRS and other machine learning baseline methods and achieves an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.6439 when using 286 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) features and 0.8865 when incorporating environmental features with genetic data. Increasing the SNP set to 317 further raised the performance to 0.6464 and 0.8872, both with and without non-genetic factors. Risk stratification shows that individuals in the top 30% have a relative risk of 7.85 (95% CI: 6.98-8.83) compared with those in the bottom 30%. We also identified an interaction between rs2588809 and age. This novel approach has shown promise for initial risk stratification of populations, potentially providing better decision-making support for individuals and clinicians.

Diffuse Gastric Cancer (DGC) is an aggressive subtype with a poor prognosis and a lack of specific biomarkers, representing a critical unmet need in oncology. This study aimed to elucidate the key molecular drivers of DGC by integrating RNA-seq data with a multi-faceted bioinformatics approach.

As the most common malignant renal tumor in children, the progression of Wilms' tumor is frequently driven by abnormal alternative splicing (AS), cell death imbalance, and an immunosuppressive microenvironment. However, the precise regulatory chain connecting these three critical elements remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to systematically construct and characterize an "AS-cell death-immunity" regulatory network in Wilms' tumor.

Uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) ranks as the 6th most common malignancy among women. Emerging evidence indicates that the dysregulation of tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple cancer types, including UCEC; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the roles of tRFs in UCEC remain poorly characterized. Desmocollin3 (DSC3), a transmembrane protein, is predominantly expressed in the basal and suprabasal layers of normal stratified epithelia. While accumulating evidence has implicated DSC3 in the pathogenesis of multiple disease entities, its functional role in UCEC remains elusive. The present study is designed to investigate the functional significance and underlying molecular mechanisms of tRF-19-79MP9PJZ in the progression of UCEC. In this study, tRF-19-79MP9PJZ was found to be significantly upregulated in UCEC tissues and cell lines, with its elevated expression correlating with unfavorable prognostic outcomes in UCEC patients. Furthermore, tRF-19-79MP9PJZ knockdown was observed to suppress the proliferative and migratory capacities of UCEC cells, while concurrently enhancing apoptotic processes. At the mechanistic level, tRF-19-79MP9PJZ was demonstrated to facilitate UCEC progression through targeted regulation of DSC3. Collectively, this study elucidates a previously uncharacterized mechanism whereby tRF-19-79MP9PJZ drives UCEC development, thereby highlighting the potential of the tRF-19-79MP9PJZ/DSC3 axis as a therapeutic target for UCEC intervention.

Esophageal cancer (EC) ranks 11th in incidence and 7th in mortality among malignancies globally. The role of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 6 (eIF6) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCA) progression, including its involvement in tumor development, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), remains to be fully characterized.

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), therapeutic resistance is intimately linked to vascular microenvironment remodeling; however, the initiating molecular determinants remain elusive. Here, we identified exosomal pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) as a pivotal mediator of this pathogenic process. PKM2 was abundantly present in AML-derived exosomes and transferred to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), eliciting metabolic reprogramming characterized by enhanced glycolysis and angiogenic activation. Mechanistically, PKM2 knockdown in AML cells substantially attenuated exosome-induced endothelial migration and tube formation, whereas ectopic PKM2 overexpression in endothelial cells potentiated pro-angiogenic phenotypes. In NOD/SCID mouse xenograft, AML-derived exosomes promoted microvascular remodeling and accelerated disease progression, effects that were abrogated by the angiogenesis inhibitor endostatin. This vascular remodeling coincided with diminished cytarabine (Ara-C) sensitivity, indicative of a chemoprotective microenvironment. Consistently, in a systemic AML model, pharmacological PKM2 inhibition disrupted the vascular niche, suppressed angiogenesis, and restored Ara-C chemosensitivity. Clinically, PKM2 expression correlated positively with VEGFA and HIF-1α levels, and exosomes derived from AML patients with elevated PKM2 conferred enhanced tube-forming capacity upon endothelial cells. Collectively, these findings establish exosomal PKM2 as a critical regulator of the chemoprotective vascular niche in AML and underscore its translational potential as a therapeutic target.

Oxaliplatin resistance remains a major obstacle in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to determine whether MYC contributes to oxaliplatin resistance by regulating ferroptosis and to clarify the downstream mechanisms involving FTH1 and GPX4.