Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) contributing to therapeutic resistance. Although neutrophils are recognized as key regulators of LIHC progression, their functional heterogeneity and metabolic drivers are not yet fully understood.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy with a high incidence of febrile neutropenia during the first two treatment cycles. This study aims to develop a gene signature related to neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) to enhance understanding of AML mechanisms and identify potential prognostic biomarkers.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary malignancy of the central nervous system, characterized by profound heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive microenvironment, leading to dismal prognosis. Pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed cell death, has been increasingly linked to tumor immunity and progression; however, its molecular roles and clinical implications in GBM remain insufficiently understood.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a critical role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. This study aimed to develop a CAF-based risk signature model for predicting prognosis and identifying potential therapeutic targets.

Systemic chemotherapy is the standard treatment for unresectable intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA); however, its efficacy remains limited. We report a clinically valuable case of a 57-year-old woman with advanced unresectable iCCA characterized by high microsatellite instability (MSI-high) and major vascular invasion. The patient presented with purpura and was diagnosed with MSI-high iCCA with intravascular tumor extension reaching the right atrium and regional lymph node metastases. Combination therapy with gemcitabine, cisplatin, and durvalumab (GCD therapy) was initiated, resulting in a 56% reduction in tumor size after eight cycles. To enhance local tumor control, proton beamtherapy (3.3 Gy × 22 fractions) was added, which was completed without adverse events. The patient subsequently received durvalumab maintenance therapy, followed by pembrolizumab. Although there was minimal growth of lymph node and pulmonary metastases, no regrowth of the intrahepatic primary tumor was observed for 18 months after PBT. This case illustrates the potential clinical value of combining GCD therapy with proton beam therapy for MSI-high, unresectable iCCA with major vascular invasion. The combination achieved systemic disease control and durable local control without significant toxicity.

The omentum is a critical intraperitoneal organ essential for peritoneal homeostasis, yet detailed characterization of its cellular composition remains limited by the lack of validated markers. Here, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing to systematically define cellular heterogeneity in naive and activated mouse omentum from both sexes. Our analysis identified previously uncharacterized immune and stromal cell subsets, including three macrophage subtypes with activation-dependent gene expression patterns, implying specialized roles in inflammation and immune regulation. Comparative analysis revealed marked transcriptional differences between omental and peritoneal macrophages, underscoring tissue-specific microenvironments. Additionally, sexually dimorphic gene expression in omental stromal cells correlated with peritoneal macrophage polarization, indicating sex-specific regulatory mechanisms. Critically, macrophages from omentum of female mice with ovarian cancer metastases showed unique gene signatures associated with tumor migration and invasion. Collectively, we provide the first comprehensive atlas of omental cell populations stratified by sex and activation state, offering novel insights into peritoneal immunity and identifying potential therapeutic targets for inflammatory and metastatic diseases.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignancy characterized by extensive epigenetic dysregulation. This study aims to develop a robust prognostic model utilizing epigenetic-related genes (ERGs) to improve survival prediction in ESCC patients, while simultaneously elucidating potential mechanisms underlying immune microenvironment modulation.

The immunosuppressive nature of the HCC tumor microenvironment limits the effectiveness of current immunotherapeutic strategies. Identifying key immune-related regulators is essential for improving patient stratification and therapeutic outcomes.

Natural killer (NK) cells have great potential to extend the promise of cancer immunotherapy, but additional research is needed to improve their efficacy in solid cancers. Dogs develop spontaneous cancers with striking similarities to humans and can serve as a crucial link to bridge murine studies and human clinical trials to improve treatment outcomes across species and identify potential biomarkers of response.

Alpha-enolase (ENO1), the enzyme catalyzing 2-phosphoglycerate conversion to phosphoenolpyruvate, is highly expressed in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and correlates with adverse clinical outcomes. Thus, understanding the relationship between ENO1-related gene (ERG) network and DLBCL is imperative. Here, we integrated multi-omics profiling (RIP-seq, RNA-seq, and protein interactome analysis) to identify ERGs and established a prognostic model by machine learning algorithms.

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived alveolar organoids have emerged as valuable tools for studying lung development, modeling pulmonary diseases, and drug discovery, though their application has been hindered by laborious differentiation protocols and technical complexity. Here, we present an hPSC-derived alveolar organoid (hALO) system with exceptional long-term expandability (>30 passages), efficient cryopreservation resilience, and streamlined production achieved through earlier 3D culture initiation and elimination of cell sorting requirements. Transcriptomic analysis across passages confirmed hALOs contain alveolar progenitors and AT2 lineages, recapitulating pseudoglandular-to-canalicular development while partially maintaining adult AT2 immune-related functions. The system permits alveolar epithelial differentiation via pharmacological modulation of WNT/YAP signaling or through orthotopic transplantation, while multiplex genetic engineering enables programmable disease modeling and adenocarcinoma pathogenesis studies. These versatile capabilities establish hALOs as a robust dual-phase platform for mechanistic investigation of lung epithelial biology and disease modeling across in vitro and in vivo environments.

Emerging evidence implicates serine/threonine kinase 32C (STK32C) overexpressed in bladder cancer and brain tissues acts as a molecular target for doxorubicin resistance, yet its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. Thus. this study investigates the oncogenic mechanism of STK32C in CRC and its interplay with HSP90 and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling axis. STK32C was markedly upregulated in CRC cell lines (HCT116, HT29, SW480, SW620) compared to normal fibroblasts (CCD-18Co) with poor prognosis. STK32C depletion suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion, while promoting apoptosis-as evidenced by increased Bax, Annexin V, TUNEL-positive, and sub-G1 populations, alongside reduced Bcl-2, pro-Caspase-3, and pro-PARP. Mechanistically, STK32C directly bound the N-terminal domain of HSP90, as shown by immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence, and GST pulldown assays. Consistently, STK32C depletion or HSP90 N-terminal inhibitor Ganetespib reduced STK32C and p-AKT1, while the HSP90 C-terminal inhibitor, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) or AKT inhibitor LY294002 did not affect STK32C, implying that STK32C acts as an upstream of AKT. Furthermore, STK32C depletion enhanced 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) efficacy, with synergistic effects confirmed by CompuSyn and SynergyFinder analysis. In vivo, STK32C depletion reduced the growth of HCT116 cells in BALB/c mice with decreased expression of STK32C, HSP90, PCNA, and AKT and activated caspase 3. Overall, these findings suggest STK32C as a novel oncogenic driver in CRC that modulates HSP90 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target alone or in combination with 5-FU.

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICCA), the second most prevalent primary liver malignancy, remains poorly understood at the molecular level. Research into the function of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification in the formation of ICCA and its potential as a therapeutic approach is being spurred by mounting evidence that it plays a crucial role in tumor biology. Immunohistochemical examination of patient samples in this investigation revealed a significant decrease in m6A methyltransferase METTL3 expression, accompanied by lower levels, which were associated with a lower overall survival rate. Functional assays demonstrated that the enforced expression of METTL3 inhibited ICCA cell proliferation and migration, while concurrently increasing the levels of the long non-coding RNA H19. Mechanistic experiments using RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation confirmed that METTL3 directly interacted with H19 and enhanced its m6A modification. Importantly, silencing of H19 reversed the growth- and migration-suppressive effects of METTL3, whereas H19 overexpression counteracted the phenotype induced by METTL3 downregulation. Further analysis revealed that the METTL3-H19 regulatory axis suppressed the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Moreover, an oncolytic adenovirus engineered to overexpress H19, in combination with the PPARγ inhibitor BAY-4931, elicited potent antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, these findings identify METTL3-mediated m6A modification of H19 as a critical suppressor of ICCA progression through modulation of PPARγ signaling. One interesting treatment option for ICCA may be the use of H19-armed oncolytic adenoviruses, especially when combined with PPARγ suppression.

BRCA1‑deficient triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents significant treatment challenges owing to the absence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targets, exhibits marked molecular heterogeneity that precludes the application of effective targeted therapies, and harbors a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Here, we used the Brca1co/co MMTV‑Cre mouse model that recapitulates human BRCA1‑mutant TNBC, characterized by early dominance of CD11b⁺Gr‑1⁻F4/80Low blood‑derived macrophages and subsequent enrichment of F4/80High tissue macrophages within adipose‑rich mammary glands. PD‑1 blockade with anti‑mPD‑1 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) significantly delayed primary tumor progression, reduced proliferation marker levels (PCNA, Ki‑67), enhanced apoptosis (as indicated by increased cleaved PARP levels), and selectively impaired PI3K/AKT signaling. In a post‑resection setting, anti-mPD-1 treatment extended recurrence‑free survival rates, with elevated CD4, CD8α, and cleaved PARP levels observed in recurrent tumors. Mice with the longest relapse‑free intervals exhibited the strongest T cell marker expression. A combination of focal 20 Gy irradiation and PD-1 blockade exerted a potent synergistic effect. Specifically, irradiation reduced extracellular matrix deposition and enhanced tumor cell apoptosis (evidenced by increased cleaved caspase-3 and cytosolic PCNA) while PD-1 blockade stimulated robust inflammatory responses, in particular, expansion of CD8α⁺ T cell infiltration. These mechanistic insights align with clinical strategies for TNBC that integrate DNA damaging agents and immunotherapy and validate this model as an optimal in vivo platform for preclinical evaluation of novel treatment modalities for BRCA1‑associated breast cancer.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibits limited therapeutic responses, partly due to undefined tumor suppressor networks. While TTC36 is downregulated in HCC and correlates with poor prognosis, its functional role, molecular mechanisms, and impact on targeted therapy remain unknown. Methods: By analyzing HCC tissues RNA-seq, and scRNA-seq data of HCC tissues, we investigated the expression pattern of TTC36. The clinical relevance was analyzed by using Kaplan-Meier Plotter. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis were detected to confirm the function of TTC36. Mechanistic insights into TTC36-mediated HCC suppression were obtained via RNA-seq analysis, mass spectrometry analysis, molecular docking, RNA pulldown, dual-luciferase reporter assays. In animal models, the tumor growth analysis, along with IHC staining and TUNNEL staining, was used to investigate the function of TTC36 and the response to sorafenib. Results: Bioinformatics and in vitro/vivo assays demonstrated TTC36 downregulation promotes HCC proliferation and correlates with poor survival. Mechanistically, TTC36 directly binds YBX3 and masks ubiquitination sites (K311/K350), inhibiting proteasomal degradation. Stabilized YBX3 enhances SPRED1 mRNA stability by binding the CACAUC motif in its 3'UTR, suppressing Ras/MAPK signaling. The TTC36/YBX3/SPRED1 axis inhibits tumor growth but induces sorafenib resistance via compensatory PI3K/Akt activation. Akt inhibition (MK-2206) reverses sorafenib resistance in TTC36-high HCC. Conclusion: TTC36 is a tumor suppressor that stabilizes YBX3 to upregulate SPRED1 and inhibit Ras/MAPK-driven proliferation. Paradoxically, TTC36-high HCC develops sorafenib resistance through PI3K/Akt hyperactivation, which is overcome by combined Akt inhibition. Thus, TTC36 may serves as a predictive biomarker to stratify HCC patients for personalized therapy: sorafenib monotherapy for TTC36-low tumors and sorafenib-Akt inhibitor combination for TTC36-high, sorafenib-resistant tumors.

Background: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are pivotal mediators of the immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, genes of TAMs that potentiate immunotherapy remain to be explored. Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data were analyzed to identify TAM molecular signatures, which were validated in patient cohorts from Huadong Hospital and TCGA to explore their clinical significance. Multidimensional characterization of CRC TIME and Dipeptidyl peptidase VII (DPP7)-positive TAMs functional state was achieved through cytometry by time-of-flight, multiplex immunofluorescence, in vitro and in vivo experiments. Mechanistic investigations integrating RNA-seq, Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based proteomics, and targeted lipid metabolomics have revealed the reprogramming of key metabolic pathways. Finally, the therapeutic potential of DPP7, which targets the enhancement of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy efficacy, was demonstrated. Results: DPP7 was identified as the key gene in TAMs, and DPP7+TAMs correlated with metastasis and worse overall survival in multiple clinical cohorts. Functional characterization demonstrated that DPP7+TAMs drove the immunosuppressive TIME and promoted the exhaustion of CD8+T cells, thus exhibiting M2-polarized features. Mechanistically, DPP7 reduced ubiquitination-induced degradation of Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) by binding to CPT1A in a mutually exclusive manner with TRIM25, thus enhancing fatty acid oxidation (FAO) in TAMs. This metabolic reprogramming consumes lipids (including triglycerides and free fatty acids), elevates adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation, and induces an immunosuppressive phenotype. In vivo, DPP7 knockdown in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) synergized with anti-PD-1 therapy, achieving significant suppression of subcutaneous xenograft tumor growth and liver metastatic burden by reversing the immunosuppressive TIME. Conclusions: DPP7 is mainly expressed in TAMs and DPP7+TAMs are strongly associated with adverse prognosis in CRC. Mechanistically, DPP7 enhances FAO to promote the M2-polarized phenotype in TAMs, leading to an immunosuppressive TIME. Targeting DPP7+TAMs may potentiate the efficacy of immunotherapy for CRC.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains among the most prevalent endocrine malignancies globally, with its incidence steadily rising. Although clinical outcomes are generally favorable, a clinically significant subset of patients exhibits highly aggressive tumor phenotypes, characterized by larger tumor size and increased lymph node metastasis. Accumulating evidence implicates metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic dysregulation as pivotal drivers of tumor progression. Lactate, one of the byproducts of tumor metabolism, has recently garnered attention for its regulatory functions beyond metabolism. Histone lactylation, a recently identified epigenetic modification dynamically regulated by intracellular lactate accumulation, has emerged as an important regulator of tumor proliferation, metastasis, immune evasion, and therapeutic resistance. However, the functional implications and mechanistic underpinnings of histone lactylation in PTC remain largely unexplored. Here, we report significantly elevated pan-lysine lactylation and histone H3 lysine 18 lactylation (H3K18la) levels in clinical PTC specimens, with tumor tissues exhibiting markedly higher levels compared to adjacent normal thyroid tissues., correlating positively with aggressive clinicopathological features. Relevant cellular phenotypic assays further support this conclusion. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that H3K18la modification directly facilitates the transcriptional activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 (STAT1). Activated STAT1 subsequently promotes transcriptional upregulation of Lactate Dehydrogenase A (LDHA), thereby enhancing lactate biosynthesis and establishing a self-perpetuating positive feedback loop. Consequently, tumor-derived lactate orchestrates and sustains malignant progression in PTC through this "H3K18la-STAT1-LDHA" regulatory axis. Collectively, our findings uncover a novel mechanistic linkage between tumor metabolism and epigenetic regulation in PTC, providing critical insights into thyroid cancer pathogenesis. Furthermore, therapeutic targeting of the H3K18la-STAT1-LDHA axis may represent an innovative and promising strategy to improve outcomes for patients with aggressive and refractory PTC.

Meningiomas (MGMs) are the most prevalent benign intracranial tumors in adults, with incidence markedly increasing with age, underscoring the need to explore aging-associated molecular mechanisms. In this study, we integrated transcriptomic datasets (GSE43290, GSE54934, GSE77259, and GSE183655) from the GEO database and aging-related genes (ARGs) from the Human Aging Genomic Resources to identify key genes implicated in MGM. We screened differentially expressed ARGs (ARG-DEGs) and conducted GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses, revealing significant involvement in cancer-related processes, viral infection pathways, and the FoxO signaling pathway. Using LASSO, SVM, CytoHubba-MCC, and MCODE algorithms, we identified two hub ARGs, SIRT1 and CEBPB. Immune infiltration analysis via ssGSEA indicated notable alterations in B cells, neutrophils, helper T cells, and regulatory T cells between MGM and healthy tissues, all closely associated with the hub genes. Furthermore, construction of a miRNA-TF-mRNA regulatory network highlighted the complex upstream regulation of these genes. Mendelian randomization analysis supported a potential causal relationship between SIRT1 and MGM development. Single-cell RNA sequencing data further confirmed heterogeneous expression of SIRT1 across key cell populations within MGM, brain-tumor interface, and dura mater tissues. These findings were validated through qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses, which demonstrated significant differences in SIRT1 expression at both the transcript and protein levels. Collectively, our study reveals that aging and immune dysregulation contribute to MGM pathogenesis and highlights SIRT1, in particular, as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target, offering new insights into age-related mechanisms underlying MGM.

High expression of long noncoding RNA-encoding gene RP11-10C24.1 is associated with poor survival of patients with pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to investigate the role of RP11-10C24.1 in pancreatic cancer cell growth. The RNA sequencing and survival data of 177 patients with pancreatic cancer were acquired from TCGA to screen survival-associated lncRNAs. RNA BaseScope was used to retrospectively examine RP11-10C24.1 expression in 54 pairs of pancreatic cancer and paracancer samples of real-world patients. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was conducted to localize RP11-10C24.1 transcripts in pancreatic cancer cells. Knockdown of RP11-10C24.1 was performed to investigate the role of RP11-10C24.1 in the behavior of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Western blot analysis was carried out to identify the functional targets downstream of RP11-10C24.1. High expression of RP11-10C24.1 was associated with poor survival of the TCGA cohort. RP11-10C24.1 expression was significantly increased in pancreatic cancer tissue compared with that in paracancer tissue. FISH analysis demonstrated that RP11-10C24.1 transcript was localized in the cytoplasm of pancreatic cancer cells. In PANC-1, SW1990, and AsPC-1 cells, knockdown of RP11-10C24.1 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while promoting cell apoptosis. Knockdown of RP11-10C24.1 suppressed the growth of AsPC-1 tumor xenografts in mice. Furthermore, knockdown of RP11-10C24.1 attenuated protein expression of multiple cancer-associated genes, including fibronectin 1 (FN1), in PANC-1 cells. Importantly, overexpression of FN1 effectively reversed the suppressive effect of RP11-10C24.1 silencing on pancreatic cell proliferation and invasion. In conclusion, knockdown of RP11-10C24.1 inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth through downregulating FN1 expression.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant tumor with high metastatic potential and poor prognosis due to late diagnosis and frequent metastasis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as essential regulators in tumor growth, yet the functional role of circCGNL1 in NPC remains unexplored. Expression of circCGNL1 and IGF2BP3 was examined in NPC tissues and cell lines using qRT-PCR and western blot. The circular nature, subcellular localization, and stability of circCGNL1 were validated through RNase R digestion, actinomycin D treatment, and FISH assay. Functional roles of circCGNL1 and IGF2BP3 were assessed by CCK-8, EdU, TUNEL, flow cytometry, Transwell, colony formation, and wound-healing assays. Protein-RNA interactions were evaluated using RIP, RNA pull-down, and immunofluorescence co-localization. In vivo tumorigenicity was analyzed using a subcutaneous xenograft model in BALB/c nude mice. circCGNL1 was notably downregulated in NPC tissues and cell lines and exhibited cytoplasmic localization and high stability. In vitro, overexpression of circCGNL1 inhibited NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while increasing apoptosis, and in vivo, it reduced tumor development. IGF2BP3, an oncogenic RNA-binding protein, was upregulated in NPC and promoted tumor progression. Mechanistically, circCGNL1 directly interacted with IGF2BP3 and negatively regulated the AKT/mTOR pathway by reducing phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR. Rescue assays further revealed that circCGNL1 inhibited NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while increasing apoptosis by suppressing the activation of the AKT/mTOR signaling. This study identifies circCGNL1 as a tumor-suppressive circRNA that inhibits NPC progression by binding to IGF2BP3 and suppressing the AKT/mTOR signaling. These findings reveal a novel regulatory mechanism in NPC and highlight circCGNL1 as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target.