Recent findings suggest that the gut microbiome significantly influences cancer outcomes, including responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments. Although early research focused on gut bacteria, it is now understood that the microbiome includes a bacteriome, virome, and mycobiome, all of which can modulate host immunity. Some commensal bacteria enhance anti-tumor immune responses and improve ICI efficacy, as demonstrated in both mice and patients. Fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) from patients responding to ICI have successfully reversed resistance in certain non-responders. In addition to bacteria, gut fungi and viruses are gaining attention as further factors influencing ICI effectiveness and toxicity. Recent multi-omics studies across cancer cohorts show that fungal and viral populations in the gut vary between ICI responders and non-responders. Commensal fungi may shape anti-cancer immunity by inducing inflammatory or tolerogenic pathways, while viral components can stimulate innate immune sensors that promote tumor surveillance. On the other hand, gut dysbiosis marked by expansion of pathobionts (including opportunistic fungi) and reduction in beneficial microbes is linked to serious immune-related adverse events (irAEs) such as ICI-induced colitis. This review discusses the multi-kingdom gut microbiome-bacteria, fungi, and viruses-and their interactions with the immune system in cancer therapy. We emphasize known mechanisms linking these microbes to anti-tumor immunity, overview human studies associating gut microbiome profiles with ICI outcomes and explore strategies to modulate the microbiome to enhance ICI efficacy while reducing toxicity. Understanding and utilizing the gut mycobiome and virome in conjunction with the bacteriome could pave the way for new biomarkers and therapeutic adjuvants in cancer immunotherapy.

Approximately 2-4% of all breast cancer cases are inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), an extremely rare and severe subtype of the disease. Current therapies, including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy, remain insufficient, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic approaches. IBC exhibits elevated basal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, suggesting a potential vulnerability. We recently developed ERX-41, a small molecule that exacerbates ER stress in cancer cells by inhibiting the endoplasmic reticulum-localized function of Lysosomal acid lipase A (LIPA). Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of ERX-41 in IBC models. ERX-41 markedly reduced the viability of IBC cells and significantly impaired clonogenic survival while promoting apoptosis. The specificity of ERX-41 was confirmed using LIPA-knockdown and LIPA-knockout cells. RT-PCR-based assays revealed rapid induction of XBP1 splicing within 6 h of treatment, and Western blot analyses demonstrated activation of ER stress markers including CHOP, PERK, and ATF4. In KPL4 xenografts, ERX-41 treatment significantly decreased tumor volume, accompanied by reduced proliferation and increased ER stress marker expression by IHC. Collectively, these findings identify LIPA as a therapeutically actionable vulnerability in IBC and establish ERX-41 as a potential drug for IBC.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, with approximately one in eight women developing the disease during their lifetime. Despite advancements in current treatment options, breast cancer was responsible for an estimated 670,000 deaths worldwide in 2022. This highlights the urgent need for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Historically, plant-derived compounds have played a significant role in cancer therapy, exemplified by widely used chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel and docetaxel. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward novel plant-derived compounds as potential anti-cancer agents. Among these, Naringenin, a flavonoid predominantly found in citrus fruits, has shown promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. This review highlights recent studies investigating the effects of Naringenin and its derivatives on breast cancer. Evidence from both in vitro and in vivo animal models suggests that Naringenin may exert anti-tumor activity by inhibiting cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis, modulating key cell signaling pathways, and enhancing radio-sensitivity in breast cancer cells. Although preclinical evidence strongly supports the anticancer potential of Naringenin in breast cancer, comprehensive clinical studies are urgently needed to validate its efficacy and safety in humans.

Ganglioside GM3, a fundamental glycosphingolipid on the mammalian cell surface, is a key regulator of transmembrane signaling and cellular recognition. In oncology, GM3 acts as a tumor suppressor by modulating the activity of various receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and their downstream pathways. Recent studies highlight its function in the tumor microenvironment (TME), specifically its ability to impede pathological angiogenesis. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms by which GM3 interferes with pro-angiogenic signaling, such as the VEGF/VEGFR axis, and discusses how this inhibition can be used for therapy. We explore the clinical potential of GM3-based strategies, including monoclonal antibodies and cancer vaccines, discussing the potential of targeting GM3 to reshape the TME and suppress tumor-associated vascularization.

Gastrointestinal malignant tumors account for approximately one-third of global cancer-related deaths, primarily including colorectal, gastric, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinomas. These tumors have a high incidence, are often asymptomatic, and are prone to metastasis and recurrence, posing a significant public health burden. Although traditional methods such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy can delay disease progression, their nonspecific effects often lead to severe side effects and drug resistance, resulting in limited efficacy. Therefore, developing novel treatment strategies with high target specificity and favorable biological safety is a critical scientific issue in this field. Peptide drugs offer advantages such as good biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, diverse structures, and ease of modification, collectively demonstrating unique potential for tumor treatment. They can not only achieve precise delivery by specifically recognizing tumor receptors but can also directly interfere with signal transduction, metabolism, and immune regulation, producing multi-target antitumor effects. This article systematically reviews the research progress of peptide drugs in gastrointestinal tumors, focusing on their molecular mechanisms, delivery modification strategies, and the latest applications. It also summarizes the challenges and future directions for clinical translation, providing a theoretical foundation and future perspectives for the precise treatment of gastrointestinal tumors and the design of new drugs.

Ovarian cancer is a devastating disease that is often diagnosed in the late stages. The typical therapeutic approach includes surgery plus cytotoxic drugs such as carboplatin and paclitaxel. In recent years, the advent of poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors such as olaparib has offered additional treatment opportunities for patients with BRCA mutations or homologous recombination deficiencies. Nevertheless, resistance to therapy usually occurs, leading to poor overall survival. Therefore, novel treatments are needed for this disease. One of the obstacles to successful treatment is the highly immunosuppressive nature of the ovarian cancer microenvironment. Recent strategies for the treatment of ovarian cancer and other types of cancer involve targeting the metabolism of cancer cells and other cells of the tumor microenvironment. One drug that has been investigated both in preclinical studies and clinical trials as an antitumor agent is metformin. This drug, typically used for the treatment of type-2 diabetes for its capability to lower blood glucose, can directly affect cancer cell growth and survival by activating the AMPK (adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) pathway. Furthermore, it can affect the phenotype of other cells of the tumor microenvironment such as macrophages and T cells. In this review, we summarize the main characteristics of ovarian cancer and describe preclinical studies and clinical trials involving metformin as a therapeutic agent for this disease.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related death. Although molecular stratification and multimodal therapy have improved outcomes in selected patients, overall prognosis is still limited by late diagnosis, heterogeneity, and treatment resistance. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have substantially improved survival outcomes in a subset of patients; however, the overall benefit remains limited, and both primary and acquired resistance are common. Neutrophils, as key effectors of innate immune responses, can be activated by diverse stimuli and release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Growing evidence indicates that neutrophils and NETs contribute to remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in NSCLC, promoting resistance to ICIs. This review systematically summarizes the biological features, key molecular pathways, and inducing factors of neutrophils and NETs in lung cancer and synthesizes evidence supporting their roles as biomarkers of ICI efficacy and prognosis. We further focus on the mechanisms by which NETs mediate immunosuppression and foster an immune-excluded TME, thereby driving resistance to immunotherapy. In addition, we outline potential therapeutic and combination strategies targeting neutrophils and NETs, providing a theoretical basis for developing optimized immunotherapy approaches for NSCLC that target neutrophils and NETs.

Ovarian cancer remains a major cause of mortality in women aged 74 years and under. Dysregulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and NFκB signaling pathways has been associated with poor outcomes and treatment resistance. This study evaluated three potential anticancer agents targeting these pathways: buparlisib (a pan-PI3K/mTORC1 inhibitor), SN32976 (a PI3K p110α inhibitor), and pterostilbene (a resveratrol analogue that downregulates PI3K/AKT and NFκB signaling). Their efficacy was tested in 3D collagen models of ovarian cancer, using SKOV3 and OVCAR8 cell lines, activated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA). Using concentrations derived from 2D assays, viability, collagen gel sizes, secretion of interleukin 6/8 (IL-6/8) and signal pathway proteins were analyzed. All compounds were less effective in 3D models than in 2D cultures, with high cell viability maintained. TNFα and LPA did not significantly alter drug sensitivity, and collagen gel contraction was largely unaffected. While the compounds did not consistently change signaling protein levels, they generally reduced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. Growth in 3D collagen gels conferred drug resistance on OVCAR8 but not SKOV3 models. Overall, these findings provide preclinical support for further investigation of SN32976 and pterostilbene in ovarian cancer models.

Herein, a novel series of 4-piperidinylphenyl-linked thiazoles was synthesized as VEGFR2 inhibitors with potential cytotoxic activity against renal cancer. Most of the target compounds inhibited VEGFR2 enzyme at sub-micromolar IC50 values. Compounds 7c (IC50 = 0.073 ± 0.002 µM), 9b (IC50 = 0.049 ± 0.002 µM), and 9c (IC50 = 0.093 ± 0.003 µM) were the most potent, showing VEGFR2 inhibition superior to that of sunitinib (IC50 = 0.118 ± 0.003 µM). Furthermore, compounds 7c, 9b, and 9c effectively inhibited the growth of A498 renal cancer cells, with compound 7c being the most potent showing a one-digit IC50 value of 7.866 ± 0.27 µM. In addition, compound 7c revealed a potentially improved safety profile against non-cancerous normal cells, relative to sunitinib. The treatment of A498 renal cancer cells with compound 7c led to an apparent cell cycle arrest and a significant induction of apoptosis. A docking study was also conducted and revealed a proper orientation of compound 7c into the active site of VEGFR2.

Epigenetic and stress-response pathways play central roles in cancer progression and represent attractive therapeutic targets. In this study, a series of dipyridothiazine-1,2,3-triazole hybrids bearing p-fluorophenyl and p-trifluoromethylphenyl substituents was synthesized via efficient dipolar cycloaddition reactions. Structural characterization was performed using 1H, 13C, and 19F NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Anticancer activity was evaluated using WST-1 and MTT assays against human cancer cell lines SNB-19 (glioblastoma), C32 (amelanotic melanoma), A549 (lung carcinoma), and MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 (breast cancer), as well as normal HFF-1 fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes, with doxorubicin and cisplatin as reference drugs. The hybrids TDT2b and TDT3b containing a p-trifluoromethylphenyl moiety showed the highest cytotoxicity and cancer cell selectivity. RT-qPCR analysis of H3, TP53, CDKN1A, BCL-2, and BAX expression for the lead compound TDT2b revealed modulation of chromatin organization, p53-dependent stress responses, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation. Molecular docking studies with human histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) demonstrated favorable binding of TDT2b and TDT3b, supporting their role as potential epigenetic anticancer agents.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most aggressive malignancies worldwide, with limited treatment options and high resistance to conventional therapies. Developing novel therapeutic strategies that target alternative cell death mechanisms is crucial for overcoming treatment resistance. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of eight sulfonated silver(I) and gold(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes-four newly synthesized-against human liver cancer cells and investigated the mechanisms of the compounds that exhibited higher selectivity for cancer cells compared to non-malignant liver cells. Morphological analysis revealed distinct features of autophagy rather than apoptosis, as confirmed by the absence of chromatin condensation, caspase-3 activation, and PARP-1 cleavage. Instead, both complexes strongly upregulated Beclin-1 and LC3-II expression-key autophagy markers-while inhibiting the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. The observed cytotoxic effects were associated with a significant increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Pre-treatment with the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine completely abolished both cytotoxicity and autophagy induction. These findings demonstrate that silver(I) and gold(I) NHC complexes induce ROS-dependent autophagic cell death in this kind of cancer cells. The ability of these compounds to trigger non-apoptotic cell death mechanisms highlights their potential as promising candidates for overcoming apoptosis resistance in HCC therapy, warranting further in vivo investigations.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a common gastrointestinal malignancy whose initiation and progression may be closely linked to the gut microbiota. Previous research indicates that Scutellaria barbata D. Don and Scleromitrion diffusum (Willd.) R.J. Wang (SB-SD) exhibit diverse biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor effects, though their precise regulatory mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Here, we treated PC cells with SB-SD to assess its impact on cell viability, apoptosis, migration, and cell cycle progression, while Western blotting analyzed the expression of HSP90AA1, MAPK3, p53, CDK1, and p21. We also established a pancreatic cancer xenograft model in nude mice to evaluate the in vivo inhibitory effect of SB-SD on tumor growth. Furthermore, we employed metagenomic sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, and quantitative proteomics to comprehensively profile changes in the gut microbiota, serum metabolites, and differentially expressed proteins, with Western blotting subsequently validating BCKDK, GATM and p53 expression. The results show that SB-SD significantly inhibited PC cell proliferation, promoted apoptosis, and induced S/G2 phase cell cycle arrest, potentially via modulation of the HSP90AA1/MAPK3 signaling pathway. Measurements of tumor volume and weight, complemented by histopathological analysis, confirmed that SB-SD effectively suppressed the growth of PANC-1 xenograft tumors. Integrated multi-omics analyses suggest that the antitumor effects of SB-SD may involve the modulation of key gut microbes like Bacteroides caccae and Lactobacillus, the promotion of choline metabolism, and the regulation of BCKDK and GATM. Together, these findings not only corroborate the direct antitumor activity of SB-SD against pancreatic cancer but also offer novel mechanistic insights by constructing a microbiota-metabolite-protein interaction network.

The urgent need for sustainable therapeutic nanomaterials has driven interest in green synthesis routes. In this study, zinc oxide-manganese oxide nanocomposites were mycosynthesized by employing the fungal extracellular filtrate of Aspergillus terreus. Characterization based on different spectroscopical analysis confirmed their crystalline structure, associated functional groups, and nanoscale morphology. The obtained composites showed nanoscales with average particle sizes of 75 nm and 99 nm as determined by TEM and DLS analysis, respectively. Additionally, microbiological assays revealed their strong growth-ceasing activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis strains. Also, the time-kill assessment demonstrated rapid bacterial reduction at higher nanocomposite doses. Cytotoxicity studies indicated good safety in the case of WI-38 normal cells, potent anticancer activity against the MCF-7 tumor cell line, and a respectable selectivity index approximately 3.4 for the tested cancerous cell line. These findings highlight fungal-mediated biosynthesis as an eco-friendly route for producing zinc oxide-manganese oxide nanocomposites with respected spectrum antimicrobial activity and anticancer potential.

Osteosarcoma, the most common primary malignant bone tumour, presents significant treatment challenges due to its complex tumour microenvironment and the development of chemoresistance. This study employs single-cell transcriptomics to investigate chemotherapy-induced changes in osteosarcoma at both the cellular and molecular levels. Single-cell RNA sequencing data were analysed to identify cell subpopulations and their responses to chemotherapy. Differential gene expression and pathway enrichment analyses were performed to elucidate chemotherapy-induced changes. Additionally, we developed and validated a predictive model based on pyroptosis-related genes, named Pyroscore, using 101 different machine-learning algorithms. Chemotherapy led to an increased proportion of osteoclasts, endothelial cells, mesenchymal stem cells and pericytes, while decreasing T and NK cells, B cells, chondroblasts, monocytes and macrophages. Chemotherapy markedly upregulates the pyroptosis pathway in tumour cells, suggesting that chemotherapy induces programmed cell death in cancer cells through the activation of pyroptosis. Metabolic pathway analysis revealed significant inhibition of sulphur metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, inositol phosphate metabolism, nitrogen metabolism and fatty acid metabolism. The Pyroscore model, which incorporates BAK1, CASP1, CASP5 and CASP6, demonstrated robust prognostic value across multiple data sets, with high scores correlating with improved survival outcomes. This study highlights the impact of chemotherapy on osteosarcoma cell subpopulations and the tumour microenvironment. The activation of the pyroptosis pathway and the development of the pyroscore prognostic model provide new insights into the mechanisms of chemotherapy response and potential therapeutic targets. These findings underscore the importance of personalized treatment strategies in improving outcomes for osteosarcoma patients.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been successful in treating advanced melanoma, yet, the 10-year melanoma-specific survival is only 52%. Our prior work using genetic linkage analysis revealed that the murine prolactin (PRL) locus associates with ICI response in C57BL/6 (B6)-syngeneic B16F0 melanoma. This was validated in F1 crosses of B6 with Collaborative Cross mice selected as potential non-responders or responders in the PRL locus and directly by coadministration of PRL with ICIs which slowed B16F0 growth compared with ICIs alone. This study uses Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs that act on the dopamine D2 receptor (D2R), which inhibits PRL release from the pituitary, and suggests the potential of this receptor as a target to improve ICI outcomes.

Checkpoint inhibitor-induced liver injury (ChILI) is an immune-related adverse reaction, occurring in patients with cancer receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI). ChILI is currently managed with high doses of corticosteroids which carry their own risks and potential side effects, and the lack of available biomarkers makes monitoring patients at risk of developing ChILI a challenge. There is no specific test that distinguishes ChILI from other competing diagnoses such as acute autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (DILI) due to other medications.

We found epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1) is up-regulated in liver cancer cells exposed to sorafenib for a long time using a bioinformatic tool. Here, the mechanism of EFEMP1 in sorafenib resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells was explored.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) cholangitis is an uncommon immune-related adverse event affecting the biliary ducts that is considered distinct from ICI hepatitis. This study examines whether the liver injury pattern or presence of histologic bile duct damage determines response to immunosuppression.

Enzymatic hydrolysis is one of the effective methods used to obtain the bioactive peptides from marine resources. This study aimed to evaluate effect of the enzyme type (Food Pro PNL (FP), Corolase8000 (C8), and Corolase7089 (C7)) and biomass pretreatment level (whole starfish (SF), deproteinized (DPSF) as well as deproteinized and demineralized starfish (DPDMSF)) on the hydrolysate yield, degree of hydrolysis (DH), generated peptides' molecular weight (MW), and in vitro radical scavenging and antiproliferative effects. Regardless of the enzyme used, deproteinization reduced the hydrolysate yield (<8% dw/ww) and DH (<5%), but also adding demineralization, in combination with C8, resulted in an equal yield (15%) and DH (>40%) to SF. However, the protein content of hydrolysates from DPSF and DPDMSF was higher than that prepared from SF. C8 was not effective in hydrolyzing SF but was the only effective enzyme in hydrolyzing DPDMSF. The peptides' MW distribution strongly depended on the pretreatment and enzyme type, mostly ranging from 17 to 70 kDa. Glycine content was higher in hydrolysates from DPSF and DMDPSF, indicating their collagenous nature. Hydrolysates from DPSF, rich in collagenous peptides, showed medium MW but the highest radical scavenging activity. Only SF-FP hydrolysate, rich in non-collagenous peptides, showed antiproliferative activity against melanoma cancer cells. Overall, the findings demonstrate that upstream biomass pretreatment and enzyme selection directly govern the yield and bioactivity of starfish protein hydrolysates, providing a rational basis for designing starfish protein hydrolysates with targeted functional properties.

Chemical investigation of the marine sponge-derived Streptomyces xiamenensis 1310KO-148 afforded six polycyclic tetramate macrolactams (PTMs), including three known compounds (1-3) and three previously undescribed chlorohydrin-containing analogues, chlokamycins B-D (4-6). Their planar structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and HR-ESIMS data, while the relative configurations were assigned using NOESY correlations. The absolute configurations were further confirmed by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 3-6 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against 14 human cancer cell lines (GI50 = 2.68-24.92 μM) and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 16.00-32.00 μg/mL) and Micrococcus luteus (MIC = 4.00-32.00 μg/mL) among six tested bacterial strains.