{"title":"GABAergic signaling in colorectal cancer: Mechanistic insights, tumor microenvironment crosstalk, and therapeutic opportunities","authors":"Donghao Tang , Paola Orlandi , Qijie Li , Arianna Bandini , Guido Bocci","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189414","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189414","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) and its receptors have emerged as critical modulators of colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Although GABA is traditionally recognized as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, recent studies have uncovered its complex and sometimes paradoxical roles in cancer biology. <em>In vivo</em>, elevated GABA levels in CRC tissues have been associated with enhanced tumor growth, immune evasion, and metabolic adaptation. In contrast, <em>in vitro</em> studies suggest that exogenous GABA and GABA receptor agonists can inhibit CRC cell proliferation, highlighting a context-dependent role for GABAergic signaling. This duality may stem from variations in GABA receptor subtype expression, tumor-intrinsic metabolic reprogramming, and immune modulation within the TME. A better understanding of these mechanisms may offer new therapeutic opportunities. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the field, focusing on the molecular mechanisms, immune and metabolic interactions, and therapeutic potential of targeting GABAergic signaling in colorectal cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 5","pages":"Article 189414"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144810121","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lei Yang , Yingying Shao , Zewen Zhang , Yunfei Li , Fang Wang , Haiyang Yu
{"title":"Metabolic insights into TAMs and the tumor immune microenvironment: Regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic interventions","authors":"Lei Yang , Yingying Shao , Zewen Zhang , Yunfei Li , Fang Wang , Haiyang Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189411","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189411","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are pivotal regulators of the tumor immune microenvironment exhibiting a dual role in tumor therapy by functioning as both pro-tumorigenic effectors and anti-tumor agents. Tumor cells reprogram macrophages towards the pro-tumorigenic M2 phenotype through the induction of signaling molecules and manipulation of metabolic pathways. Recent evidence indicates that the interplay between TAM functional polarization and metabolic reprogramming profoundly influences anti-tumor immunity across multiple dimensions. TAMs, in turn, collectively modulate the immunosuppressive niche via a complex interaction network involving dynamic metabolite exchange, immune checkpoint signaling, and sensing of the physical microenvironment. In this review, we integrate current understanding of TAM metabolic networks, elucidate key mechanisms by which they remodel the immunosuppressive microenvironment through metabolic crosstalk, and outline emerging therapeutic strategies targeting TAMs to overcome current treatment limitations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 5","pages":"Article 189411"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144801223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Francesco Gentile , Emeline Cros-Perrial , Lars Petter Jordheim
{"title":"Inhibition of nucleotide excision repair proteins associated with cancer chemotherapy","authors":"Francesco Gentile , Emeline Cros-Perrial , Lars Petter Jordheim","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189408","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189408","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>DNA repair is involved in the cellular response to alkylating agents used for the treatment of various cancers, decreasing the damages induced by the compounds and thus limiting the efficacy of the drugs. The inhibition of DNA repair should therefore increase the cytotoxic effect of alkylating agents, and this has been suggested as a therapeutic approach to increase clinical success. In this review, we focus on proteins involved in Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) with a particular emphasis on the heterodimer ERCC1/XPF, and give an overview of preclinical and clinical studies underlying this therapeutic approach, as well as details on studies and compounds with notable activities. We also discuss the use of computer-aided methods to develop small molecule inhibitors targeting NER-related proteins, with a focus on structure-based virtual screening, and reflect on future perspectives on this topic. Although interesting results are obtained on cell models with various molecules, we believe new efforts are needed in order to validate the proof of concept in vivo and to translate the use of NER inhibitors in cancer patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 5","pages":"Article 189408"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144801222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gynecological malignancy organoids: A game changer for personalized medicine","authors":"Ziyang Ding , Xingyu Chang , Xinyu Qu, Keqin Hua, Junjun Qiu","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189405","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189405","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recently, the incidence of gynecological malignancies has increased annually, posing a serious threat to women's health. Historically, the emergence and progression of gynecological cancers have primarily been studied using cell lines and animal models. However, these models often fail to accurately reflect tumor characteristics because genetic mutations frequently occur during long-term cultivation. Also, the complex tumor microenvironment is difficult to replicate. Consequently, these models have limitations in translating research findings into clinical applications. Organoids successfully retain key characteristics of primary tumors, including histological structure, genomic landscape, expression profiles, and intratumor heterogeneity. They provide new solutions to these challenges and have been effectively applied in drug development and personalized therapy. This review describes several common culture systems for organoids of gynecological malignancies. It discusses the latest technologies related to organoids and their applications in gynecological oncology. Despite limitations, organoids are ideal preclinical models and a promising platform for tumor research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 5","pages":"Article 189405"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144763623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dan Deng , Yan Luo , Yun Hong , Xing Ren , Xuyu Zu , Jianbo Feng
{"title":"Lactylation: A new direction for tumor-targeted therapy","authors":"Dan Deng , Yan Luo , Yun Hong , Xing Ren , Xuyu Zu , Jianbo Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189399","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189399","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lactate, a central metabolite generated during glycolysis, functions not only as a by-product but also as a critical signalling mediator, profoundly influencing tumor progression and cellular destiny. Among the post-translational modifications, lactylation—a novel modification driven by lactate—has emerged as a transformative discovery, reshaping our understanding of lactate's role within the tumor microenvironment (TME). This modification bridges metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic regulation, unveiling previously unexplored dimensions of tumor biology. Recent findings demonstrate that protein lactylation in tumor cells, cancer stem cells, and immune cells infiltrating the TME can modulate transcriptional activities, thereby influencing tumor initiation, progression, and immune evasion. These insights position lactylation as a promising target for new therapeutic strategies in cancer. This review expounds on the underlying mechanisms of lactylation, including the identification of the “writers” and “erasers” involved in protein lactylation, and highlights the physiological significance of lactylation across diverse biological contexts. Furthermore, the paper emphasized on the latest advancements in understanding the modulatory functions of protein lactylation within pathological processes, the potential for targeting lactylation sites, and underscores the scientific significance for future investigative endeavours.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 5","pages":"Article 189399"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144750704","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xinyi Zhou , Yujia Song , Zhen Wang , Li Fu , Lin Xu , Xuping Feng , Zheng Zhang , Kefei Yuan
{"title":"Dietary sugar intervention: A promising approach for cancer therapy","authors":"Xinyi Zhou , Yujia Song , Zhen Wang , Li Fu , Lin Xu , Xuping Feng , Zheng Zhang , Kefei Yuan","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189402","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189402","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cancer constitutes a significant global health challenge, with altered metabolism being a hallmark feature of cancer cells. Diet can directly modulate systemic metabolite levels, thereby exerting both direct and indirect influences on tumor progression. The primary mechanisms include: (1) directly altering signaling pathways related to tumor cell proliferation or apoptosis, (2) indirectly affecting tumor progression by modulating nutrient availability or immune cell function in the tumor microenvironment, and (3) influencing tumor development through changes in gut microbiota composition or metabolic activity. Dietary sugars, as integral components of nutritional intake, play crucial roles in providing energy and participating in metabolism and signaling processes. Building upon this understanding, our discussion delves into the impact and mechanisms of dietary sugars, including glucose, fructose, and mannose, on tumors, and investigates potential dietary interventions. We also summarize current clinical applications of these dietary interventions, hoping to contribute to the conceptualization of personalized dietary treatment plans for individuals grappling with cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 5","pages":"Article 189402"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144758048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jinbai Huang , Qingting Zhang , Yuanshan Yang , Wei Wang , Jun Cai
{"title":"Mechanism of interleukin-6 cytokine family in bone metastasis of lung cancer and prospects for its application","authors":"Jinbai Huang , Qingting Zhang , Yuanshan Yang , Wei Wang , Jun Cai","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189398","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189398","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bone metastasis is a significant clinical problem for lung cancer patients. Current studies have reported a strong relationship between the progression of bone metastases from lung cancer and inflammatory cytokines, which can modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) and promote the migration of tumor cells. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) family cytokines are critical components of the immune microenvironment secreted by several cell types in vivo. They can regulate immune homeostasis, inflammatory response, etc., and activate multiple signal pathways involved in tumor progression. Some of these factors (e.g., IL-6 and IL-11) increase the serum expression levels of patients with bone metastases from lung cancer; the level of expression correlates with a poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer. However, the role of this family of novel cytokines in lung cancer bone metastasis remains unclear. Besides, limited studies exist on the related regulatory mechanisms, and there is a lack of direct evidence for their relationship with bone metastasis. Thus, this review discusses the current roles and potential mechanisms of all IL-6 family members in lung cancer bone metastasis, as well as the potential of blocking the IL-6 family, its receptors, and signaling pathways for treating lung cancer bone metastasis. This is geared towards providing prospective treatment targets for bone metastases from lung cancer and possible future research directions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 5","pages":"Article 189398"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144719203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yanqi Li , Lin Li , Yongyong Hou , Xueqiang Peng , Hangyu Li
{"title":"Research advances on amino acid starvation interventions for hepatocellular carcinoma","authors":"Yanqi Li , Lin Li , Yongyong Hou , Xueqiang Peng , Hangyu Li","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive malignancy associated with high mortality. Numerous endeavors have been undertaken to develop more effective pharmaceutical interventions. Metabolic reprogramming is recognized as a hallmark of cancer for adapting to heightened bioenergetic and biosynthetic demands. Amino acid (AA) metabolism dysregulation plays a crucial role in the tumor initiation and progression of HCC, resulting in high reliance on AA availability. This makes HCC cells vulnerable to AA starvation, implying that restricting AA supply and utilization may offer a promising nutritional strategy in HCC therapy.</div><div>We delineate the pivotal physiological functions and aberrant alterations of various AA metabolisms in HCC. We systematically summarize the recent advances in agents, targets, antineoplastic effects, and mechanisms of various AA starvation strategies in HCC, including dietary restriction, circulating depletion, transporter blockade, and metabolic enzyme inhibition. We further discussed a suite of adaptive responses that enable HCC cells to survive with AA shortage. Targeting these adaptive pathways in combination with AA starvation may enhance the efficacy of HCC treatment.</div><div>This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of progress in the field of AA starvation for HCC therapy and to explore novel therapeutic opportunities and strategies through nutritional intervention for HCC therapy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 5","pages":"Article 189400"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144719204","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Caihou Zhang , Haimin Geng , Yurong Tan , Lili Wang
{"title":"Multidimensional regulation of the microbe-TLR4 signaling Axis in colorectal cancer: From molecular mechanisms to microbe-targeted therapies","authors":"Caihou Zhang , Haimin Geng , Yurong Tan , Lili Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189397","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189397","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most common cancer globally, arises from complex interactions between genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. This review systematically analyzes the multidimensional regulatory mechanisms of the microbe-TLR4 signaling axis in CRC, including key pathways such as TLR4/NF-κB, MAPK, TRIF/IRF3, Keap1/NRF2/CYP2J2, and ceramide/β-catenin/SOAT1. These pathways drive tumor progression through metabolic reprogramming, immune modulation, and genotoxic effects. Therapeutic strategies targeting this axis encompass natural compounds (e.g., terpenoids, polysaccharides, saponins), traditional Chinese medicine formulas (e.g., Ganluyin, Xiao-Chai-Hu-Tang), microbiota therapies (probiotics, engineered bacteria, oncolytic viruses), and dietary and metabolic regulation (dietary fiber, methionine), exerting anti-tumor effects by inhibiting excessive TLR4 activation, repairing intestinal barriers, and regulating microbial balance. The review highlights challenges such as the complexity of signaling pathways, precise microbiota modulation, and drug delivery. At the same time, emerging technologies like single-cell multi-omics and artificial intelligence prediction models offer new directions for precision interventions. Targeting the microbe-TLR4 axis holds promise as an innovative strategy for CRC treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 5","pages":"Article 189397"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144704088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pankaj Garg , Gargi Singhal , David Horne , Ravi Salgia , Sharad S. Singhal
{"title":"Metabolic reprogramming in breast cancer: Pathways driving progression, drug resistance, and emerging therapeutics","authors":"Pankaj Garg , Gargi Singhal , David Horne , Ravi Salgia , Sharad S. Singhal","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189396","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189396","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Breast cancer (BC), one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related death in women, is known to be a highly heterogeneous disease in regard to molecular subtypes, which seem to possess different metabolic profiles. Aberrant metabolism is well understood as one of the hallmarks of cancer and it contributes to BC progression, therapeutic resistance, and metastasis. Here, we analyze BC metabolism and how certain cancer types, such as hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative BC, use glycolysis, lipid metabolism, amino acid compulsion, and mitochondrial biogenesis to feed and proliferate. These metabolic hallmarks, in the context of the tumor microenvironments, are illustrated to highlight the metabolic byproducts that are derived from reprogrammed pathways and are vital to immunosuppression and tumor survival under low oxygen and nutrient availability. Furthermore, we emphasize novel trends in anticancer drugs designed to strike on these metabolic dependencies to suppress tumor growth. In addition to summing up current knowledge about metabolic reprogramming in BC, this review reveals new targets for specific treatments that might enhance prognosis in certain types of BC. This review aims to bridge basic scientific insights and clinical perspectives, guiding future metabolic interventions in BC toward clinically relevant, subtype-specific therapeutic strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 5","pages":"Article 189396"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144686926","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}