{"title":"Rewiring PD-1/PD-L1 combination therapy via glyco-immune targeting of galectins: Toward clinical translation","authors":"Xiangyu Huang, Si Zhang, Jiale Li, She Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189496","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189496","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite advances in PD-1/PD-L1 combination therapies, clinical benefits remain limited and toxicity is significant. Galectins, a family of β-galactoside-binding lectins, have emerged as mechanistically distinct, multimodal targets with the potential to address these limitations. By modulating glycan–protein networks in the tumor microenvironment, galectin inhibition alleviates T cell exclusion, immune exhaustion, immunosuppressive cell activation, and steric blockade of PD-(L)1 antibodies. Several galectin inhibitors (e.g., GR-MD-02, GB1211, LYT-200) are under clinical evaluation. Early trials showing encouraging efficacy-toxicity profiles and some combinations received FDA Fast Track designations. This review summarizes mechanistic and clinical advances and highlights their translational implications for galectin-targeted combination therapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 6","pages":"Article 189496"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145516608","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":"Corrigendum to “Snail1 as a key prognostic biomarker of cancer-associated fibroblasts in breast tumors” [Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on Cancer, volume 1880 (2025) / 189316]","authors":"Raúl Peña, Josep Baulida","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189462","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189462","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 6","pages":"Article 189462"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145226500","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":"The evolving landscape of antibody-drug conjugates in small cell lung cancer: From research progress to clinical application","authors":"Haoyu Wang , Chenyue Zhang , Haiyong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189445","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189445","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), one of the emerging developing classes of antitumor drugs, have transformed the therapeutic paradigm in oncology. It stands out due to its properties of boasting the strength of both chemotherapy and targeted therapy. In small cell lung cancer (SCLC), ADC has also demonstrated its potential and appealing effect. Clinical trials of ADCs in SCLC are currently in full swing. While ADC has brought some encouraging results so far, several obstacles have been encountered, such as drug resistance, drug toxicities and the difficulty in the selection of patients benefiting from ADCs. Thus, a deepened and comprehensive understanding of the fundamental researches, as well as summarization of ADC development in SCLC might offer us some enlightenment and solutions to these tricky issues. Therefore, in the present review, we elaborate on the structure and mechanism of ADC, clinical trials conducted in SCLC. Additionally, we also outline the obstacles and propose future directions of ADC in SCLC, highlighting its in-depth research and prospective application in SCLC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 6","pages":"Article 189445"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145016949","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":"The roles and perspectives of YY1 in immune central tolerance establishment","authors":"Gustavo Ulises Martínez-Ruiz , Ricardo Valle-Rios , Marco Velasco-Velazquez , Guillermo Aquino-Jarquin","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Thymic epithelial cells (TEC) drive the proper differentiation of thymocytes for generating self-tolerant naïve T cells. TEC are functionally heterogeneous, as revealed by advancements in single-cell technologies, the development of new mouse models, and the examination of mouse, human, and zebrafish samples. While multiple cell-intrinsic regulators of TEC have been identified, many remain to be discovered. A comprehensive molecular characterization of each TEC subset and, ultimately, of all TECs, will help to develop strategies for their therapeutic modulation. Here, we review the potential role of the multifunctional transcription factor YY1 in thymus development and function, with a focus on TEC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 6","pages":"Article 189469"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145254098","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}
Jiahao Xu , Yujie Jin , Shiqiang Liu , Lizhuo Wang , Jialin Gao
{"title":"Dissecting the dual roles of lysosomal membrane proteins: Mediators of autophagy–apoptosis crosstalk in tumor progression","authors":"Jiahao Xu , Yujie Jin , Shiqiang Liu , Lizhuo Wang , Jialin Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189477","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189477","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tumor progression is closely related to the complex interactive regulation between autophagy and apoptosis signaling pathways, particularly the molecular mechanisms mediated by lysosomal membrane proteins (LMPs), and their dynamic regulatory processes have become an important direction of current research. However, there is a lack of in-depth and systematic reviews on this topic. This review focuses on the multi-dimensional mechanisms by which LMPs mediate the regulation of the autophagy–apoptosis crosstalk <em>via</em> key molecules like Beclin1, Autophagy-related (ATG), Caspase, PARP, and Bax/Bcl-2 in tumor progression. In addition, it highlights their roles in signaling pathways, drug-mediated cell cycle and combination therapy mechanisms, autophagic and apoptotic crosstalk underlying synergistic and antagonistic effects, and other key biological processes. Overall, as the core hub of the autophagy–apoptosis crosstalk network, the multifactorial synergistic effect mediated by LMPs is crucial in tumor progression. In-depth analysis of this mechanism not only elucidates the molecular pathological basis of tumorigenesis but also provides a theoretical basis for the development of novel anti-tumor intervention strategies targeting LMPs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 6","pages":"Article 189477"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145314116","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":"Research progress on gut microbiota in colorectal cancer immunotherapy","authors":"Jing Li , Yingkun Yue , Jiaxin Pan , Fang Liang","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189476","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189476","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated significant clinical benefits in treating various malignancies. However, their therapeutic efficacy exhibits considerable interindividual variability in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). In recent years, growing attention has been focused on the regulatory role of the gut microbiota and its metabolic microenvironment in modulating ICIs responses. This article systematically reviews key advances in understanding how the gut microbiota and its metabolites influence ICIs efficacy. For example: Specific bacterial species (e.g., <em>Lactobacillus paracasei</em> and <em>Fusobacterium nucleatum</em>) may regulate ICIs efficacy by modulating antigen presentation or the tumor immune microenvironment. Microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), can enhance immune function and thereby improve ICIs outcomes. Potential microbiome-targeted interventions—including probiotic/prebiotic combinations, optimized antibiotic administration timing, refined fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) protocols, and engineered synthetic biology-based bacterial therapies—are also discussed. By synthesizing current evidence, this review provides a theoretical foundation for developing novel personalized immunotherapy strategies for CRC, with a focus on microbiome modulation to optimize ICIs treatment efficacy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 6","pages":"Article 189476"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145357156","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}
Wei Li , Tong Liu , Tianhua Wu , Ting Cai , Fen Wang , Minglin Zhang
{"title":"Posttranslational modifications in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric pathogenesis: Bridging inflammation and carcinogenesis","authors":"Wei Li , Tong Liu , Tianhua Wu , Ting Cai , Fen Wang , Minglin Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189492","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189492","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Helicobacter pylori</em> (<em>H. pylori</em>), a Group I carcinogen that affects approximately half of the global population, is the primary aetiological agent of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma, and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Its pathogenesis involves intricate interactions among bacterial virulence factors, host genetics, and environmental factors. We detail the critical role of diverse protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs) in mediating <em>H. pylori</em>-induced gastric mucosal damage and carcinogenesis. We describe how <em>H. pylori</em> exploits and dysregulates a broad spectrum of host and bacterial PTMs (encompassing acetylation, ubiquitination, S-nitrosylation, disulfide bond formation, citrullination, methylation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, SUMOylation, and ADP-ribosylation) to establish infection, evade immune responses, drive chronic inflammation, and promote malignant transformation. Collectively, these findings reveal a complex, multilayered PTM network that is central to <em>H. pylori</em> pathogenesis. Understanding these mechanisms provides crucial insights for the development of novel diagnostic biomarkers; methylation profiles; anti-citrullinate keratin 1 (Cit-K1) antibodies, maps of PTM dynamics; targeted therapeutic strategies, including PTM enzyme inhibitors, antivirulence agents such as <em>H. pylori</em> disulfide bond-forming protein A inhibitors, epigenetic modulators, glycoconjugate vaccines/adhesion blockers, and optimized drug delivery systems such as N-acetylcysteine liposomes. Furthermore, this knowledge supports improved risk stratification for managing persistent cancer risk even after eradication.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 6","pages":"Article 189492"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145477374","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}
Jian Wang , Huihui Xiao , Siqian Cui , Chunrong Wu , Debing Xiang
{"title":"The bridging role of neutrophils in the progression of inflammation-induced colorectal cancer","authors":"Jian Wang , Huihui Xiao , Siqian Cui , Chunrong Wu , Debing Xiang","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189460","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189460","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Neutrophils play a multifaceted and dynamically evolving role in the progression of inflammation-driven colorectal cancer (CRC). This review summarizes the functional reprogramming and phenotypic polarization of neutrophils under chronic inflammatory conditions, with a particular focus on their contribution to tumor immune microenvironment remodeling. Specifically, we highlight the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), released through NETosis, in establishing immunosuppressive networks and reshaping the pro-metastatic stromal niche. The review further discusses the reciprocal interactions between neutrophils and the tumor microenvironment, as well as the impact of metabolic reprogramming and gut microbiota crosstalk on inflammation-to-cancer transition. By systematically outlining the mechanisms through which neutrophils influence inflammation-associated CRC, this review aims to provide conceptual insights and a framework for future research and therapeutic intervention strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 6","pages":"Article 189460"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145180777","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":"Mitochondrial dynamics and metabolic attributes regulate function of natural killer cell and infiltration in tumor microenvironment modulating disease progression","authors":"Sayak Ghosh , Rittick Dutta , Devyani Goswami , Debapriya Ghatak , Rudranil De","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189471","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189471","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mitochondria in natural killer (NK) cells orchestrate a dynamic interplay between energy production and immune regulation, placing them at the forefront of oncogenesis and tumor microenvironment (TME) infiltration. This review unravels the intricate disruptions in mitochondrial dynamics—fission, fusion, and biogenesis—that hypoxia imposes within the TME, culminating in impaired NK cell functionality. Hypoxia-driven mitochondrial fragmentation, mediated by HIF-1α and mTOR-Drp1 signaling, cripples NK cell cytotoxicity, proliferation, and maturation, while elevated ROS levels and metabolic reprogramming bolster tumor immune evasion. The metabolic landscape of the TME adds another layer of complexity, with amino acid depletion significantly hindering NK cell performance. Arginine and leucine deficiencies suppress proliferation and mTOR activation, whereas disrupted glutamine metabolism impairs cMyc-driven metabolic adaptation. Additionally, immunosuppressive catabolites like nitric oxide and L-kynurenine exacerbate NK cell dysfunction by curbing cytokine production and receptor expression. Targeting these metabolic vulnerabilities offers a promising strategy; specifically, interventions aimed at amino acid pathways could simultaneously restrict nutrient availability within the tumor microenvironment and preserve NK cell functionalities. Emerging strategies spotlight the potential of NK cells to induce autophagic death in hypoxic cancer cells, a mechanism that could restore their cytotoxic potential. Furthermore, immune checkpoint pathways, such as PD-1 and CTLA-4, amplify mitochondrial dysfunction, underscoring their therapeutic significance. By addressing hypoxia, metabolic dysregulation, and mitochondrial reprogramming, this review illuminates actionable strategies to reinvigorate NK cell-mediated antitumor responses and pave the way for transformative cancer therapies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 6","pages":"Article 189471"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145276830","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}
Aditya Gupta , Raghu Ramanathan , Chittalsinh M. Raulji , Ram I. Mahato
{"title":"Nanoparticulate delivery and targeting of RNA to the brain","authors":"Aditya Gupta , Raghu Ramanathan , Chittalsinh M. Raulji , Ram I. Mahato","doi":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189480","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189480","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents a critical challenge in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders, particularly aggressive brain cancers such as glioblastoma (GBM) and medulloblastoma (MB). RNA therapies exploit endogenous cellular machinery to modulate gene expression, targeting previously undruggable pathways. RNA and CRISPR gene therapies hold transformative potential for brain cancer but demand breakthroughs for enhanced drug transport across the BBB. While clinical achievements in non-CNS diseases validate their efficacy, interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to advance nanoparticles (NPs) engineering, immune evasion, and non-invasive delivery for CNS applications. NPs are indispensable for advancing RNA therapies in brain cancer, with lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) and viral vectors leading clinical translation. Innovations in targeting (e.g., GLUT1, RVG peptide, ApoE mimetic peptide) and non-invasive delivery (e.g., focused ultrasound) are critical to overcome the BBB limitations. This review highlights the different strategies that can be utilized to deliver RNA-based therapies to the brain and summarizes the recent clinical efforts to deliver the RNA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8782,"journal":{"name":"Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer","volume":"1880 6","pages":"Article 189480"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145412479","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}