Cancer treatment and research communications最新文献

{"title":"Clinical relative biological effectiveness of carbon-ion versus photon radiotherapy derived from tumor control probability models in locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer","authors":"Yong-Long Liu,&nbsp;Ning-Yi Ma,&nbsp;Ya-Qi Li,&nbsp;Xing-Wen Fan,&nbsp;Jian Chen,&nbsp;Jing Mi,&nbsp;Zi-Zhou Mao,&nbsp;Meng-Yao Lu,&nbsp;Jun-Chao Chen,&nbsp;Ying Guo,&nbsp;Xiao-Li Liu,&nbsp;Jing-Fang Mao,&nbsp;Guo-Liang Jiang,&nbsp;Kai-Liang Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101357","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101357","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study aimed to estimate the clinical relative biological effectiveness (cRBE) of carbon-ion radiotherapy (CIRT) versus photon radiotherapy (PRT) in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) receiving combined radiotherapy and systemic therapy. cRBE was calculated using the equivalent uniform dose (EUD) corresponding to 50% tumor control (D₅₀), derived from tumor control probability (TCP) modeling with 3-year locoregional control (LRC) as the primary endpoint.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Patients treated between 2016 and 2023 were identified. Propensity score matching was applied to balance CIRT and PRT cohorts. LRC was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression. Gross tumour volume dose-volume histograms were converted to biologically effective dose (BED) and EUD. Logistic TCP models were fitted by maximum likelihood estimation. cRBE was estimated as the ratio of the D₅₀ physical doses for PRT and CIRT.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 244 patients were included. The CIRT group demonstrated significantly improved LRC compared with the PRT group (<em>p</em> = 0.033). The best-fitted TCP parameters for 3-year LRC were D₅₀ = 15.44 Gy, k = 2.52, n = 1.00 for CIRT, and D₅₀ = 59.94 Gy, k = 4.65, n = 1.00 for PRT. The estimated cRBE for locoregional control was 3.88.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>CIRT was associated with improved locoregional tumor control compared with PRT in patients with LA-NSCLC. In addition, to our knowledge, this study is the first to provide a preliminary, model-dependent estimate of the clinical RBE for tumor control in LA-NSCLC using TCP modeling with 3-year LRC as the endpoint.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"48 ","pages":"Article 101357"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148696981","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prognostic value of FUBP1 in Colorectal cancer and association with immune microenvironment characteristics","authors":"Zhenxiang Li,&nbsp;Yanfang Zhao,&nbsp;Yanli Si,&nbsp;Qi Su,&nbsp;Xin Meng,&nbsp;Liping Guan","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101343","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101343","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To investigate FUBP1 expression, its prognostic value, impact on the tumor microenvironment (TME), and drug sensitivity in colorectal cancer (CRC), and to explore its potential underlying mechanisms.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we analyzed FUBP1 expression in CRC, evaluated its prognostic value via survival analysis and nomogram construction, performed pathway enrichment analysis, and assessed immune cell infiltration and Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumor tissues using Expression data (ESTIMATE) scores. We further conducted immunohistochemistry (IHC) validation on an independent institutional cohort and analyzed the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) single-cell RNA sequencing dataset GSE132465 (<em>n</em> = 63,689 cells) to examine the association between FUBP1 expression and the tumor immune microenvironment at single-cell resolution.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>FUBP1 was highly expressed in CRC (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), particularly in younger patients. High FUBP1 expression was associated with improved overall survival in univariate analysis (HR = 0.68, <em>P</em> = 0.028), yet this association was not maintained as an independent prognostic factor after adjustment for other clinical covariates (HR = 0.722, <em>P</em> = 0.098). Immunohistochemistry results from the independent cohort confirmed upregulated FUBP1 protein in 90% of CRC specimens. Single-cell analysis revealed that FUBP1-high cell clusters exhibited markedly reduced immune cell infiltration (35.97%vs 62.96%, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001), indicating an immunosuppressive \"cold\" tumor microenvironment. Tumors with high FUBP1 expression also displayed elevated PD-L1, PD-1, and CTLA4 expression, lower half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values for oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and 5-fluorouracil, and higher Immune Phenotype Score (IPS) for anti-PD-1 monotherapy or combined anti-CTLA-4 immunotherapy. FUBP1 expression was correlated with increased expression of MYC, TP53, and their downstream target genes (CCND1, CDK4, BAX, CDKN1A).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>FUBP1 is highly expressed in CRC and associated with an immunosuppressive \"cold\" tumor microenvironment characterized by decreased immune cell infiltration, while it correlates with favorable chemotherapeutic sensitivity. FUBP1 may serve as a potential predictive biomarker for responses to chemotherapy and immunotherapy, rather than an independent prognostic indicator for survival. Its linkage to MYC and TP53 signaling pathways warrants further mechanistic investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 101343"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148817602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agrimol B induces apoptosis and ferroptosis in acute monocytic leukemia by targeting EGFR/ERK1/2 signaling and activating SIRT1","authors":"Ting Ma,&nbsp;Qi Wang,&nbsp;Hao Wang,&nbsp;Ke Li,&nbsp;Dan Zhao,&nbsp;Wenjie Huang,&nbsp;Tao Li,&nbsp;Dantong Lyu,&nbsp;Hong Hong,&nbsp;Yue Liu,&nbsp;Min Wang,&nbsp;Jiuqing Gao,&nbsp;Xin Meng,&nbsp;Haiyan Zhang,&nbsp;Xu Wang,&nbsp;Bin Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101441","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101441","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leukemia is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with high global morbidity and mortality. Despite advances in CAR-T cell therapy and targeted treatments, acute myeloid leukemia and high-risk relapsed cases continue to face formidable therapeutic challenges owing to heterogeneity and drug resistance. Agrimol B (AB), a bioactive natural compound isolated from the edible and medicinal plant <em>Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb</em>., has demonstrated notable anticancer potential. However, its role in leukemia has not yet been investigated. Here, we demonstrate that AB significantly reduces leukemia burden in an Acute Monocytic Leukemia (AMoL) mouse model and suppresses proliferation, invasion, and migration of THP-1 cells in vitro. Mechanistically, AB interacts with EGFR and inhibits ERK1/2 signaling, thereby activating FOXO1. In addition, AB upregulates SIRT1 expression and promotes FOXO1 deacetylation, leading to HMOX1 activation and subsequently triggers ferroptosis. These findings indicate that Agrimol B exerts potent anti-leukemic activity through multiple mechanisms, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic candidate for AMoL.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 101441"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148988071","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hereditary cancer syndromes as a model for precision oncology: the paradigms of HRD and MSI","authors":"Chiara Della Pepa,&nbsp;Alessia Mignano,&nbsp;Marialaura Zitiello,&nbsp;Laura Pesce,&nbsp;Gemma Caliendo,&nbsp;Marianna Stilo,&nbsp;Maria Teresa Vietri","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101456","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101456","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hereditary cancer syndromes such as BRCA-associated and Lynch syndrome have provided a clinical framework for understanding the molecular underpinnings of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and microsatellite instability (MSI). These phenotypes have reshaped precision oncology by enabling biomarker-driven use of PARP inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This review discusses the clinical relevance of HRD and MSI as therapeutic targets and predictive biomarkers across various tumor types, with an emphasis on approved agents and combination strategies. We detail the evolving landscape of resistance to PARP inhibitors and ICIs, and the emergence of novel targets within the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, including ATR, WEE1, and DNA-PK. Beyond classical checkpoint blockade, we explore the therapeutic potential of next-generation immunosuppressive targets, LAG-3, TIGIT, TIM-3, and VISTA, as well as STING pathway activation as a means to convert immunologically “cold” tumors into responsive phenotypes. Finally, we review emerging biomarkers beyond MSI-H, such as POLE, TMB, and MBD4, that may broaden the scope of immunotherapy responsiveness. The study of hereditary cancer syndromes has provided a roadmap for molecularly targeted therapies and biomarker development. Integrating germline testing, somatic profiling, and functional assays will be essential to overcome resistance and implement more effective, personalized treatment strategies for patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 101456"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of primary tumor location on survival outcomes and recurrence patterns in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer: A retrospective observational study","authors":"Chikashi Iwasaki,&nbsp;Eisaku Miyauchi,&nbsp;Takaya Yamamoto,&nbsp;Hisashi Tanaka,&nbsp;Yasuhito Nunomura,&nbsp;Yoshiomi Hatayama,&nbsp;Ryo Morita,&nbsp;Shin Fukui,&nbsp;Tatsunori Ito,&nbsp;Yoko Tsukita,&nbsp;Risa Ebina-Shibuya,&nbsp;Hisatoshi Sugiura","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101472","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101472","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Prognostic impact of primary tumor location in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear in the era of concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by consolidation durvalumab. Whether a lower lobe origin continues to influence survival and recurrence patterns under standardized multimodality therapy has not been fully elucidated.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This multicenter retrospective study included 136 patients with stage IIIA-IIIC NSCLC treated with definitive CCRT and durvalumab in 2018–2024. Baseline characteristics, recurrence patterns, and survival outcomes were compared between the lower and non-lower lobe groups. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were assessed using Kaplan–Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Patients in the lower lobe group were older and showed differences in concurrent chemotherapy regimens, whereas most other factors were balanced. Lower lobe origin was associated with shorter OS (<em>p</em> = 0.014) and PFS (<em>p</em> = 0.011). On multivariable analysis, lower lobe location remained independently associated with poorer OS (HR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.29–3.79; <em>p</em> = 0.004) and PFS (HR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.24–3.33; <em>p</em> = 0.005) after adjustment for clinically relevant covariates. Exploratory analyses suggested more frequent pleural dissemination and liver metastasis in lower-lobe tumors despite similar primary tumor progression.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Lower lobe origin was independently associated with poorer survival in patients with stage III NSCLC treated with CCRT followed by consolidation durvalumab. These findings suggest that primary tumor location may provide additional prognostic information, although its implications for treatment or surveillance strategies require further investigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 101472"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103586","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Non-coding RNAs as mediators of tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia: a scoping review","authors":"Diana Marcela Cuervo - Lozada,&nbsp;Alexander Casallas-Vega","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101458","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101458","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have transformed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) from a life-threatening disease into a manageable chronic condition. However, 30–50% of patients require TKI switching due to resistance or intolerance, and BCR::ABL1-independent resistance mechanisms remain the most frequent and least understood cause. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) — including microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs) — have emerged as regulators of TKI resistance. This scoping review aimed to characterize the role of ncRNAs in TKI resistance, and to evaluate their potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE in April 2026, supplemented by manual reference searching. Of 374 identified records, 25 studies published between 2021 and 2025, plus one 2020 study identified through manual searching were included. miRNAs were the most frequently evaluated (64%), followed by lncRNAs (16%) and circRNAs (12%), with imatinib as the predominant TKI studied. Four axes were identified for miRNAs: downstream BCR::ABL1 signaling regulation, the miR-185/PAK6 axis, apoptosis and protective autophagy modulation, and drug efflux mechanisms. circRNAs and lncRNAs were found to act as competing endogenous RNAs regulating resistance via PI3K/AKT/mTOR, RAS/MAPK, and autophagy pathways. Prospective multicenter validation, particularly in countries with limited access to second- and third-generation TKIs, is a priority for future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"49 ","pages":"Article 101458"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149103973","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of landmark analysis and piecewise Cox regression to identify features associated with prognosis: A national retrospective cohort study of New Zealand women","authors":"B. Woodhouse ,&nbsp;W. Laux ,&nbsp;A. Trevarton ,&nbsp;A. Lasham ,&nbsp;N. Knowlton","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101101","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2026.101101","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Breast cancer prognosis changes over time in complex ways depending on individual risk factors. This study aimed to analyze how breast cancer outcomes in New Zealand women change over time and identify features associated with breast cancer specific survival and locoregional recurrence across different receptor subtypes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae (Breast Cancer Foundation National Register) on 21,574 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2000–2019. We applied k-medians survival clustering, landmark analysis, and piecewise Cox regression to identify time-specific risk patterns and prognostic features.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Survival improved significantly for women diagnosed more recently. Triple-negative breast cancer had the poorest 5-year breast cancer specific survival but demonstrated better outcomes for women surviving beyond this period. In contrast, ER+/HER2- tumors, associated with favorable short-term outcomes, showed the highest risk of late recurrence and breast cancer mortality beyond 10 years. Younger age at diagnosis (≤44 years) was associated with increased recurrence risks, especially for ER-/HER2+ tumors. Radiation therapy reduced early LRR across subtypes. Tumor grade was inversely associated with late recurrence, while stage 2 disease in ER+ tumors markedly elevated late recurrence odds compared to stage 1.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This study demonstrates the dynamic nature of breast cancer prognosis, with key findings emphasizing the time-dependent shifts in risk across receptor subtypes. These findings underscore the importance of personalized, receptor-specific follow-up strategies, including extended monitoring for subgroups at heightened long-term risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 101101"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145965354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serum ZFPL1 as a clinical biomarker for diagnosis, progression tracking, and treatment response in lung cancer","authors":"Teng Yu ,&nbsp;Honglin Liu ,&nbsp;Yingxuan Chen ,&nbsp;Lili Xu ,&nbsp;Xiaoni Pang ,&nbsp;Haihui Yang ,&nbsp;Shuwen Chen ,&nbsp;Guanjie Lu ,&nbsp;Jianhua Feng ,&nbsp;Biwen Mo","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.101052","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.101052","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Objective&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Zinc finger protein-like protein 1 (ZFPL1) is a key protein involved in various biological processes such as cell growth, migration, proliferation, and metabolism. It plays a significant role in the development and progression of multiple malignancies, including endometrial cancer and gastric cancer. However, research on ZFPL1 in lung cancer remains relatively limited. This study aimed to investigate the clinical application value of serum ZFPL1 in the diagnosis, disease monitoring, and therapeutic evaluation of lung cancer by detecting its expression levels in the peripheral blood of lung cancer patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Methods&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Serum ZFPL1 levels were measured by ELISA in 75 lung cancer patients (including 32 cases of lung adenocarcinoma, 31 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, and 12 cases of small cell lung cancer) and 75 healthy controls. Differences in serum ZFPL1 expression were analyzed based on various clinical characteristics (gender, age, smoking history, pathological type, tumor location, and TNM stage). Bioinformatics analysis was performed to explore ZFPL1-related signaling pathways. Serum ZFPL1 levels were dynamically monitored before and after treatment in 57 patients receiving two chemotherapy cycles and 18 patients undergoing surgery. The diagnostic efficacy of serum ZFPL1 for different types and stages of lung cancer was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Serum ZFPL1 levels showed no significant differences among lung cancer patients stratified by gender, age, smoking history, pathological type, or tumor location. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that ZFPL1 was significantly enriched in pro-oncogenic signaling pathways such as mTORC1, E2F, MYC, PI3K/Akt, and the reactive oxygen species pathway. Serum ZFPL1 levels were significantly higher in the lung cancer group than in the healthy control group (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05) and paradoxically higher in early stages (I-II) vs. advanced (III-IV). Both chemotherapy and surgical treatment significantly reduced serum ZFPL1 levels (&lt;em&gt;P&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.05). The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) in the chemotherapy group were 17.54 % and 89.47 %, respectively, while the surgical group achieved a 100 % efficacy rate. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for serum ZFPL1 in diagnosing lung cancer was 0.921 (sensitivity 78.67 %, specificity 98.67 %). The AUC values for diagnosing lung adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and small cell lung cancer were 0.920, 0.912, and 0.951, respectively. The AUC for differentiating early-stage from mid-to-late-stage lung cancer was 0.657 (sensitivity 91.23 %, specificity 44.44 %).&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Serum ZFPL1 may serve as a novel serological biomarker for lung cancer diagnosis. Changes in serum ZFPL1 levels can effectively evaluate the efficacy of chemo","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 101052"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145665311","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of TGF-β1 on tumor immune microenvironment and prognosis in colorectal liver oligometastasis","authors":"Song Wang ,&nbsp;Jiahua He ,&nbsp;Yuanbin Liao ,&nbsp;Weihao Li ,&nbsp;Weili Zhang ,&nbsp;Da Kang ,&nbsp;Weifeng Wang ,&nbsp;Ruowei Wang ,&nbsp;Chi Zhou ,&nbsp;Junzhong Lin ,&nbsp;Leen Liao ,&nbsp;Jianhong Peng ,&nbsp;Yuguang Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.101059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.101059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div><strong>:</strong> Colorectal liver oligometastasis (CLO) represents an intermediate state between localized and widely disseminated disease. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) plays a stage-dependent role in the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer. However, its prognostic value and impact on the immune microenvironment in CLO remain poorly understood.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div><strong>:</strong> We retrospectively analyzed 95 CLO patients who underwent curative resection of primary tumors and liver metastases. TGF-β1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in matched tumor and liver metastasis samples. Multiplex IHC and multispectral imaging were used to quantify CD3⁺, CD8⁺, and Foxp3⁺ T-cell infiltration in intratumoral and peritumoral compartments. Survival outcomes were compared using Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards model. Associations with immune infiltration were subsequently validated through the analysis of TCGA colon adenocarcinoma datasets utilizing the TIMER2.0 platform.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div><strong>:</strong> The median IHC score for both primary tumors and liver metastases was 6. The consistency rate of TGF-β1 expression in primary tumors and liver metastases was 70 %. High TGF-β1 expression (≥6) in liver oligometastases was independently associated with poorer recurrence-free survival (RFS; HR = 3.689, 95 % CI: 1.799–7.567, <em>P</em> &lt; 0.001) and overall survival (OS; HR = 3.131, 95 % CI: 1.278–7.669, <em>P</em> = 0.013). Patients with consistently high TGF-β1 expression in the primary tumors and liver metastases were associated with the poorest prognosis (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.001). High TGF-β1 expression was associated with significantly reduced intratumoral CD3⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell infiltration and increased Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cell density (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). This association was also observed in the cohort from TCGA.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div><strong>:</strong> High TGF-β1 expression in CLO is associated with poor prognosis and an immunosuppressive microenvironment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 101059"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145735074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of patient and tumor characteristics on various aspects of the non-small cell lung cancer patient journey in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia: A multicenter, non-interventional, retrospective cohort study","authors":"Alexandra C. Preda ,&nbsp;Rossitza Krasteva ,&nbsp;Mihailo Stjepanović ,&nbsp;Krassimir Koynov ,&nbsp;Assia Konsoulova ,&nbsp;Georgeta P. Iorga ,&nbsp;Anghel A. Udrea ,&nbsp;Anca Zgura ,&nbsp;Tudor-Eliade Ciuleanu ,&nbsp;Raluca Patru ,&nbsp;Jeliazko Arabadjiev ,&nbsp;Ivan Tonev ,&nbsp;Zoran Andrić ,&nbsp;Goran Stojanović ,&nbsp;Mihaela Pasca-Fenesan ,&nbsp;Edvina-Elena Pirvu ,&nbsp;Bojidar Iliev ,&nbsp;Ivan Kazmukov ,&nbsp;Angel Petrov ,&nbsp;Neda Nikolić ,&nbsp;Michael Schenker","doi":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.101056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ctarc.2025.101056","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being most common. This study examines how patient and tumor characteristics influences NSCLC treatment in Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, highlighting regional disparities and aiming to improve outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This retrospective cohort study of stage IV NSCLC patients in Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia analyzed the impact of patient and tumor characteristics on treatment choices, timelines for diagnosis, biomarker testing, and imaging, using regression analyses.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The study included 840 stage IV NSCLC patients (mean age 64.2 years) across Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, with 280 patients per country. Overall, chemo–immunotherapy (CIT) was most common (38.1 %), followed by immunotherapy (31.2 %). Bulgaria and Romania favored CIT, while Serbia’s options were limited by reimbursement. Factors influencing treatment included programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) status and gene mutation profile in Bulgaria, weight loss and appetite in Romania, and smoking status and symptoms in Serbia. Testing and treatment initiation times varied, with Serbia showing the shortest times. PD-L1 status and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance were crucial across all countries. Common symptoms included chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, and general pain, with varying frequencies across countries.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This retrospective three-country real-world cohort shows marked regional differences in first-line treatment and timing for stage IV NSCLC. Beyond clinical factors, health-system elements, reimbursement, biomarker-testing availability/turnaround, and access to chemo-immunotherapy, shape care. Addressing these offers policy-level opportunities to improve equitable, guideline-concordant treatment. Initiated after the most heated phase of the COVID-19 pandemic and conducted without contingency measures, thus study highlights the need for personalized medicine and improved healthcare infrastructure to address disparities in treatment and testing times.</div></div><div><h3>MicroAbstract</h3><div>Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer worldwide. In this retrospective cohort study we examined how patient and tumor characteristics influences NSCLC treatment in Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, and revealed significant regional differences in baseline characteristics, treatment preferences, and influencing factors for stage IV NSCLC in these countries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":9507,"journal":{"name":"Cancer treatment and research communications","volume":"46 ","pages":"Article 101056"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145735075","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}