2025 Issue 3
Advances and challenges in gastric cancer testing: the role of biomarkers
Advances in molecular biomarker identification and targeted therapies have enhanced the prognosis of patients with advanced gastric cancer. Growth factor receptors (HER2, MET, FGFR2) drive cancer development and progression through downstream signalling pathways, while immune checkpoint molecules (PD-L1, B7-H3, VISTA) contribute to immune evasion. MSI-H/dMMR and EBV contribute to gastric cancer through various mechanisms, including influencing PD-L1 expression. CLDN18.2, a tight junction protein, also plays a role in gastric cancer. These biomarkers not only provide insights into gastric cancer biology but also enable precision medicine. Targeted therapies like trastuzumab, pembrolizumab and zolbetuximab and exploratory agents such as savolitinib exemplify the impact of biomarker-guided treatment. For details, please refer to the article by Sun et al., which explores the evolving landscape of gastric cancer diagnostics, emphasizing the critical role of biomarkers in refining patient management and expanding therapeutic possibilities.
2025 Issue 2
Intra-tumoral bacteria in head and neck cancer: holistic integrative insight
Intra-tumoral bacteria shape the tumor immune landscape, acting as both enhancers and suppressors of anti-tumor immunity. Porphyromonas gingivalis downregulates MUC1 to inhibit PD-L1 and MDSCs, boosting immune surveillance. Fusobacterium nucleatum is linked to increased M1 macrophages and decreased M2 macrophages, suggesting a tumor-suppressive role via the TNFSF9/ IL-1β axis. Flammeovirga and Luteibacter promote CD8+ T cell recruitment through CXCL9, CXCL10, and CCL5, while Lachnoclostridium enhances CD8+ T cell activity via butyrate production. Conversely, P. gingivalis exploits OMVs to activate NOD1 and upregulate PD-L1, suppressing T cells. F. nucleatum and Staphylococcus aureus drive immunosuppression through TLR-mediated ERK/MYC and NF-κB pathways. Selenomonas correlates with Tregs, while Prevotella and Corynebacterium promote Th2 dominance. These findings highlight the dual role of bacteria in modulating tumor immunity, offering new insights into microbiome-based cancer therapies.
2025 Issue 1
Elucidating the synergistic roles of CD4+ T and dendritic cells in antitumor immunity
This illustration employs Chinese mythological figures to vividly represent the role of immune cells in cancer immunotherapy. The chosen characters symbolize different components of the immune system for the following reasons: 1. God Erlang: Known for his third eye, which can identify monsters, he symbolizes dendritic cells (DCs), capable of capturing tumor antigens and activating the immune system. 2. Sun Wukong: Renowned for his exceptional combat abilities, he represents CD8+ T cells, the main force in antitumor immune responses. 3. Nezha: Equipped with a range of combat techniques, such as the Fire Spear fordirect attacks and magical weapons like the Sky-Muddling Damask, the Wind Fire Wheels, and the Universe Ring for long- range and strategic strikes, he symbolizes the diverse functions of CD4+ T cells. Together, these mythological figures represent the collaborative efforts of immune cells in targeting tumor cells, depicted as monsters.
2024 Issue 12
m6A methylation precisely regulates the metabolism of modified RNAs, influencing their fate and the sensitivity of tumor cells to radiation therapy. Acting like a “helmet”, m6A modification enhances the stability of diverse tumor-promoting RNAs, including mRNAs and non-coding RNAs, protecting them from degradation and ultimately contributing to cancer radioresistance. Newly uncovered mechanisms reveal that m6A modification can be regulated by chromatin remodeling of methyltransferase, modulates (super-)enhancer RNAs, and interacts with histone modification H3K4me3 to exert its biological functions. These findings shed light on novel RNA m6A-related mechanisms and highlight the multifaceted regulatory paradigms mediated by this modification.
2024 Issue 11
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are integral to the processes of tumor progression, metastasis, and recurrence. These remarkable cells boast a distinctive glyco-code—a complex array of glycans—that paves the way for a promising new direction in the quest for more potent and enduring cancer therapies. Precisely focusing on these distinct glycan biomarkers could potentially unlock the key to enhancing therapeutic success. The glycosylation patterns on the cell surface consist of intricate glycan structures that engage in interactions with various cellular and extracellular components, thereby influencing cell-to-cell communication, adhesion, and proliferation. Notably, the glycan composition on the surface of CSCs often exhibits significant differences compared to that of non-stem cancer cells, thereby creating an opportunity for the selective targeting of CSCs.
2024 Issue 10
Complex role of neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment: an avenue for novel immunotherapies
Neutrophils play a key role in the tumor microenvironment, contributing significantly to anti-tumor immunity. They destroy cancer cells using mechanisms such as releasing reactive oxygen species (ROS), forming neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and facilitating antibody-dependent cytotoxicity. In addition to their direct tumor-killing abilities, neutrophils can present tumor antigens to T cells, kickstarting adaptive immune responses, particularly when dendritic cells are less active. Moreover, they interact with T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and B cells, enhancing the overall immune defense. Acting as a crucial link between innate and adaptive immunity, neutrophils represent a promising avenue for advancing cancer immunotherapies. Understanding their varied roles could pave the way for innovative, targeted treatments.