Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveal divergent microenvironments and progression signatures in early- and late-onset prostate cancer

Background: Age-related Heterogeneity in Prostate Cancer and New Opportunities for Precision Medicine Prostate cancer (PCA) is the second most common malignancy and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death among men worldwide. With the global aging population and the advancement of health screening, the age of onset for prostate cancer has b...

Monocytes Use Protrusive Forces to Generate Migration Paths in Viscoelastic Collagen-Based Extracellular Matrices

New Mechanism of Immune Cell Migration Revealed: How Monocytes “Pioneer Their Path” in the Tumor Microenvironment I. Academic Research Background and the Central Question Cell migration is a crucial biological process in life, encompassing embryonic development, tissue repair, immune responses, and the progression of various diseases. In the contex...

Complex Neural-Immune Interactions Shape Glioma Immunotherapy

1. Academic Background Glioblastoma (GBM) and pediatric diffuse midline gliomas (e.g., H3K27M-mutant) are among the most aggressive tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), with limited efficacy from conventional treatments (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy). For decades, the CNS was considered to have “immune privilege,” meaning the immune s...

Unveiling a Novel Cancer Hallmark by Evaluation of Neural Infiltration in Cancer

Cancer, as a major global public health challenge, is characterized by complex mechanisms underlying its onset and progression. For a long time, processes within the tumor microenvironment (TME)—such as immunity, inflammation, and angiogenesis—have been extensively studied and considered key determinants of tumor biological behavior. In recent year...

Cluster-Based Redox-Responsive Super-Atomic MRI Contrast Agents

Academic Background Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a crucial tool in modern medical diagnostics, and its effectiveness relies heavily on the use of contrast agents (CAs). Traditional MRI contrast agents are mainly based on gadolinium (Gd) complexes. Although these agents are widely used in clinical practice, their long-term safety is controver...

Matrix Stiffness-Mediated DNA Methylation in Endothelial Cells

In pathological conditions, alterations in tissue mechanical properties are one of the prominent features of many diseases, such as cancer. The tumor vascular system plays a critical role in tumor growth, but its structure and function often become abnormal, manifesting as disorganized, tortuous, and leaky blood vessels. Research has shown that the...

Microbiome Dysbiosis, Neutrophil Recruitment and Mesenchymal Transition of Mesothelial Cells Promotes Peritoneal Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer

Background Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide, with high incidence and mortality rates. According to statistics, approximately 1.87 million new cases of CRC were diagnosed globally in 2020, resulting in 915,000 deaths. Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is a common metastatic pathway of CRC, with about ...

Glioma–Astrocyte Connexin43 Confers Temozolomide Resistance Through Activation of the E2F1/ERCC1 Axis

Study on Connexin43-Mediated Temozolomide Resistance in Glioma through Activation of the E2F1/ERCC1 Axis Academic Background Glioma is the most common and fatal tumor of the central nervous system, with temozolomide (TMZ) being the standard treatment. However, TMZ therapy often leads to tumor recurrence and drug resistance, severely limiting its ef...

Tumor Extracellular Vesicle–Derived PD-L1 Promotes T Cell Senescence Through Lipid Metabolism Reprogramming

PD-L1 in Tumor-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Promotes T Cell Senescence through Lipid Metabolism Reprogramming Academic Background In recent years, immunotherapy has shown great promise in cancer treatment, particularly in checkpoint blockade therapies targeting PD-1/PD-L1 (programmed cell death protein 1 and its ligand) and CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-ly...

Coactivation of Innate Immune Suppressive Cells Induces Acquired Resistance Against Combined TLR Agonism and PD-1 Blockade

Mechanism of Combined Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy Academic Background Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) is a revolutionary cancer treatment aimed at reactivating effector T cells to combat cancer. However, more than half of patients do not respond to ICB, especially those with immunologically “cold” tumors (tumors with fewer immune cells in t...