Cancer Biology

Altered thymic niche synergistically drives the massive proliferation of malignant thymocytes

1. Erika Tsingos
2. Advaita M. Dick
3. Baubak Bajoghli

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This valuable study combines agent-based modelling and in vivo experiments in medaka embryos to provide new insights into the role of the thymic niche in T cell development. The modelling yields some interesting findings regarding the importance of thymic epithelial cells, for some of which the evidence is incomplete. This study would be of interest to oncologists, immunologists, and mathematical modelers.

Reviewed by eLife

A novel HER2 protein identification methodology in breast cancer cells using Raman spectroscopy and Raman imaging: an analytical validation study

1. H. Abramczyk
2. J. Surmacki
3. M. Kopeć

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

Bestrophin-4 relays Hes4 and interacts with Twist1 to suppress epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer cells

1. Zijing Wang
2. Bihan Xia
3. Shaochong Qi
4. Xian Zhang
5. Xiaoshuang Zhang
6. Yan Li
7. Huimin Wang
8. Miao Zhang
9. Ziyi Zhao
10. David Kerr
11. Li Yang
12. Shijie Cai
13. Jinlin Yang

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  The findings of this valuable manuscript advance our understanding of the significance of Bestrophin isoform 4 (BEST4) in suppressing colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. The authors used appropriate and validated methodology, such as the knockout of BEST4 using CRISPR/Cas9 in CRC cells, to provide a solid foundation for elucidating the potential link between BEST4 and CRC progression.

Reviewed by eLife

High-density sampling reveals volume growth in human tumours

1. Arman Angaji
2. Michel Owusu
3. Christoph Velling
4. Nicola Dick
5. Donate Weghorn
6. Johannes Berg

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  The article uses a cell-based model to investigate how mutations and cells spread throughout a tumour. The paper uses published data and the proposed model to understand how growth and death mechanisms lead to the observed data. This work provides an important insight into the early stages of tumour development. From the work provided here, the results are convincing, using a thorough analysis.

Reviewed by eLife

Restraint of melanoma progression by cells in the local skin environment

1. Yilun Ma
2. Mohita Tagore
3. Miranda V. Hunter
4. Ting-Hsiang Huang
5. Emily Montal
6. Joshua M. Weiss
7. Richard M. White

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  In this important study, the authors used a zebrafish model and scRNAseq analysis to show that a subset of keratinocytes within melanoma microenvironment highly up-regulate Twist and undergo Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Surprisingly, when overexpressing Twist in keratinocytes, the resulting alteration in keratinocytes is inhibitory for melanoma invasion in both zebrafish and human cell culture models. The results are supported by overall convincing experimental data that provide new insights into the interactions between melanoma cells and their environment.

Reviewed by eLife

PA28γ promotes the malignant progression of tumor by elevating mitochondrial function via C1QBP

1. Jiongke Wang
2. Yujie Shi
3. Ying Wang
4. Yingqiang Shen
5. Huan Liu
6. Silu Sun
7. Yimei Wang
8. Xikun Zhou
9. Yu Zhou
10. Xin Zeng
11. Jing Li
12. Qianming Chen

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This work attempts to demonstrate an ATP-independent non-canonical role of proteasomal component PA28y in the promotion of oral squamous cell carcinoma growth, migration, and invasion. The evidence around the following two areas remains incomplete and would benefit from further experimental work: 1) the stabilisation of the complement C1q binding protein (C1QBp) by PA28y, and 2) the impact of the PA28y-C1QBp interaction on mitochondrial function.

Reviewed by eLife

ME3BP-7 is a targeted cytotoxic agent that rapidly kills pancreatic cancer cells expressing high levels of monocarboxylate transporter MCT1

1. Jordina Rincon-Torroella
2. Marco Dal Molin
3. Brian Mog
4. Gyuri Han
5. Evangeline Watson
6. Nicolas Wyhs
7. Shun Ishiyama
8. Taha Ahmedna
9. Il Minn
10. Nilofer S Azad
11. Chetan Bettegowda
12. Nickolas Papadopoulos
13. Kenneth W Kinzler
14. Shibin Zhou
15. Bert Vogelstein
16. Kathleen Gabrielson
17. Surojit Sur

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This study presents a valuable finding and developed ME3BP-7 as a novel microencapsulated formulation of 3BP, which specifically targets MCT1-overexpressing PDAC cells. It demonstrates its specificity and efficacy in vitro and in PDAC mouse models, with significant anti-tumor effects and improved serum stability. Overall, the evidence supporting the authors' claims is solid.

Reviewed by eLife

Super-enhancer-driven ZFP36L1 promotes PD-L1 expression in infiltrative gastric cancer

1. Xujin Wei
2. Jie Liu
3. Jia Cheng
4. Wangyu Cai
5. Wen Xie
6. Kang Wang
7. Lingyun Lin
8. Jingjing Hou
9. Jianchun Cai
10. Huiqin Zhuo

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The authors provide useful data to support the existence of a regulatory pathway starting with SPI1-driven ZFP36L1 expression, that goes on to downregulate HDAC3 expression at the transcript level, leading to PD-L1 upregulation due to implied enhanced acetylation of its promoter region. This is therefore an interesting pathway that adds to our understanding of how PD-L1 expression is controlled in gastric cancer. However, this is likely one of many possible pathways that impact PD-L1 expression, and the data are currently incomplete to support the claims made.

Reviewed by eLife

TIPE drives a cancer stem-like phenotype by promoting glycolysis via PKM2/HIF-1α axis in melanoma

1. Maojin Tian
2. Le Yang
3. Ziqian Zhao
4. Jigang Li
5. Lianqing Wang
6. Qingqing Yin
7. Wei Hu
8. Yunwei Lou
9. Jianxin Du
10. Peiqing Zhao

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important study investigates the molecular mechanisms underpinning how the tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein, TIPE, regulates aerobic glycolysis to promote tumor growth in melanoma. Solid data using multiple independent approaches provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning aerobic glycolysis, also known as the Warburg Effect, in melanoma cells. However, further investigation of a potential oncogenic effect of TIPE in melanoma patients is warranted and more advanced metabolomic and bioenergetic assays could be employed. The work will be of interest to biomedical researchers working in cancer and metabolism.

Reviewed by eLife

The T Cell Receptor β Chain Repertoire of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes Improves Neoantigen Prediction and Prioritization

1. Thi Mong Quynh Pham
2. Thanh Nhan Nguyen
3. Bui Que Tran Nguyen
4. Thi Phuong Diem Tran
5. Nguyen My Diem Pham
6. Hoang Thien Phuc Nguyen
7. Thi Kim Cuong Ho
8. Dinh Viet Linh Nguyen
9. Huu Thinh Nguyen
10. Duc Huy Tran
11. Thanh Sang Tran
12. Truong-Vinh Ngoc Pham
13. Minh-Triet Le
14. Thi Tuong Vy Nguyen
15. Minh-Duy Phan
16. Hoa Giang
17. Hoai-Nghia Nguyen
18. Le Son Tran

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The study presents a potentially valuable approach by combining two measurements (pHLA binding and pHLA-TCR binding) to improve predictions of which mutations in colorectal cancer are likely to be presented to and recognised by the immune system. While this approach is promising, the evidence supporting the primary claim remains somewhat incomplete. The experimental validation of the computational predictions with actual immune responses is still limited, despite the increase in sample size from 4 to 8 in this revision.

Reviewed by eLife