Cancer Biology

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

eLife assessment

This work provides solid evidence that Transforming Growth Factor β Activated Kinase 1 (TAK1) regulates esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tumor proliferation and metastasis. The findings are valuable to the field of molecular tumor biology in general and to the understanding of ESCC tumor invasiveness and metastatic potential.

eLife assessment

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive cancers without a cure. Glioblastoma cells are known to have high mitochondrial potential. This useful study demonstrates the critical role of the ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) pathway in regulating mitochondrial membrane potential and glioblastoma growth. Some assays are incomplete; further revision will improve the significance of this study.

eLife assessment

This study provides a valuable strategy for treating mouse cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (mCSCC) with serum derived from mCSCC-exposed mice. The exploration of serum-derived antibodies as a potential therapy for curing cancer is particularly promising but the study provides incomplete evidence for specific effects of mCSCC-binding serum antibodies. This study will be of interest to scientists seeking a novel immunotherapeutic strategy in cancer therapy.

eLife assessment

The author demonstrates that deficiency or pharmacological inhibition of O-glcNac transferase (OGT) enhances tumor immunity in colorectal cancer models. This useful study unveils that OGT deficiency triggers a DNA damage response that can affect immune status in colorectal cancers. It provides convincing evidence showing that OGT-mediated processing of HSF1 is crucial in maintaining genomic integrity.

eLife assessment

This study presents a valuable strategy to co-deliver peptides and adjuvants to antigen-presenting cells by engineering the Virus-like particle (VLP). The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is convincing, but the antitumour efficacy is unimpressive and would benefit from more antitumor experiments. The work will be of broad interest to bioengineers and medical biologists focusing on cancer vaccines.