Oncotarget

Oncotarget Editorial Highlights Advances in Scientific Integrity and Publishing Transparency

BUFFALO, NY – April 10, 2026 – A new #editorial perspective was #published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on April 8, 2026, titled “Oncotarget: Past, Present and Future: Trends in the publishing industry.” Authored by the Scientific Integrity Office at Oncotarget, the editorial comprehensively analyzes the journal’s evolving approach to scientific integrity. It addresses historical challenges in scholarly publishing and discusses the necessity of modern image forensics tools to meet the most rigorous standards of scientific integrity. The Scientific Integrity Office describes how advances in digital technologies—particularly image forensics tools such as ImageTwin and analytical platforms like Argos—have transformed the ability to detect problematic data and analyze the quality of published research. The editorial emphasizes that the lack of adequate image tools in the “pre-tools” era limited journals’ ability to detect image-related issues, underscoring the importance of recent technological advancements. It also highlights that Argos provides a good opportunity to obtain a more objective picture across different journals in both the pre- and post-tools era. Looking forward, Oncotarget advocates indexes for broader adoption of independent analytical and AI-based tools in journal evaluation. In the public interest, it also encourages open discussion of how indexes select, deselect, and reevaluate journals. DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28852 Correspondence to - Scientific Integrity Office - scientificintegrityoffice@impactjournals.com Introduction video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgxvr2Q_ZPM Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28852 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - Scientific Integrity, Academic Publishing, Open Access, Peer Review, Research To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us on social media: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/ X - https://twitter.com/oncotarget Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oncotargetjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OncotargetJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/ Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0gRwT6BqYWJzxzmjPJwtVh MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

CREB5: A Master Regulator of Stem Cell-Like Programs in Prostate Cancer Progression

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling has long been the central driver of prostate cancer progression and the primary target of therapies for advanced disease. Yet, a significant subset of tumors either fail to respond or develop resistance, often by switching to AR-independent programs that resemble basal or stem cell-like states. Understanding what drives these aggressive, therapy-resistant phenotypes is a critical challenge in oncology. A research paper, titled “CREB5 regulates stem cell-like transcriptional programs to enhance tumor progression in prostate cancer” was published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget by a multi-institutional team of researchers, identifies a key molecular regulator of this process and reveals how it promotes tumor progression. Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2026/04/07/creb5-a-master-regulator-of-stem-cell-like-programs-in-prostate-cancer-progression/ Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28826 Correspondence to - Emmanuel S. Antonarakis - anton401@umn.edu, Justin Hwang - jhwang@umn.edu Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zywrj5hV4ho Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28826 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - cancer, prostate cancer, CREB5, basal-like, stem cell-like, AP-1 transcription factors To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us on social media: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/ X - https://twitter.com/oncotarget Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oncotargetjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OncotargetJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/ Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0gRwT6BqYWJzxzmjPJwtVh MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Adjuvant PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors Show Efficacy but Highlight Safety Considerations in Solid Cancers

BUFFALO, NY – April 7, 2026 – A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on March 31, 2026, titled “Efficacy and safety of PD-1/ PD-L1 inhibitors as adjuvants in the treatment of patients with solid cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.” Led by first author Maryam Aleid from Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, and corresponding author Dhai Almuteri from King Fahad Specialist Hospital, the researchers evaluated 13 randomized controlled trials involving 9,850 patients to assess the efficacy and safety of PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors as adjuvant therapy following tumor resection. The analysis demonstrated that immune checkpoint inhibitors significantly improved key clinical outcomes, including disease-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival. However, no clear improvement in overall survival was observed across studies. The study also identified a reduction in recurrence and metastasis risk, supporting the role of these therapies in early-stage cancer management. At the same time, variability across tumor types suggests that benefits may differ depending on cancer subtype and patient population. “Adjuvant PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors improve disease-free and distant metastasis-free survival in selected patients with high-risk solid tumors.” In terms of safety, the findings highlight an increased incidence of adverse events associated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, including fatigue, nausea, pruritus, and hypothyroidism, emphasizing the importance of careful monitoring during treatment. The authors conclude that while PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors offer meaningful benefits in reducing recurrence and metastasis in high-risk solid tumors, the clinical benefit must be balanced against higher toxicity rates. Future research is needed to refine patient selection, evaluate long-term survival outcomes, and better understand differences across tumor types to optimize the use of these therapies in clinical practice. DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28855 Correspondence to - Dhai Almuteri - d.almuteri@qu.edu.sa Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ce07bHfjB4 Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28855 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - cancer, PD-1, PD-L1, adjuvant immunotherapy, solid tumor To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/ X - https://twitter.com/oncotarget Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oncotargetjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OncotargetJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/ Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0gRwT6BqYWJzxzmjPJwtVh MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Bibliometric Mapping Reveals the Evolution of Glioma Classification Research

BUFFALO, NY – April 6, 2026 – A new #review was #published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on March 31, 2026, titled “Bibliometric mapping of glioma classification research through main path, key route, and K-core analyses.” Led by first and corresponding author Kayode Ahmed from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Juan E. Núñez-Ríos from Universidad Panamericana, the study uses bibliometric network analysis to map how glioma classification research has evolved across clinical, molecular, and social domains. The authors analyzed Web of Science data using direct citation networks and applied main path analysis, key route analysis, and K-core analysis to identify influential papers, critical routes, and densely connected thematic clusters. The network comprised 46,204 nodes and 231,432 arcs, highlighting the prominent role of DNA methylation profiling in molecular biomarker-based classification models. The authors also found that advanced imaging and molecular techniques were key drivers of the field, while the subset of glioma classification studies that incorporate social factors remained relatively scarce. Their analysis, therefore, points not only to the major intellectual structure of the literature but also to a thematic gap in how social determinants are represented in glioma classification research. “Through quantitative network analysis complemented by narrative interpretation, we uncovered patterns and substructures that offer deep insights into the evolving research landscape.” The authors conclude that their framework offers a more integrative view of glioma classification research than approaches centered only on citation counts or h-index–style metrics. By identifying the evolutionary logic of the field and the limited but notable presence of social factors, the study suggests future glioma classification models may benefit from incorporating clinical, molecular, and social dimensions more explicitly. DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28851 Correspondence to - Kayode Ahmed - kmahmed@mdanderson.org Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8h2z3eEMFM Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28851 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - cancer, glioma research, social network analysis, socio-clinical domains, web of science, networks To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us on social media: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/ X - https://twitter.com/oncotarget Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oncotargetjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OncotargetJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/ Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0gRwT6BqYWJzxzmjPJwtVh MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

The SCD1 Inhibitor Aramchol, Regorafenib, and Metformin Combine to Kill Uveal Melanoma Cells

BUFFALO, NY – March 31, 2026 – A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on March 27, 2026, titled “The SCD1 inhibitor aramchol interacts with regorafenib and metformin to kill tumor cells.” Led by Michael R. Booth, Laurence Booth, and Jane L. Roberts from Virginia Commonwealth University, with corresponding author Paul Dent from the same institution and John M. Kirkwood from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, the study examines how aramchol interacts with regorafenib and metformin to kill tumor cells, particularly patient-derived uveal melanoma (UM) cells and cholangiocarcinoma cells. The authors report that aramchol, regorafenib, and metformin interact to enhance tumor cell killing, with the strongest effects seen when metformin is added to aramchol plus regorafenib. In patient-derived UM cells and LD-1 cholangiocarcinoma cells, the three-drug combination increased autophagosome formation and autophagic flux, while knockdown of Beclin1, ATG5, or LAMP2 reduced autophagosome and autolysosome formation and lowered cell killing. The study also found that BID contributes to the lethal response, supporting a multifactorial mechanism involving macroautophagy and death-receptor signaling. “Our data demonstrates that UM cells are killed by treatment with aramchol plus regorafenib plus metformin via enhanced autophagic flux and that this combination may have the potential to control UM tumors that have metastasized to the liver.” The authors also note that while SCD1 knockdown increased baseline tumor cell death, it did not replicate the full anticancer effects of aramchol, suggesting additional molecular targets contribute to its activity. They emphasize the need for further in vivo studies to evaluate the therapeutic potential of this combination in metastatic uveal melanoma, particularly in liver-targeted disease. DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28861 Correspondence to - Paul Dent - paul.dent@vcuhealth.org Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmX_c2e_-HY Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28861 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - cancer, macroautophagy, ER stress, aramchol, regorafenib, BID To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/ X - https://twitter.com/oncotarget Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oncotargetjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OncotargetJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/ Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/0gRwT6BqYWJzxzmjPJwtVh MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM