HPV Vaccine Shows Safety but Uncertain Benefit in Preventing Head & Neck Cancer Recurrence

PDX1 May Link Metabolic Dysfunction to Prostate Cancer Progression

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men and remains a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. While age, family history, and genetics are well-established risk factors, researchers have increasingly focused on the role of metabolic health in prostate cancer progression. Obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and chronic inflammation have all been associated with more aggressive disease, but the molecular mechanisms connecting these conditions to prostate cancer remain incompletely understood. A research paper titled “Epigenetic dysregulation and biological function of PDX1 in prostate cancer” was published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget. In this study, the researchers investigated whether a gene best known for regulating pancreatic function may also play an important role in prostate tumor biology. The study was led by first author Tayo A. Adeyika and corresponding author Bernard Kwabi-Addo from Howard University, Washington, DC. Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2026/06/16/pdx1-may-link-metabolic-dysfunction-to-prostate-cancer-progression/ DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28854 Correspondence to - Bernard Kwabi-Addo - bkwabi-addo@howard.edu Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itYVsyXJJoE Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28854 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - cancer, PDX1, DNA methylation prostate cancer, shRNA knockdown, over-expression, glucose 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

HPV Vaccine Shows Safety but Uncertain Benefit in Preventing Head & Neck Cancer Recurrence

BUFFALO, NY – June 15, 2026 – A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on June 5, 2026, titled “A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase I/II clinical trial of a human papillomavirus therapeutic vaccine, PepCan, for reducing head and neck squamous cell carcinoma recurrence.” The study was led by first author Emily Bivens and corresponding author Mayumi Nakagawa from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a major clinical challenge. Even after surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy successfully eliminate detectable disease, many patients experience recurrence within the following years. Researchers have therefore been exploring whether immunotherapy-based approaches can help strengthen anti-tumor immune responses and reduce the risk of cancer returning. In this study, investigators evaluated PepCan, an experimental therapeutic vaccine designed to stimulate immune responses against human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16). Unlike preventive HPV vaccines that aim to stop infection before it occurs, therapeutic vaccines are intended to activate the immune system against existing HPV-related disease. PepCan contains four HPV 16 E6 peptides combined with a Candida-derived immune-stimulating adjuvant. Full press release - https://www.oncotarget.net/2026/06/15/hpv-therapeutic-vaccine-shows-safety-but-uncertain-benefit-in-preventing-head-and-neck-cancer-recurrence/ DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28892 Correspondence to - Mayumi Nakagawa - mnakagawa@uams.edu Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh0MNrrPGhw Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28892 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - cancer, human papillomavirus, head and neck cancer, therapeutic vaccine, adjuvant, clinical trial 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

Experimental Compounds Trigger Cancer Cell Death in KRAS-Driven Pancreatic Cancer

BUFFALO, NY – June 8, 2026 – A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on June 3, 2026, titled “The anticancer effects of PCAIs in pancreatic cancer cells involve MAPK and PI3K/AKT pathways hyperactivation.” The study was led by first author Kweku Ofosu-Asante and corresponding author Nazarius S. Lamango from the Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health in Tallahassee, Florida. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is among the deadliest forms of cancer, due in large part to the high frequency of KRAS mutations that drive tumor growth and resistance to treatment. Although targeted therapies have recently been developed for specific KRAS mutations, many patients continue to have limited treatment options, highlighting the need for broader strategies capable of targeting multiple KRAS-driven cancers. In this study, researchers investigated a class of experimental compounds known as polyisoprenylated cysteinyl amide inhibitors (PCAIs), which were originally designed to disrupt abnormal KRAS signaling. Using pancreatic cancer cell lines carrying KRAS mutations, the team explored how these compounds affect cancer cell survival, migration, invasion, and the molecular pathways that regulate tumor growth. Full press release - https://www.oncotarget.com/news/pr/experimental-compounds-trigger-cancer-cell-death-in-kras-driven-pancreatic-cancer/ DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28879 Correspondence to - Nazarius S. Lamango - nazarius.lamango@famu.edu Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asbhjME7rFQ Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28879 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - cancer, PCAIs, PDAC, MAPK, PI3K/AKT, KRAS 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

Cancer Care Often Overlooked in Humanitarian Crises

Cancer is increasingly recognized as a major global health challenge, yet for people living through war, displacement, and humanitarian crises, access to even basic oncology services can be difficult or impossible. While emergency responses typically focus on trauma care, infectious diseases, and immediate survival needs, cancer care remains largely absent from many humanitarian health programs. A review paper on this topic was published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget titled “Cancer without borders: Policy frameworks for oncology care in humanitarian and conflict settings.” The study was led by first and corresponding author Pragnesh Parmar, with Gunvanti Rathod as co-author, both from AIIMS Bibinagar, Telangana, India. Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2026/06/03/cancer-care-often-overlooked-in-humanitarian-crises/ Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28856 Correspondence to - Pragnesh Parmar - drprag@gmail.com; (ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-8402-8435) Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXlhIBZyJ6Q Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28856 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - cancer, cancer care, humanitarian crisis, tele-oncology, global health policy, oncology triage 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

Protein in Tumor Microenvironment Found to Promote Colorectal Cancer Growth and Immune Evasion

BUFFALO, NY – June 2, 2026 – A new #research paper was #published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on May 20, 2026, titled “Microenvironmental CTHRC1 has a pro-tumorigenic role in colorectal cancer.” The study was led by first author Haylee Duval from the Center for Molecular Medicine at the MaineHealth Institute for Research and the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering at the University of Maine. The study’s corresponding authors were Sergey Ryzhov, Volkhard Lindner, and Michaela R. Reagan, who are affiliated with the Center for Molecular Medicine at the MaineHealth Institute for Research, the Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering at the University of Maine, and Tufts University School of Medicine. Colorectal cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. While much research has focused on cancer cells themselves, growing evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment—the network of surrounding stromal cells, immune cells, and extracellular components—plays a critical role in determining how tumors grow and spread. In this study, researchers investigated collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1), a secreted protein previously associated with poor outcomes in several cancer types. Although CTHRC1 is frequently detected in tumor-associated stroma, its precise role within the colorectal cancer microenvironment has remained unclear. To address this question, the team used a genetically engineered mouse model lacking CTHRC1 and compared tumor development with that of normal mice after colorectal cancer cells were introduced. The results consistently showed that the absence of host-derived CTHRC1 significantly reduced tumor growth. Across three independent experimental cohorts, mice lacking CTHRC1 developed substantially smaller tumors than their normal counterparts. In addition, survival improved markedly. The median survival of mice with normal CTHRC1 expression was 28 days after tumor inoculation, compared with 69 days in CTHRC1-deficient mice. The researchers also found evidence that CTHRC1 influences anti-tumor immunity. Mice lacking CTHRC1 had higher percentages of CD3-positive T cells in both tumors and spleens, suggesting a more active immune response against cancer. At the same time, they exhibited reduced levels of certain myeloid immune cells associated with immune suppression. Importantly, the investigators confirmed that the colorectal cancer cells themselves did not produce detectable CTHRC1. Instead, the protein was found primarily in fibroblasts and other stromal components surrounding the tumor. This finding indicates that the tumor-promoting effects originated from the tumor microenvironment rather than from the cancer cells directly. Histological analyses further revealed striking differences in tumor structure. Tumors from CTHRC1-deficient mice contained fewer cells and showed evidence of regression, while tumors in normal mice remained densely cellular and continued to expand. Full press release - https://www.oncotarget.com/news/pr/protein-in-tumor-microenvironment-found-to-promote-colorectal-cancer-growth-and-immune-evasion/ DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28878 Correspondence to: Sergey Ryzhov - Sergey.Ryzhov@mainehealth.org; Volkhard Lindner- Volkhard.Lindner@mainehealth.org; Michaela R. Reagan - Michaela.Reagan@mainehealth.org Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTbYy6vGd7E 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