Cancer-associated chromosomal translocations are reported to generate oncogenic circular RNA (circRNA), contributing to tumorigenesis. The fusion gene SLC34A2-ROS1 (solute carrier family 34 member 2 and ROS proto-oncogene 1) plays an important role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progression. However, whether SLC34A2-ROS1 gene can produce circRNA remains unknown. Here, we identified two novel circRNAs (F-circSR1 and F-circSR2) generated from SLC34A2-ROS1 fusion gene, while F-circSR1 has higher expression than F-circSR2. Functional studies through gain- and loss-of-function strategies showed that both F-circSRs promote cell migration in lung cancer cells, whereas they have little effect on cell proliferation. Using the minigene GFP reporter assay, we verified that the flanking complementary sequences with canonical splicing sites are essential for F-circSR biogenesis. Therefore, our findings demonstrate the oncogenic role of F-circSR in NSCLC and highlight its therapeutic potential.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a major global health burden due to its high recurrence and mortality rates. For patients with advanced HCC and compromised liver function, Pharmacotherapy has become the primary approach due to the limited efficacy of conventional treatments (e.g., surgical resection/ablation). Nevertheless, traditional anti-tumor agents suffer from poor target selectivity, systemic toxicity, and the emergence of drug resistance. To overcome these challenges, stimuli-responsive biomaterials have been developed as innovative strategies to improve HCC management. These advanced materials enable precise spatiotemporal control of drug delivery and release, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy while reducing side effects. This review provides a systematic overview of stimuli-responsive biomaterials, classified based on their responses to endogenous cues (e.g., pH, enzymes, and redox conditions) and exogenous stimuli (e.g., light and magnetic fields). These materials show great potential in overcoming biological barriers in HCC therapy and enhancing drug delivery efficiency, thereby paving the way for future clinical applications. By analyzing recent advances, this review highlights the potential of stimuli-responsive biomaterials in advancing therapeutic strategies for HCC. Integrating these materials into HCC therapy may significantly enhance patient outcomes and revolutionize existing treatment paradigms.

The tumor microenvironment (TME)-marked by hypoxia, acidosis, and nutrient scarcity-creates a metabolically restrictive niche that undermines sustained antitumor immunity. Within this niche, infiltrating immune cells could become functionally exhausted to limit the efficacy of existing immunotherapies. Recently, metabolic competition between tumor cells and immune cells for nutrients has attracted great attention in immunometabolism to explain the immune dysfunction. Notably, micronutrients, particularly vitamins, have been increasingly revealed to serve as active immunoregulatory agents rather than working solely as metabolic precursors or intermediates. In this review, we highlight the role of vitamins as immune-metabolic modulators that coordinate metabolic reprogramming, epigenetic remodeling, and signal transduction in tumor-infiltrating immune cells. We further discuss how vitamin activity is shaped by tumor-specific metabolic states, molecular forms, microbiome-dependent regulation and microenvironmental conditions, resulting in context-dependent immunological outcomes. By integrating preclinical mechanistic insights with the current landscape of clinical trials, the translational challenges arising from the pleiotropic effects of vitamins have also been evaluated. Finally, we also summarize emerging biomarker-guided and tumor-targeted intervention strategies that may help improve the therapeutic utility of vitamins and overcome immunotherapy resistance.