Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: IL-6R blockade with tocilizumab disrupts pericyte– and tumor cell–driven IL-6/STAT3 signaling, enhancing docetaxel efficacy in ER+ breast cancer

doi: 10.64898/2026.01.29.702661

Figure Lengend Snippet: a Cytokine expression. Fold change of cytokine array data highlighting IL-6, CXCL1, CXCL5, ST2, and GDF-15 from HBVP conditioned media. a.u. denotes arbitrary units. Data is representative of n = 2 independent experiments with technical duplicates. Mean ± s.e.m. shown. b IL-6 (pg/mL) from HBVP conditioned media quantified by IL-6 ELISA. Data is representative of n = 2 independent experiments with technical duplicates. Mean ± s.e.m. shown. c IL6 transcript levels in reference to GAPDH. a.u. denotes arbitrary units. Data is representative of n = 4 independent experiments with technical duplicates. Mean ± s.e.m. shown. P values were calculated by using an unpaired two-tailed t-test for a, b, and c . * P = 0.0245 ( a ), * P = 0.0134 ( b ), and * P = 0.0431 ( c ). * P ≤ 0.05. HBVP = human brain vascular pericytes. DTX = docetaxel.

Article Snippet: Tocilizumab (#A2012) and human IgG isotype control (#A2051, RRID:AB_3096062)) were purchased from SelleckChem, while docetaxel (DTX) (#01885-5MG-F) and bovine serum albumin (#A193325G) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich.

Techniques: Expressing, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Two Tailed Test

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: IL-6R blockade with tocilizumab disrupts pericyte– and tumor cell–driven IL-6/STAT3 signaling, enhancing docetaxel efficacy in ER+ breast cancer

doi: 10.64898/2026.01.29.702661

Figure Lengend Snippet: a MCF-7 and b T-47D cells were serum starved then incubated with vehicle, 10 nM DTX, or 5 ng/mL IL-6 alone or in combination as indicated for 24 hours. Cells were then lysed and subjected to immunoblotting using a pSTAT3 or STAT3 antibody. Fold change of pSTAT3 over total STAT3. Data is representative of n = 3 independent experiments. Mean ± s.e.m. shown. P values were calculated using a repeated measures one-way ANOVA with a Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test compared to the 5 ng/mL IL-6 group. * P ≤ 0.05, ** P ≤ 0.01. SimplyBlue SafeStains are shown for each representative membrane. DTX = docetaxel.

Article Snippet: Tocilizumab (#A2012) and human IgG isotype control (#A2051, RRID:AB_3096062)) were purchased from SelleckChem, while docetaxel (DTX) (#01885-5MG-F) and bovine serum albumin (#A193325G) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich.

Techniques: Incubation, Western Blot, Membrane

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: IL-6R blockade with tocilizumab disrupts pericyte– and tumor cell–driven IL-6/STAT3 signaling, enhancing docetaxel efficacy in ER+ breast cancer

doi: 10.64898/2026.01.29.702661

Figure Lengend Snippet: IL-6 (pg/mL) quantified using conditioned media from vehicle- or 10 nM DTX-treated MCF-7 and T-47D cell lines following 24-hour treatment via an IL-6 ELISA. Data is representative of n = 2 independent experiments with technical duplicates. Mean ± s.e.m. shown. P values were calculated using two-tailed unpaired t tests. ** P ≤ 0.01. DTX = docetaxel.

Article Snippet: Tocilizumab (#A2012) and human IgG isotype control (#A2051, RRID:AB_3096062)) were purchased from SelleckChem, while docetaxel (DTX) (#01885-5MG-F) and bovine serum albumin (#A193325G) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich.

Techniques: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Two Tailed Test

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: IL-6R blockade with tocilizumab disrupts pericyte– and tumor cell–driven IL-6/STAT3 signaling, enhancing docetaxel efficacy in ER+ breast cancer

doi: 10.64898/2026.01.29.702661

Figure Lengend Snippet: a MCF-7 and b T-47D cells were serum starved then incubated with HBVP CM from vehicle or HBVP CM from 10 nM DTX as indicated for 24 hours. Cells were then lysed and subjected to immunoblotting using a pSTAT3 or STAT3 antibody. Fold change of pSTAT3 over total STAT3. Data is representative of n = 4 independent experiments. Mean ± s.e.m. shown. P values were calculated using an ordinary one-way ANOVA with a Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. *** P ≤ 0.001, **** P ≤ 0.0001. SimplyBlue SafeStains are shown for each representative membrane. HBVP = human brain vascular pericytes. CM = conditioned media. DTX = docetaxel.

Article Snippet: Tocilizumab (#A2012) and human IgG isotype control (#A2051, RRID:AB_3096062)) were purchased from SelleckChem, while docetaxel (DTX) (#01885-5MG-F) and bovine serum albumin (#A193325G) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich.

Techniques: Incubation, Western Blot, Membrane

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: IL-6R blockade with tocilizumab disrupts pericyte– and tumor cell–driven IL-6/STAT3 signaling, enhancing docetaxel efficacy in ER+ breast cancer

doi: 10.64898/2026.01.29.702661

Figure Lengend Snippet: a MCF-7 and b T-47D cells were serum starved then incubated HBVP CM from 10 nM DTX with 0.1 µg/mL control IgG, 0.1 µg/mL tocilizumab, vehicle, or 10 nM DTX in combination as indicated for 24 hours. Cells were then lysed and subjected to immunoblotting using a pSTAT3 or STAT3 antibody. Fold change of pSTAT3 over total STAT3. Data is representative of n = 4 independent experiments. Mean ± s.e.m. shown. P values were calculated using a repeated measures one-way ANOVA with a ( a ) Sidak’s and ( b ) Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. * P ≤ 0.05, ** P ≤ 0.01. SimplyBlue SafeStains are shown for each representative membrane. HBVP = human brain vascular pericytes, and CM = conditioned media. DTX = docetaxel.

Article Snippet: Tocilizumab (#A2012) and human IgG isotype control (#A2051, RRID:AB_3096062)) were purchased from SelleckChem, while docetaxel (DTX) (#01885-5MG-F) and bovine serum albumin (#A193325G) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich.

Techniques: Incubation, Control, Western Blot, Membrane

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: IL-6R blockade with tocilizumab disrupts pericyte– and tumor cell–driven IL-6/STAT3 signaling, enhancing docetaxel efficacy in ER+ breast cancer

doi: 10.64898/2026.01.29.702661

Figure Lengend Snippet: ( a – c ) Longitudinal spheroid growth of UVABCO178 ( a ), UVABCO176 ( b ), and UVABCO179 ( c ) over 14-16 days following treatment with control IgG (black), tocilizumab (0.1 µg/mL; cyan), DTX (10 nM; light pink), or the tocilizumab + DTX combination (purple). Lines represent model-fitted exponential growth curves for spheroid area over time, derived from linear regression of log-transformed area (log(Area) ∼ day) (n = 8 – 780 organoids per patient, time point, and condition). Bliss synergy excess for the tocilizumab + DTX combination are reported in each panel. Statistical significance between treatment groups is indicated (* P ≤ 0.05, ** P ≤ 0.01, *** P ≤ 0.001).( d – e ) Representative immunofluorescence images of spheroids from UVABCO178 ( d ) and UVABCO179 ( e ) following treatment with control IgG, tocilizumab, DTX, or the combination. Staining includes DAPI (nuclei, white), EdU (proliferation, magenta), pSTAT3 (IL-6 signaling, red), and NucView488 (NV488; apoptosis, green). Scale bars, 100 µm. DTX = docetaxel.

Article Snippet: Tocilizumab (#A2012) and human IgG isotype control (#A2051, RRID:AB_3096062)) were purchased from SelleckChem, while docetaxel (DTX) (#01885-5MG-F) and bovine serum albumin (#A193325G) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich.

Techniques: Control, Derivative Assay, Transformation Assay, Immunofluorescence, Staining

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: IL-6R blockade with tocilizumab disrupts pericyte– and tumor cell–driven IL-6/STAT3 signaling, enhancing docetaxel efficacy in ER+ breast cancer

doi: 10.64898/2026.01.29.702661

Figure Lengend Snippet: a Docetaxel directly impacts pericytes within the tumor microenvironment, inducing secretion of IL-6. Pericyte-derived IL-6 engages the IL-6R complex (IL-6Rα/IL-6Rβ) on ER+ breast cancer cells, activating JAK/STAT3 signaling and promoting anti-apoptotic signaling, cancer cell survival, and chemoresistance. b Pharmacologic inhibition of IL-6R with tocilizumab disrupts IL-6 mediated signaling between pericytes and cancer cells. IL-6R blockade attenuates STAT3 activation, resulting in reduced anti-apoptotic signaling and decreased chemoresistance in ER+ breast cancer cells treated with docetaxel. Generated from BioRender.

Article Snippet: Tocilizumab (#A2012) and human IgG isotype control (#A2051, RRID:AB_3096062)) were purchased from SelleckChem, while docetaxel (DTX) (#01885-5MG-F) and bovine serum albumin (#A193325G) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich.

Techniques: Derivative Assay, Inhibition, Activation Assay, Generated

Journal: PLOS One

Article Title: RIPK2 induces docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer through the NF-κB/P-gp signaling pathway

doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0341445

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) P-gp and Ki67 expression in xenograft tumor tissues of the control, DTX, DTX + GSK583, and DTX+tariquidar groups. ** P < 0.01. n = 3 in A. (B) Photographs of xenograft tumors in the control, DTX, DTX + GSK583, and DTX+tariquidar groups after 28 days of treatment. (C) Comparison of tumor volumes by group. (D) Comparison of tumor weights by group. ** P < 0.01. n = 4 in B-D.

Article Snippet: When the xenograft tumors grew to approximately 200 mm 3 , the mice were randomly divided into four groups (4 animals per group): DTX (MedChem Express, Monmouth Junction, NJ, USA), DTX + GSK583 (MedChem Express), DTX+tariquidar (MedChem Express), and Control.

Techniques: Expressing, Control, Comparison