Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Chronic inflammation-responsive hydrogel restores myeloid-T cell crosstalk to reinvigorate antitumor immunity against metastatic colorectal cancer

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.012

Figure Lengend Snippet: PGE2 blockade modulates immune cell phenotypes in antitumor resp onses. (A) Inflammatory gene expression across cancer types (GEPIA2 database). (B) Gene expression of Il1b , Cxcl8 , and Lif in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) tumor tissue and normal tissue (GEPIA2 database). (C and D) Correlation between Ptgs2 and inflammatory genes in various cancers (C) and COAD (D) (TIMER 2.0). (E) Schematic of immune cells co-incubated with CXB treated tumor conditional medium (TCM) (Source material from BioRender). (F and G) Cell viability (F) and Cell cycle arrest (G) detection of CT26 tumor cells treated with gradient concentrations of CXB; n = 3. (H) PGE2 concentration in CT26 cell supernatants; n = 3. (I) The proportion of CD103 + DC within BMDCs after CXB treatments in vitro ; n = 3. (J and K) Maturation (J) and Antigen processing capability (K) on BMDCs; n = 3. (L – N) Flow charts of CD86 or CD206 expression on Raw 264.7 cells (L). Quantification of CD86 (M) and CD206 (N) expression on Raw 264.7 cells; n = 3. (O and P) Flow charts (O) and Quantification (P) of CD69 and CD137 expression on splenic T cells exposed to CXB-pretreated TCM; n = 3. (Q) IFN-γ secretion by T cells co-cultured with CXB-pretreated TCM; n = 3. Data are presented as mean ± SD, ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001. Significance was calculated using One-way ANOVA.

Article Snippet: CT26 cells and Raw 264.7 were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; Manassas, VA, USA).

Techniques: Gene Expression, Incubation, Concentration Assay, In Vitro, Expressing, Cell Culture

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Chronic inflammation-responsive hydrogel restores myeloid-T cell crosstalk to reinvigorate antitumor immunity against metastatic colorectal cancer

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.012

Figure Lengend Snippet: Sustained PGE2 blockade prompts immune activ ation. (A) Structure of hydrogel matrix and scheme of Gel-CXB preparation (Source material from BioRender). (B) Microstructure of the hydrogel. (C) Rheological evaluation of Gel-CXB. (D) CXB release from Gel-CXB in PBS or PBS containing 0.5 mM H 2 O 2 ; n = 3. (E and F) Flow chart (E) and Quantification (F) of CD103 + DC within BMDCs; n = 3. (G and H) Flow chart (G) and Heatmap (H) of costimulatory molecular expression on CD103 - DC, CD103 + DC, or total DC with different treatments; n = 3. (I and J) CXCL9 (I) and Costimulatory molecular expression (J) on cDC1; n = 3. (K – M) CD86 and CD206 expression (K), MHC-II expression (L), and Antigen processing capability (M) of BMDMs incubated with different TCM; n = 3. (N and O) CD69 (N) and CD137 (O) expression on CD8 + T cells co-incubated with different TCM; n = 3. (P) Scheme of Gel-CXB-regulated CT26 TME at different time points in vivo . (Q) Changes of several immune cells within TME at Day 1, 5, and 9; n = 3. (R) Tumor volume of mice treated with CXB alone or Gel-CXB in vivo ; n = 5. (S) CD137 expression on CD8 + T cells in vivo ; n = 3. Data are presented as mean ± SD, ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001. Significance was calculated using One-way ANOVA.

Article Snippet: CT26 cells and Raw 264.7 were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; Manassas, VA, USA).

Techniques: Expressing, Incubation, In Vivo

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Chronic inflammation-responsive hydrogel restores myeloid-T cell crosstalk to reinvigorate antitumor immunity against metastatic colorectal cancer

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.012

Figure Lengend Snippet: TRANS inhibits tumor growth and enhances local and systemic immune resp onses. (A) Scheme of GC, GCF, or TRANS preparation (Source material from BioRender). (B) Microstructure of GC and TRANS. (C) Experimental design for administration and immune cell analysis. (D) Tumor growth curves under different treatments; n = 5. (E) Tumor weight post-treatment; n = 5. (F – H) CD45 + leukocytes and CD11c + DCs (F), CD86 + M1 and CD206 + M2 macrophages (G), and Tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cells (H) within TME; n = 5. (I – L) Mature DCs (I), CD8α + cDC1s (J), CD4 + and CD8 + T cells (K) and CD69 + CD8 + T cells (L) in lymph nodes; n = 5. (M – Q) CD11c + MHC II + DCs (M), CD8α + cDC1s (N), CD4 + and CD8 + T cells (O), CD69 + CD8 + T cells (P), and IFN-γ + CD8 + T cells (Q) in the spleen; n = 5. (R – T) CD8 + T cells (R), The ratio of CD8 + T /CD4 + T cells (S), and IFN-γ levels (T) in blood; n = 5. (U) IFN-γ + CD4 + T and IFN-γ + CD8 + T cells with ex vivo stimulation of PMA/ionomycin for 6 h; n = 3. (V) Apoptosis of CT26 cells co-incubated with splenic T cells for 24 h; n = 3. Data are presented as mean ± SD, ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001. Significance was calculated using One-way ANOVA.

Article Snippet: CT26 cells and Raw 264.7 were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; Manassas, VA, USA).

Techniques: Cell Analysis, Ex Vivo, Incubation

Journal: Bioactive Materials

Article Title: Chronic inflammation-responsive hydrogel restores myeloid-T cell crosstalk to reinvigorate antitumor immunity against metastatic colorectal cancer

doi: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.03.012

Figure Lengend Snippet: TRANS inhibits tumor metastasis and induces immune memory in vivo . (A) Experimental design for secondary tumor model. (B and C) Tumor volume curves of primary tumor (B) and secondary tumor (C) during different therapy; n = 5. (D and E) Statistical diagram (D) and flow charts (E) of T cells within secondary tumors; n = 5. (F) Immunofluorescence images of immune cell in primary tumor. (G) Schematic of lung metastasis tumor model and treatment regimen. Mice received subcutaneous and intravenous injections of CT26-Luc. (H – J) In vivo images (H), Primary tumor volume curves (I), and Average radiance in lungs (J) of CT26-Luc tumor-bearing mice; n = 5. (K – M) Lung image (K), Lung metastasis foci counts and weights (L), and H&E staining of lungs (M) from CT26-Luc tumor-bearing mice; n = 5. (N) Schematic of liver metastasis tumor model and treatment regimen. Mice received subcutaneous CT26 tumor and splenic CT26-Luc injections. (O and P) In vivo imaging (O) and Individual radiance in livers (P) of CT26-Luc tumor-bearing mice; n = 10. (Q – S) Live images (Q), Liver weights (R), and H&E staining images of livers (S) from PBS- or TRANS-treated mice; n = 5. (T) Scheme of tumor rechallenge model. (U) Tumor changes in mice rechallenged with CT26 or 4T1; n = 9. (V) Central memory (T CM ) and effector memory (T EM ) gated on CD8 + T cells; n = 5. Data are presented as mean ± SD, ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001. Significance was calculated using One-way ANOVA.

Article Snippet: CT26 cells and Raw 264.7 were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; Manassas, VA, USA).

Techniques: In Vivo, Immunofluorescence, Staining, In Vivo Imaging

Journal: Molecular Therapy Oncology

Article Title: Strategically engineering an oncolytic herpes simplex virus to improve systemic delivery

doi: 10.1016/j.omton.2026.201132

Figure Lengend Snippet: Comparison of systemic delivery of FusOn-CD47-luc and FusOn-luc in immune-competent mice pre-immunized with HSV-2 (A) Schematic illustration of the FusOn-series viruses used in this study. The parental FusOn-H2 was generated by replacing the N-terminal domain of the ICP10 gene, which encodes the large subunit of ribonucleotide reductase (RR), with GFP. The locations of glycoprotein C (gC), the terminal repeat long (TR L ) and short (TR S ) regions, and the internal repeats (IR) are indicated. FusOn-luc was constructed by inserting a luciferase gene cassette ( luc ) upstream of the gC locus, whereas FusOn-CD47-luc was generated by fusing the extracellular domain (ECD) of CD47 to gC and inserting the luc cassette at the same position. (B) IVIS imaging of virus distribution following systemic delivery. Balb/c mice were first immunized twice with a gH-deleted infectious single-cycle HSV-2 (DISC-HSV2) before implantation with CT26 tumor cells in the right flank. Once tumors reached approximately 8 mm in diameter, mice received one of the three viruses via tail vein injection at a dose of 2 × 10 6 PFU. Bioluminescence imaging was performed using an IVIS imager on the indicated days post-injection. The locations of the liver and tumor are indicated by red arrows. Representative images from one of five mice in each treatment group are shown.

Article Snippet: African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells, CT26 murine colon cancer cells, LL/2 murine lung cancer cells, and HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA).

Techniques: Comparison, Generated, Construct, Luciferase, Imaging, Virus, Injection

Journal: Molecular Therapy Oncology

Article Title: Strategically engineering an oncolytic herpes simplex virus to improve systemic delivery

doi: 10.1016/j.omton.2026.201132

Figure Lengend Snippet: Tumor delivery efficiency of FusOn-SD following systemic delivery in vivo (A) Sequential images of one representative mouse from each group (five mice per group) at the indicated time points after systemic administration of FusOn-SD in immune-competent, CT26-tumor-bearing Balb/c mice pre-immunized with HSV-2. The experimental procedure was identical to that in B. (B) Effect of adoptively transferred human anti-HSV-2 sera on the systemic delivery of FusOn-SD to xenografted human tumors. Mpanc-96 human pancreatic cancer cells were implanted in the right flank of immunodeficient mice. Once tumors reached an approximate size of 8 mm in diameter, mice received an adoptive transfer of 100 μL of either a mixture of eight human anti-HSV-2 sera or non-immune sera as a control, followed by tail vein injection of 2 × 10 6 PFU FusOn-SD. Shown are IVIS images taken 48 h after virus administration, with the tumor sites and corresponding bioluminescent signals highlighted by red circles.

Article Snippet: African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells, CT26 murine colon cancer cells, LL/2 murine lung cancer cells, and HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA).

Techniques: In Vivo, Adoptive Transfer Assay, Control, Injection, Virus

Journal: Molecular Therapy Oncology

Article Title: Strategically engineering an oncolytic herpes simplex virus to improve systemic delivery

doi: 10.1016/j.omton.2026.201132

Figure Lengend Snippet: In vivo evaluation of the antitumor effect of FusOn-SD in immune syngeneic tumor models in immune-competent animals (A) Evaluation of FusOn-SD in the murine CT26 colon cancer model. Immune-competent Balb/c mice were immunized with HSV-2 before CT26 cells were implanted subcutaneously. Oncolytic viruses were given intratumorally at a dose of 2 × 10 6 PFU. Tumor size was measured at the indicated time points and plotted. ★ p < 0.05 compared with other oncolytic viruses and PBS; p < 0.05 compared with PBS. (B) Evaluation of FusOn-SD in the murine LL/2 lung cancer model. Immune-competent C57BL6 mice were immunized with HSV-2 before LL/2 cells were implanted subcutaneously. When tumor became palpable, 2 × 10 6 PFU of the indicated oncolytic viruses were given via the tail vein, either alone or in combination with CP and/or PD1 mAb (detailed treatment schemes are provided in the section). Tumor size was measured at the indicated time points and plotted. Due to the rapid growth of these two tumor models in the control group, the experiments were terminated early to address ethical concerns for animal welfare. ★ p < 0.05 compared with other treatment groups and PBS; p < 0.05 compared with PBS.

Article Snippet: African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells, CT26 murine colon cancer cells, LL/2 murine lung cancer cells, and HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA).

Techniques: In Vivo, Control

Journal: Molecular Therapy Oncology

Article Title: Recombinant CALR polarizes and activates macrophages in tumors

doi: 10.1016/j.omton.2025.201121

Figure Lengend Snippet: Recombinant CALR reduces tumor growth and increases M1 macrophages (A) To measure the effect on tumor growth and immune cell activation, bacterial lysate was injected into tumor-bearing mice. Tumors were formed by subcutaneously injecting CT26 murine colon carcinoma cells into the flank of BALB/c mice. After 2 weeks, the mice were injected intratumorally with saline, bacterial control lysate, or lysate from CALR-expressing bacteria. One set of mice received injections at days 0, 3, and 6; were monitored for tumor growth; and their tumors were harvested at day 9 for analysis of immune cells. A second set of mice received only one injection at day 0, and tumors were harvested at day 3 for analysis. (B) Intratumoral injection of CALR lysate decreased tumor growth compared to saline controls ( p = 0.0089). Bacterial control lysate also reduced tumor growth compared to controls ( p = 0.0204). Volumes are reported relative to those on day 0. (C–F) On day 3, recombinant CALR did not affect (C) the number of leukocytes, (D) the number of M1 macrophages (per 10,000 cells analyzed), or the number of M1 macrophages expressing either (E) CD80 or (F) CD86 (per 10,000 cells analyzed) in tumors. (G) On day 9, injection with CALR lysate significantly increased the number of leukocytes in tumors compared to saline controls ( p = 0.0042). (H) On day 9, CALR lysate also significantly increased the number of M1 macrophages in tumors compared to bacterial controls ( p = 0.0480) and saline ( p = 0.0061). (I) CALR lysate significantly increased the number of M1 macrophages expressing CD80 (per 10,000 cells analyzed) compared to saline controls ( p = 0.0063). (J) CALR lysate also increased the number of M1 macrophages expressing CD86 (per 10,000 cells analyzed) compared to bacterial controls ( p = 0.0445) and saline ( p = 0.0077). Data are represented as mean ± SEM. The statistical comparisons in (B) are two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s method. The statistical comparisons in (C–J) are ANOVA followed by Tukey’s method. Asterisks indicate significance: ∗ p < 0.05; ∗∗ p < 0.01.

Article Snippet: JAWSII murine dendritic cells and CT26 murine colon carcinoma cells were obtained from ATCC, confirmed by STR profiling by Charles River Research Animal Diagnostic Services, and passaged for fewer than 6 months.

Techniques: Recombinant, Activation Assay, Injection, Saline, Control, Expressing, Bacteria

Journal: Molecular Therapy Oncology

Article Title: Recombinant CALR polarizes and activates macrophages in tumors

doi: 10.1016/j.omton.2025.201121

Figure Lengend Snippet: Recombinant CALR increases helper T cell activity in tumors (A) The extent of T cell infiltration was determined in mice (see ) with CT26 tumors that were intratumorally injected (on days 0, 3, and 6) with saline (PBS), bacterial control lysate (BC), or lysate from CALR-expressing bacteria (CALR). On day 9, injection of CALR lysate significantly increased the number of T cells in tumors (per 10,000 cells analyzed) compared to saline controls ( p = 0.0495). (B) The percentage of helper T cells per 10,000 cells analyzed. (C) On day 9, injection with CALR lysate significantly increased the number of activated helper T cells (per 10,000 cells analyzed) in tumors compared to saline controls ( p = 0.0067). Data are represented as mean ± SEM. The statistical comparisons in (A–C) are ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test. Asterisks indicate significance: ∗ p < 0.05; ∗∗ p < 0.01.

Article Snippet: JAWSII murine dendritic cells and CT26 murine colon carcinoma cells were obtained from ATCC, confirmed by STR profiling by Charles River Research Animal Diagnostic Services, and passaged for fewer than 6 months.

Techniques: Recombinant, Activity Assay, Injection, Saline, Control, Expressing, Bacteria