Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2026 Sep 4;11(1):363. doi: 10.1038/s41392-026-02936-6.

ABSTRACT

Metabolic reprogramming forms the foundation of immune effector functions and the regulation of inflammation. As a pivotal node connecting the tricarboxylic acid cycle to immune signaling, the IRG1/ACOD1 and itaconate axes play a central role in coordinating inflammatory tone and redox balance. Itaconate, generated through the decarboxylation of cis aconitate, acts as an immunometabolic brake that engages multiple regulatory pathways to sustain the dynamic equilibrium between inflammation and tissue homeostasis. Across a broad spectrum of pathological conditions, including infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, ischemia‒reperfusion injury, neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune disorders, and cancers, itaconate and its derivatives generally exert anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects. However, within specific microenvironments, these molecules may also be exploited by pathogens to evade immune clearance or promote immunosuppressive and protumorigenic responses. Future studies should further elucidate tissue- and lineage-specific functions, define bidirectional regulatory mechanisms, and optimize the pharmacokinetic properties of itaconate derivatives. With the advancement of multiomics integration, systems immunology, rational drug design, and engineered itaconate delivery technologies, the IRG1/ACOD1-itaconate axis and derivative-based therapeutic strategies are poised to emerge as key metabolic checkpoints and therapeutic targets in inflammatory-, metabolic-, immune-, and cancer-related diseases.

PMID:42693110 | PMC:PMC13542262 | DOI:10.1038/s41392-026-02936-6

J Thorac Dis. 2026 Apr 30;18(4):406. doi: 10.21037/jtd-2026-0547. Epub 2026 Apr 27.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, posing a substantial global health burden. Despite advances in early detection, molecular profiling, and targeted therapies, patient outcomes remain unsatisfactory due to tumor heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance, and the lack of reliable preclinical models. In recent years, lung cancer organoids (LCOs), patient-derived three-dimensional (3D) culture systems, have demonstrated the ability to preserve the histological architecture and genomic features of primary tumors more faithfully than conventional models, making them a promising platform for translational research and precision medicine. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the global research output, identify major contributors and collaboration patterns, and systematically uncover research hotspots and emerging trends in the field of LCOs through bibliometric analysis.

METHODS: A systematic bibliometric analysis was conducted using publications on LCOs retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Articles published between 2015 and 2024 were included. A total of 356 publications were analyzed. Publication outputs, country and institutional contributions, collaboration networks, and keyword co-occurrence were evaluated using Bibliometrix (R package), VOSviewer, and CiteSpace.

RESULTS: The number of publications on LCOs has increased steadily over the past decade, reflecting growing research interest and technological advancement. China and the United States were identified as the leading contributors, accounting for the majority of publications, while Germany, South Korea, and Japan also demonstrated strong research capacity and active collaboration. Keyword and thematic analyses revealed several major research hotspots, including personalized medicine, drug response and resistance mechanisms, tumor microenvironment modeling, and immune-related interactions. Burst keyword analysis further identified emerging trends, such as co-culture systems, immunotherapy evaluation, and the integration of LCOs with high-throughput screening and multi-omics approaches.

CONCLUSIONS: LCOs have evolved into a versatile platform bridging basic research and clinical applications in lung cancer. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape and highlights emerging directions in the field. Future research should focus on methodological standardization, optimization of organoid construction and evaluation, integration with multi-omics and immune models, and strengthened international collaboration to facilitate clinical translation and improve patient outcomes.

PMID:42182656 | PMC:PMC13190222 | DOI:10.21037/jtd-2026-0547

J Thorac Dis. 2026 Apr 30;18(4):406. doi: 10.21037/jtd-2026-0547. Epub 2026 Apr 27.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, posing a substantial global health burden. Despite advances in early detection, molecular profiling, and targeted therapies, patient outcomes remain unsatisfactory due to tumor heterogeneity, therapeutic resistance, and the lack of reliable preclinical models. In recent years, lung cancer organoids (LCOs), patient-derived three-dimensional (3D) culture systems, have demonstrated the ability to preserve the histological architecture and genomic features of primary tumors more faithfully than conventional models, making them a promising platform for translational research and precision medicine. This study aims to quantitatively evaluate the global research output, identify major contributors and collaboration patterns, and systematically uncover research hotspots and emerging trends in the field of LCOs through bibliometric analysis.

METHODS: A systematic bibliometric analysis was conducted using publications on LCOs retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Articles published between 2015 and 2024 were included. A total of 356 publications were analyzed. Publication outputs, country and institutional contributions, collaboration networks, and keyword co-occurrence were evaluated using Bibliometrix (R package), VOSviewer, and CiteSpace.

RESULTS: The number of publications on LCOs has increased steadily over the past decade, reflecting growing research interest and technological advancement. China and the United States were identified as the leading contributors, accounting for the majority of publications, while Germany, South Korea, and Japan also demonstrated strong research capacity and active collaboration. Keyword and thematic analyses revealed several major research hotspots, including personalized medicine, drug response and resistance mechanisms, tumor microenvironment modeling, and immune-related interactions. Burst keyword analysis further identified emerging trends, such as co-culture systems, immunotherapy evaluation, and the integration of LCOs with high-throughput screening and multi-omics approaches.

CONCLUSIONS: LCOs have evolved into a versatile platform bridging basic research and clinical applications in lung cancer. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape and highlights emerging directions in the field. Future research should focus on methodological standardization, optimization of organoid construction and evaluation, integration with multi-omics and immune models, and strengthened international collaboration to facilitate clinical translation and improve patient outcomes.

PMID:42182656 | PMC:PMC13190222 | DOI:10.21037/jtd-2026-0547