Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41413184›Full record

ArticleNPJ precision oncology2025

Minibeam radiation therapy remodels tumor microenvironment and suppresses HIF-1α/VEGFR axis to overcome radioresistance in triple-negative breast cancer.

Zengyi Fang, Xinxiang Zhou, Pinjin Zou, Junyang Chen, Xingmin Chen, Na Huang, Cuicui Gong, Li Quan, Jie Tang, Yuanzhen Mi and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in NPJ precision oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Zengyi FangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Xinxiang ZhouDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Pinjin ZouDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Junyang ChenDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Xingmin ChenDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Na HuangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Cuicui GongChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Li QuanChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Jie TangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
Yuanzhen MiChengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Shixuan ZhaoDepartment of Neurosurgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. zhaosx@uestc.edu.cn.
Jinyi LangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. langjinyi@scszlyy.org.cn.
Meihua ChenDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. chenmeihua@scszlyy.org.cn.

Funding

Chengdu Science and Technology Bureau 2024-YF05-02230-SNFundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities ZYGX2021YGCX001Health Commission of Sichuan Province ZH2023-801, 24QNMP038Scientific Research Project of Sichuan Medical Association 2024HR15
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is resistant to radiotherapy due to tumor hypoxia and abnormal angiogenesis, necessitating strategies to enhance therapeutic outcomes. This study evaluates the use of minibeam radiation therapy (MBRT), delivered through a novel 3D-printed collimator made of polylactic acid (PLA) and tungsten, to modulate the TNBC microenvironment and potentially overcome radioresistance. Three collimator configurations (400, 600, 800 μm beam widths) were tested. Mice received MBRT (150 Gy) or conventional radiotherapy (CRT, 7 or 15 Gy), with tumor responses assessed using histology, RNA sequencing, and immunohistochemistry. The measured beam FWHM values for the MBRT 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 groups were 419 ± 23 μm, 575 ± 31 μm, and 798 ± 50 μm, respectively, while the CTC distances were 832 ± 25 μm, 1296 ± 21 μm, and 1651 ± 49 μm. MBRT generated stable, spatially fractionated dose distributions with high peak-to-valley ratios. Compared to CRT at equivalent valley doses, MBRT significantly reduced tumor growth, proliferation, and hypoxia while increasing necrosis. Mechanistically, MBRT downregulated HIF-1α/VEGFR signaling, alleviating hypoxia and angiogenesis, and enhanced vascular normalization via increased pericyte coverage. These findings suggest MBRT reprograms the TNBC microenvironment, supporting its potential as a radiosensitizing strategy for clinical translation.

Identifiers

PMID41413184
PMCPMC12714760

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.