Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42246174›Full record

ReviewInternational journal of oncology2026

Emerging agents that target signaling pathways in cancer fibroblast cells (Review).

Yan Wan, Xiang-Qing Liu, Dong Liu, Ke-Di Li, Dan-Dan Zhang

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in International journal of oncology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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

5 authors.

Yan Wan *School of Pharmacy, Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China.
Xiang-Qing Liu *School of Pharmacy, Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhu, Anhui 241000, P.R. China.
Dong LiuSchool of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China.
Ke-Di LiSchool of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China.
Dan-Dan ZhangSchool of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 611137, P.R. China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a critical role in cancer development, recurrence and metastasis. Several signaling pathways are crucial in CAF development, including fibroblast activation protein (FAP), phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT), nuclear factor κB (NF‑κB), transforming growth factor β (TGF‑β), ferroptosis, apoptosis and autophagy pathways. Targeting the ferroptosis signaling pathway specifically kills CAFs. Therefore, targeting these pathways may inhibit the protumorigenic functions of CAFs. Small molecule drugs, due to their well‑dispersed spatial structures and distinct chemical properties, exhibit promising druggability and pharmacokinetic profiles. These characteristics make small molecule drugs highly advantageous in drug development and increasingly favored in the market. The present review summarized current studies on small molecule compounds that inhibit CAF progression, encompassing inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/STAT, TGF‑β and NF‑κB pathways, as well as activators of the FAP, ferroptosis, apoptosis and autophagy pathways. These small molecule compounds underscore the significance of CAFs in tumor progression and suggest novel strategies for cancer treatment by targeting CAFs in clinical settings.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsCancer-Associated FibroblastsNeoplasmsSignal TransductionAnimalsFerroptosisHumansMolecular Targeted TherapyAntineoplastic Agentscancer‑associated fibroblastsferroptosissignaling pathwayssmall molecule drugs

Identifiers

PMID42246174
PMCPMC13238205

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.