Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42500588›Full record

ReviewOncology research2026

Targeting PCNA in Cancer: A Paradigm Shift from Static Inhibition to Dynamic Network Modulation.

Shijia Lu, Yanmin Wang, Han Zhang, Mengjia Yan, Mengdan Sang, Jinle Wang, Huaying Du, Jinwen Sima, Yiran Zhen, Xue Yang and 2 more

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Oncology research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

12 authors.

Shijia LuSchool of Life Science and Technology, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Yanmin WangSchool of Life Science and Technology, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Han ZhangSchool of Life Science and Technology, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Mengjia YanSchool of Life Science and Technology, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Mengdan SangSchool of Medical Laboratory, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Jinle WangSchool of Life Science and Technology, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Huaying DuBasic Medical College, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Jinwen SimaBasic Medical College, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0004-5596-3821
Yiran ZhenSchool of Medical Laboratory, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Xue YangSchool of Medical Laboratory, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Yutong ZhangSchool of Life Science and Technology, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
Hongwei ZhouSchool of Life Science and Technology, North Henan Medical University, Xinxiang, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) is a core protein in DNA replication and repair. Its functional dysregulation drives tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance, making it a critical anticancer target. However, the fundamental conflict between PCNA's indispensable "guardian" function in normal cells and its hijacked "accomplice" role in cancer cells constitutes the central challenge for targeted intervention: how to eradicate tumors while avoiding severe toxicity to normal tissues. This review aims to systematically review the latest advances and translational dilemmas in the field of PCNA-targeted therapy. It outlines various intervention strategies, including small-molecule inhibitors, proteolysis-targeting chimeras, post-translational modification interference, and synthetic lethality approaches, analyzing their potential and limitations in preclinical research. The review focuses on dissecting key bottlenecks hindering clinical translation, such as the selectivity dilemma, delivery barriers, and resistance evolution. Concurrently, it critically examines how cross-disciplinary technologies-including artificial intelligence, spatiotemporal regulation, and synthetic biology-offer novel ideas to address these bottlenecks, while clarifying that most remain in early exploratory stages. By synthesizing progress, challenges, and future directions, this article provides a framework to inform the development of highly selective and translatable PCNA-based anticancer strategies.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsMolecular Targeted TherapyNeoplasmsProliferating Cell Nuclear AntigenAnimalsHumansProtein Processing, Post-TranslationalAntineoplastic AgentsPCNA protein, humanProliferating Cell Nuclear Antigenartificial intelligenceclinical translationprecision therapyProliferating cell nuclear antigensynthetic lethalitytargeted protein degradationtumor microenvironment

Identifiers

PMID42500588
PMCPMC13397363

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.