Andrea Liguori, Kate Zanzucchi, Starr Figura, and Marcia Bartholme on the catalogue and Diebenkorn's printmaking practice.

The Richard Diebenkorn Catalogue Raisonné of Prints

BUFFALO, NY – June 9, 2025 – A new #research paper was #published in Volume 16 of Oncotarget on May 20, 2025, titled “Cigarette smoke and decreased DNA repair by Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group C use a double hit mechanism for epithelial cell lung carcinogenesis.”

In this study, led by first author Nawar Al Nasralla and corresponding author Catherine R. Sears, from the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Occupational Medicine, Indianapolis and the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, researchers investigated how cigarette smoke and reduced DNA repair capacity contribute together to the development of lung cancer. They found that when a critical DNA repair protein called XPC is decreased and lung cells are exposed to cigarette smoke, the combination causes extensive damage and significantly increases cancer risk.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) develops through both genetic and environmental factors. This study focused on how cigarette smoke affects the body’s natural ability to repair DNA. The researchers studied the role of XPC, a protein essential for recognizing and repairing harmful DNA changes caused by tobacco smoke. They found that low levels of XPC — commonly seen in lung cancer patients — made lung cells less capable of repairing DNA. This made the cells unstable and more likely to become cancerous. These changes were most pronounced in normal lung cells, suggesting that the earliest stages of disease occur before cancer is even detected.

The findings support a “double hit” model, where both cigarette smoke and reduced DNA repair work together to drive cancer development. In laboratory experiments, normal lung cells with low XPC levels showed more damage and cell death after cigarette smoke exposure. By contrast, lung cancer cells were more resistant to smoke damage, even when XPC was low, indicating that critical changes had likely occurred earlier in the disease process.

“Our study suggests that cigarette smoke exposure leads to decreased XPC mRNA expression, exacerbates total and oxidative DNA damage, hinders NER, and may contribute to lung cancer development.”

The study also showed that DNA repair ability declined significantly in healthy cells after smoke exposure, but this effect was not seen in cancer cells. In addition, the researchers confirmed that XPC gene activity was lower in actual lung tumor tissue compared to nearby healthy lung tissue. This pattern was consistent across both adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, the two main types of NSCLC.

These results add to our understanding of how lung cancer begins at the molecular level. By showing how cigarette smoke and reduced DNA repair combine to create genetic instability, the research points toward new strategies for prevention. A better understanding of XPC’s role could help identify high-risk individuals and inform future efforts to stop lung cancer before it begins.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28724

Correspondence to - Catherine R. Sears - crufatto@iu.edu

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Keywords - cancer, DNA repair, DNA damage, lung adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group C (XPC)

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Oncotarget

Cigarette Smoke and DNA Repair Deficiency Drive Lung Cancer Development

BUFFALO, NY — June 10, 2025 — A new #research perspective was #published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 5, on May 5, 2025, titled “Methylation clocks for evaluation of anti-aging interventions.”

In this perspective article, Dr. Josh Mitteldorf explores how current epigenetic clocks—used to estimate biological age—might mislead scientists trying to evaluate anti-aging therapies. The paper challenges a widespread assumption: that all changes in DNA methylation with age are equally valid for measuring biological decline. Dr. Mitteldorf proposes that failing to distinguish between different types of epigenetic changes could lead to inaccurate conclusions, potentially even favoring treatments that reduce repair processes rather than extend healthy lifespan.

Methylation clocks have become a popular tool in aging research. These clocks use patterns of DNA methylation, a form of gene regulation that changes over time, to predict a person’s biological age. Because human aging trials are long and expensive, these clocks offer a faster way to evaluate whether a therapy slows or reverses aging. However, this article warns that not all methylation changes are equal in meaning or effect.

The perspective identifies two main categories of methylation changes that occur with age. One type, called 'Type 1,' seems to support the idea that aging may be programmed, with gene activity changing in ways that could cause damage, such as more inflammation or increased cell loss. The second type, “Type 2,” involves increased gene activity aimed at repairing age-related damage. If a therapy reduces the activity of Type 2 genes, it may appear to slow aging while actually interfering with the body’s repair response.

“Paradoxically, an intervention that “sets back” the body’s methylation clock to a younger state is shutting off vital repair mechanisms, so it is likely inimical to health and longevity.” 

This distinction is important because most methylation clocks, including popular models like GrimAge, do not separate these two types. As a result, they may incorrectly suggest that a treatment is reversing aging when it is only suppressing beneficial repair mechanisms. According to Dr. Mitteldorf, this could lead researchers to draw the wrong conclusions and unintentionally slow down progress in anti-aging research.

The author also addresses a growing trend in the scientific community that aims to explain age-related methylation as random drift rather than directed change. In a pilot analysis using publicly available data, Dr. Mitteldorf attempted to construct a clock based purely on stochastic, or random, changes. The results showed a weak correlation with age, suggesting that random drift is an unreliable basis for assessing biological aging.

Dr. Mitteldorf argues that most age-related methylation changes are likely intentional and regulated, rather than random. If so, epigenetic clocks must be refined to reflect the biological purpose behind methylation shifts. Without distinguishing between changes that indicate damage and those that indicate repair, current clocks may not only mismeasure age but also misguide intervention strategies.

This article highlights the urgent need to improve how methylation data are interpreted before such clocks can reliably assess anti-aging therapies. A clearer understanding of these molecular patterns could help reshape the future of aging research and therapy evaluation.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206245

Corresponding author - Josh Mitteldorf - aging.advice@gmail.com

To learn more about the journal, please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com.

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Aging (Aging-US)

Why Epigenetic Clocks May Fail to Measure Anti-Aging Effects

BUFFALO, NY — June 10, 2025 — The Ride for Roswell, one of the USA’s largest cycling events supporting cancer research, returns to Buffalo on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Hosted annually by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, this community-wide event brings together riders, volunteers, and supporters to raise funds for cancer research, celebrate survivors, and honor those lost to the disease. 

Among the returning participants is the Open Access Team, led by team captain Sergei Kurenov. This year, the team is once again proudly sponsored by Impact Journals, the publisher of open access journals Aging, Oncotarget, Genes & Cancer, and Oncoscience.

“For the last 10 years, I have continuously participated in the Ride for Roswell in honor of those who have bravely fought cancer,” said Kurenov. “This journey is deeply personal for me. My father battled cancer, and some of my closest friends have fought through prostate and lung cancer with incredible strength.”

This year, the Open Access Team rides in honor of Dr. Mikhail (Misha) Blagosklonny, a visionary scientist who dedicated his career to advancing cancer and aging research. As the founding Editor-in-Chief of Aging, Oncotarget and Oncoscience, Dr. Blagosklonny was a pioneer of open-access publishing. His groundbreaking work on mTOR signaling and rapamycin transformed our understanding of cancer biology and healthy lifespan extension.

The 2025 Ride for Roswell features nine route options, ranging from 4 to 100 miles, all beginning at the University at Buffalo North Campus. Riders from across the USA and beyond are invited to participate and make a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer.

This ride is more than just a journey on two wheels—it’s a commitment to building a future where no one has to fear a cancer diagnosis. There is still time to support the Open Access Team in the 2025 Ride for Roswell. Whether by donating, joining the team, or sharing their story, every action brings us closer to better treatments, deeper understanding, and, ultimately, a cure.

Visit the Open Access Team page - https://give.roswellpark.org/site/TR/SpecialEvents/General?team_id=23320&pg=team&fr_id=2020

To learn more about the journal, please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us on social media at:

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Aging Sponsors Open Access Team in 2025 Ride for Roswell

BUFFALO, NY — June 10, 2025 — The Ride for Roswell, one of the USA’s largest cycling events supporting cancer research, returns to Buffalo on Saturday, June 28, 2025. Hosted annually by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, this community-wide event brings together riders, volunteers, and supporters to raise funds for cancer research, celebrate survivors, and honor those lost to the disease. 

Among the returning participants is the Open Access Team, led by team captain Sergei Kurenov. This year, the team is once again proudly sponsored by Impact Journals, the publisher of open access journals Oncotarget, Aging, Genes & Cancer, and Oncoscience.

“For the last 10 years, I have continuously participated in the Ride for Roswell in honor of those who have bravely fought cancer,” said Kurenov. “This journey is deeply personal for me. My father battled cancer, and some of my closest friends have fought through prostate and lung cancer with incredible strength.”

This year, the Open Access Team rides in honor of Dr. Mikhail (Misha) Blagosklonny, a visionary scientist who dedicated his career to advancing cancer and aging research. As the founding Editor-in-Chief of Oncotarget, Aging, and Oncoscience, Dr. Blagosklonny was a pioneer of open-access publishing. His groundbreaking work on mTOR signaling and rapamycin transformed our understanding of cancer biology and healthy lifespan extension.

The 2025 Ride for Roswell features nine route options, ranging from 4 to 100 miles, all beginning at the University at Buffalo North Campus. Riders from across the USA and beyond are invited to participate and make a meaningful impact in the fight against cancer.

This ride is more than just a journey on two wheels—it’s a commitment to building a future where no one has to fear a cancer diagnosis. There is still time to support the Open Open Access Team in the 2025 Ride for Roswell. Whether by donating, joining the team, or sharing their story, every action brings us closer to better treatments, deeper understanding, and, ultimately, a cure.

Visit the Open Access Team page - https://give.roswellpark.org/site/TR/SpecialEvents/General?team_id=23320&pg=team&fr_id=2020

About Oncotarget 

Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science.

Oncotarget is indexed and archived by PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central, Scopus, EMBASE, META (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative) (2018-2022), and Dimensions (Digital Science).

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Oncotarget Sponsors Open Access Team in 2025 Ride for Roswell

Are you an “Architect” or a “Scrounger” in your writing process, or maybe a little bit of both? Join Chihiro and me to talk about designing a holistic writing practice that meets your style and deadlines, especially for interdisciplinary research methods. Chihiro also talks about her efforts to promote wellness resources for graduate students and healing patients in hospital settings through music therapy.  While your research doesn’t have to tie directly into real-world applications, Chihiro’s study of ancient medical notions of holistic health emphasizes the importance of weaving architectural and musical beauty into places of care.

Designing a Writing Process that Fits and Heals You, with Chihiro Larissa

BUFFALO, NY - June 11, 2025 – A new #research paper was #published in Volume 16 of Oncotarget on May 29, 2025, titled “Durable complete response in leptomeningeal disease of EGFR mutated non-small cell lung cancer to amivantamab, an EGFR-MET receptor bispecific antibody, after progressing on osimertinib.”

A team led by first author Jinah Kim, from the University of Vermont Medical Center, and corresponding author Young Kwang Chae, from the Feinberg School of Medicine, reports a clinical case in which a patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying rare EGFR mutations responded remarkably to amivantamab after other treatments had failed. The patient experienced a complete resolution of brain and spinal fluid metastases, suggesting that amivantamab may be a viable option for patients with uncommon genetic profiles and limited therapy options.

Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Patients with NSCLC who have rare mutations in the EGFR gene often face limited treatment options and poor outcomes, especially when the disease spreads to the brain or spinal fluid. This case involved a 67-year-old man diagnosed with NSCLC who had two rare EGFR mutations—G719A and A289V. After disease progression on osimertinib and other therapies, the patient began amivantamab monotherapy.

Within six weeks, his lung tumor shrank by over 30 percent. By six months, imaging confirmed the disappearance of brain metastases and leptomeningeal disease, a serious condition affecting the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. Blood tests showed no detectable cancer-related mutations, and the patient, previously wheelchair-bound, regained the ability to walk and perform daily activities. This response has been sustained for more than 19 months.

 “Treatment produced a durable response over 19 months, including a 32.2% reduction in tumor size at six weeks, and complete resolution of brain metastases and LMD by six months.”

Amivantamab is a bispecific antibody that targets EGFR and MET, two key drivers of tumor growth. While it is approved in combination regimens for common EGFR mutations, its effectiveness as a single agent in rare mutations or in treating brain metastases remains largely unproven. This case challenges the assumption that large antibody drugs cannot cross the blood-brain barrier and suggests that amivantamab may have potential in managing central nervous system involvement. Further research is needed to clarify how the drug achieves these effects and to explore its broader use in patients with rare EGFR mutations and limited treatment options.

This case highlights three key findings: amivantamab may be effective against rare EGFR mutations, can be used as monotherapy, and may overcome the challenges of the blood-brain barrier. Although based on a single patient, the results provide encouraging evidence to support further investigation of amivantamab in treating difficult-to-manage forms of NSCLC.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28730

Correspondence to - Young Kwang Chae - young.chae@northwestern.edu

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJX3rmtH7h8

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Keywords - cancer, amivantamab, monotherapy, rare EGFR mutation, NSCLC, leptomeningeal disease

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Rare Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Brain Metastases Responds to Amivantamab Monotherapy

As we age, our brains become more sensitive to stress and disease. A recent study sheds light on a lesser-known risk: reduced oxygen levels. The study, titled “Defining the hypoxic thresholds that trigger blood-brain barrier disruption: the effect of age” and recently published as the cover for Volume 17, Issue 5 of Aging (Aging-US), found that low oxygen—also called hypoxia—can harm the aging brain by disrupting the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This damage may contribute to cognitive decline, memory problems, and an increased risk of dementia.

Understanding Hypoxia in the Brain

The brain relies on a steady supply of oxygen to stay healthy. When oxygen levels fall—a condition known as hypoxia—the brain undergoes changes to adapt. These changes include the remodeling of blood vessels and, importantly, a weakening of the blood-brain barrier. The BBB acts as a filter, protecting brain tissue from harmful substances. When it breaks down, it can lead to inflammation, brain cell damage, and cognitive issues.

Hypoxia is common in older adults, especially those with conditions like sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure, and asthma. That is why understanding the connection between low oxygen and the aging brain is crucial for preventing long-term neurological damage.

Full blog - https://aging-us.org/2025/06/oxygen-deprivation-and-the-aging-brain-a-hidden-trigger-for-cognitive-decline/

Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206241

Corresponding author - Richard Milner - rmilner@sdbri.org

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Keywords - aging, blood-brain barrier integrity, endothelial, proliferation, microglia, chronic mild hypoxia, hypoxic threshold

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Oxygen Deprivation and the Aging Brain: A Hidden Trigger for Cognitive Decline

BUFFALO, NY — June 12, 2025 — A new #research paper was #published in Aging (Aging-US) Volume 17, Issue 5, on May 3, 2025, titled “APOE genotype and biological age impact inter-omic associations related to bioenergetics.”

In this study, led by first author Dylan Ellis and corresponding author Noa Rappaport from the Institute for Systems Biology, researchers discovered that different versions of the APOE gene—particularly ε2 and ε4—are linked to metabolic patterns associated with aging and Alzheimer’s disease risk. Both variants were linked to increased levels of diacylglycerols, a type of fat molecule connected to insulin resistance and inflammation, suggesting shared disruptions in how the body regulates energy.

The research team analyzed data from over 2,200 adults without an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, exploring how APOE genotypes influence biological age, a measure of health that reflects how quickly or slowly someone is aging at a cellular level. They found that the same metabolic disturbances seen in ε2 carriers were also present in people considered biologically older, revealing unexpected overlap between genetic risk and aging-related metabolic changes.

To examine these connections in more detail, the researchers used a multi-omics approach, combining blood-based metabolism and protein data, gut bacteria analysis from stool samples, and clinical chemistry data. This method allowed them to map how genetic differences and biological aging affect the body’s energy systems. They observed altered connections between glucose metabolism, inflammatory markers, and key molecules that play roles in energy production, indicating early disruptions that could contribute to age-related diseases.

One of the study’s surprising findings was that the ε2 variant, usually associated with longer life and reduced Alzheimer’s risk, showed metabolic traits similar to those found in insulin-resistant individuals. This suggests that ε2 may carry metabolic disadvantages earlier in life, with its protective effects becoming more pronounced later. Conversely, ε4—linked to greater Alzheimer’s risk—may exert its influence based on interactions with lifestyle factors like diet, sex, and overall health status.

“‘Omics association patterns of ε2-carriers and increased biological age were also counter-intuitively similar, displaying significantly increased associations between insulin resistance markers and energy-generating pathway metabolites.”

By identifying these shared biological signatures, this study offers a new framework for understanding how genes and metabolism work together to influence aging. These findings could support more personalized health strategies aimed at delaying biological aging and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. As aging populations grow worldwide, understanding these pathways is essential to improving healthspan.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206243

Corresponding author - Noa Rappaport - noa.rappaport@isbscience.org

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Keywords - aging, apolipoprotein E (APOE), biological age, metabolism, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), insulin resistance

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APOE Gene Variants Linked to Metabolic Signatures of Aging and Alzheimer's Risk

Oncotarget is a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal. Papers are published continuously within yearly volumes in their final and complete form and then quickly released to Pubmed.

Oncotarget is now indexed by MEDLINE, PubMed and PMC/PubMed.

Read about the Oncotarget Scientific Integrity Process: https://www.oncotarget.com/scientific_integrity/

Oncotarget Sponsors Open Access Team in 2025 Ride for Roswell

Oncotarget Podcast

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