The article “The emerging role of pyroptosis in pediatric cancers: from mechanism to therapy” written by Wang Hua, an undergraduate enrolled in 2018 at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, was published online in the internationally renowned journal Journal of Hematology & Oncology (JCR Q1 and CAS Q1, IF: 23.168). Wang Hua, enrolled in the education program of Clinical Medicine (Excellent Doctor Class) in 2018, is the first author. Prof. Li Zhihong and Associate Researcher Tu Chao from the Department of Orthopaedics of the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University and the Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Model and Individualized Medicine are the co-corresponding authors. The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University is the only corresponding affiliation.

Apoptosis resistance is one of the important mechanisms of tumor drug resistance, and the study on nonapoptotic regulatory cell death for tumor cells has been a hot spot in cancer therapy. Recent studies have shown that different forms of pyroptosis are of great significance in the therapy of pediatric cancers such as osteosarcoma. Moderate pyroptosis can regulate the tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis; however, excessive or uncontrolled pyroptosis may lead to tissue damage, inflammation, or even cytokine release syndrome, which facilitates tumor progression or recurrence. This article describes the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis in pediatric cancers, its intrinsic association with other different programmed cell death and a variety of possible strategies to inhibit pediatric cancers through activating pyroptosis pathways in details, and discusses the existing research limitations, challenges and future prospects, providing new ideas for further study on the role of pyroptosis in the development, progression and treatment resistance of pediatric cancers.

With the support of the Extracurricular Scientific Research Training Program for Medical Undergraduates of Central South University, Wang Hua joined the Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Model and Individualized Research in his third year. He has carried out literature research, picture &table design and paper writing under the guidance of Prof. Li Zhihong’s team for nearly 1 year. This article is the one with the highest impact factor currently among SCI papers published by undergraduates enrolled onto an education program of Clinical Medicine in 2018 at Xiangya School of Medicine as independent first author. This research project is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students of Central South University, and is an active response to the call of the Excellent Doctor Training Program in the “Six Excellence and One Top-notch” Program of the Ministry of Education.

It is known that Prof. Li Zhihong’s team has been committed to the research on comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors, pathogenesis of oncogenes and cytokines in bone tumors and exploration of molecular mechanisms of tumor drug resistance as well as the development of individualized tumor models for a long time. The team closely combines clinical practice and basic research in order to elucidate the molecular mechanism of bone tumor treatment resistance and promote the development of basic research and clinical application of bone tumors.

Introduction to Journal of Hematology & Oncology:

Journal of Hematology & Oncology is a journal of Chinese American Hematologist Oncologist Network (CAHON), which mainly covers high-quality research in various fields of hematological system and solid tumors. The journal, with an impact factor of 23.168 in 2022, is an international authoritative journal of CAS Q1.

Link to the Article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36209102/