Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40969122›Full record

ReviewCell proliferation2026

Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Major Hallmarks of Cancer.

Chen-Chen Xie, Ting Wang, Xin-Ran Liu, Yan Wang, Qin Dang, Tian Ding, Jia-Qi Xu, Xian-Jun Yu, Hai Lin, Xiao-Wu Xu and 1 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cell proliferation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing 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

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
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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

11 authors.

Chen-Chen XieDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
Ting WangDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
Xin-Ran LiuDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
Yan WangDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
Qin DangDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2521-625X
Tian DingDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
Jia-Qi XuDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Digestive and Vascular Surgery Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Xian-Jun YuDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
Hai LinDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Digestive and Vascular Surgery Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.
Xiao-Wu XuDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
Yi QinDepartment of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9804-202X

Funding

Clinical Research Project of Health Industry of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission 20234Y0119Excellence Project of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission 20224Z0006Foundation of the Shanghai Anti-Cancer Association SACA-CY21C03National Natural Science Foundation of China 82172577National Natural Science Foundation of China 82172948National Natural Science Foundation of China 82173281National Natural Science Foundation of China 82173282National Natural Science Foundation of China 82303102National Natural Science Foundation of China 82373006National Natural Science Foundation of China 82472791National Natural Science Foundation of China U21A20374Sailing Project of the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality 22YF1409000Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality YDZX20243100002003Shanghai Anticancer Association SOAR PROJECT SACA-AX202317Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission 20ZR1471100
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The malignant transformation of cancer cells is underpinned by the dysregulation of essential cellular processes, including genome stability maintenance, DNA repair, transcriptional control and signal transduction. These processes are not randomly distributed but are spatiotemporally coordinated through dynamic molecular assemblies. Recent advances have highlighted the pivotal role of biomolecular condensates, membraneless compartments formed via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), in compartmentalising and regulating these key functions. LLPS enables the concentration and organisation of proteins and nucleic acids, creating distinct biochemical environments that facilitate cellular decision-making. Importantly, aberrant phase separation has been increasingly implicated in the acquisition of cancer hallmarks, such as sustained proliferative signalling, resistance to cell death and immune evasion. In this review, we summarise the physicochemical principles of LLPS, examine its emerging roles in oncogenic transformation and discuss the therapeutic potential of targeting phase separation in cancer. Our findings highlight LLPS as a novel and versatile regulatory layer in tumour biology and an emerging frontier in precision oncology.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsAnimalsCell Transformation, NeoplasticDNA RepairHumansPhase SeparationSignal Transductionbiomolecular condensatescancercancer therapeuticsdysregulated stateliquid–liquid phase separation

Identifiers

PMID40969122
PMCPMC12877967

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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 Socratic graph.