Ultrastructure and Function in In Vitro Cancer Models: From Morphology to Mechanism
A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 July 2026 | Viewed by 592
Special Issue Editors
Interests: scanning electron microscopy; transmission electron microscopy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: breast cancers; targeted therapies; cell biology; endocytosis and trafficking; autophagy; electron microscopy; light microscopy; HER2/ERBB2 receptor; lysosomes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue aims to bridge a critical gap by applying ultrastructural insights to functionally validate and mechanistically decode in vitro cancer models. While the existing literature often emphasizes genetic or molecular profiling, this Special Issue will highlight how high-resolution imaging moves beyond descriptive morphology to provide mechanistic explanations for phenomena like tumor heterogeneity, stromal crosstalk, and therapy response. We welcome studies that correlate structural alterations with functional phenotypes, thereby offering a complementary perspective that is essential for comprehensive and validated cancer modeling.
We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue titled "Ultrastructure and Function in In Vitro Cancer Models: From Morphology to Mechanism", hosted in Biology (MDPI). This Special Issue aims to explore the ultrastructural features of cancer in vitro models, including organoids, spheroids, and other advanced 3D culture systems, using high-resolution imaging techniques such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Focused Ion Beam (FIB), and related modalities.
The focus of this Special Issue lies in enhancing our understanding of the subcellular and nanostructural hallmarks of cancer, as revealed by in vitro models. The scope includes both technical advancements and biological insights, encouraging submissions that combine morphological characterization with functional interpretation, particularly within tumor heterogeneity, cancer–stroma interaction, and therapy response studies.
By collecting original research, reviews, and methodological papers, this Special Issue seeks to supplement the current literature by showcasing how ultrastructural analysis can contribute to model validation, disease modeling, and therapeutic assessment. We welcome contributions that push the boundaries of electron microscopy and related techniques to shed light on the architectural complexity of cancer in vitro.
Dr. Michela Relucenti
Dr. Katia Cortese
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- cancer
- organoids
- spheroids
- transmission electron microscopy
- scanning electron microscopy
- focused ion beam (FIB)
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