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Biomedicines
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Breast Cancer Research: Charting Future Directions
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Breast Cancer Research: Charting Future Directions

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Biology and Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 237

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Mohamad Adam Bujang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinical Research Centre, Sarawak General Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Kuching, Malaysia
Interests: data analyst; methodologist; precision medicine; quality of life

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Breast cancer remains one of the most prevalent and complex malignancies affecting people worldwide, especially women. As our understanding of its molecular, genetic, and environmental underpinnings deepens, so does the need to rethink diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and prevention strategies.

This Special Issue titled “Breast Cancer Research: Charting Future Directions” brings together cutting-edge studies, innovative methodologies, and forward-looking perspectives that aim to shape the next chapter in breast cancer research. It will highlight key advancements in personalized medicine, biomarkers for early detection, immunotherapy, and patient-reported outcomes.

By fostering dialogue between clinicians and researchers, this Special Issue aims to not only reflect the current state of the field but also inspire new inquiries that will accelerate discovery and improve outcomes for all individuals affected by breast cancer. We hope it will serve as both a resource and a catalyst for researchers committed to advancing the science and management of breast cancer well into the future.

Dr. Mohamad Adam Bujang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Biomedicines 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 2600 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

  • personalized medicine
  • biomarkers for early detection
  • immunotherapy
  • patient-reported outcomes

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 4699 KB  
Article
Comprehensive Analysis of JCHAIN as a Potential Prognostic Factor for Breast Cancer and an Indicator for Tumor Microenvironment
by Yaqin Shi, Li Lin, Xinyu Zhu, Mengyao Wu, Caihua Xu, Wei Li and Kai Chen
Biomedicines 2025, 13(10), 2366; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13102366 (registering DOI) - 26 Sep 2025
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer remains a predominant malignancy among females globally, and the tumor microenvironment (TME) exerts a pivotal role in its progression. Despite notable advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, resistance to conventional therapies persists as a critical hurdle, underscoring the necessity [...] Read more.
Background: Breast cancer remains a predominant malignancy among females globally, and the tumor microenvironment (TME) exerts a pivotal role in its progression. Despite notable advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, resistance to conventional therapies persists as a critical hurdle, underscoring the necessity of exploring TME-related prognostic biomarkers. Methods: To elucidate the role of the TME in breast cancer progression and identify potential prognostic biomarkers, we analyzed RNA-seq data from 1081 breast cancer cases and 99 normal controls to assess tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs) and stromal components. Differential gene expression analysis identified genes correlated with ImmuneScore and StromalScore. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, followed by univariate Cox regression to pinpoint survival-associated genes. JCHAIN, significantly linked to survival outcomes, was selected for further investigation. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and TIC correlation analyses were performed to explore its associations with immune pathways. Additionally, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and multiplexed immunofluorescence (mIF) were performed on 61 clinical samples. Results: High ImmuneScore was associated with improved survival. Joining chain of multimeric IgA and IgM (JCHAIN) expression was notably reduced in tumor tissues, with low expression correlating with poorer prognosis. GSEA highlighted immune-related pathways enriched in high JCHAIN expression groups. TIC analysis revealed positive correlations with CD8+ T cells and M1 macrophages. IHC and mIF validations further confirmed decreased JCHAIN protein expression in tumor tissues, and higher JCHAIN expression was associated with increased M1 macrophage density. Conclusions: JCHAIN serves as a promising prognostic biomarker in breast cancer, reflecting immune activity within the TME, providing valuable insights into immune-stromal interactions and the therapeutic potential of JCHAIN. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breast Cancer Research: Charting Future Directions)
17 pages, 427 KB  
Article
The Role of Diastolic Stress Echo and Myocardial Work in Early Detection of Cardiac Dysfunction in Women with Breast Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy
by Stefanos Sokratous, Michaelia Kyriakou, Elina Khattab, Alexia Alexandraki, Elisavet L. Fotiou, Nektaria Chrysanthou, Paraskevi Papakyriakopoulou, Ioannis Korakianitis, Anastasia Constantinidou and Nikolaos P. E. Kadoglou
Biomedicines 2025, 13(10), 2341; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13102341 - 25 Sep 2025
Abstract
Background: Anthracycline-based chemotherapy, while highly effective for breast cancer, poses a significant risk for chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD), mainly determined by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of speckle tracking analysis (STA) and Diastolic [...] Read more.
Background: Anthracycline-based chemotherapy, while highly effective for breast cancer, poses a significant risk for chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD), mainly determined by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of speckle tracking analysis (STA) and Diastolic Stress Test Echocardiography (DSTE) for the early detection of cardiac dysfunction either CTRCD or heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer and developed exertional dyspnea and/or fatigue during follow-up. Methods: In this prospective case–control study, 133 women receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy (with or without anti-HER2 therapy) (chemotherapy group-CTG) and 65 age-matched healthy women as the control group (CG) underwent resting echocardiographic assessment, including LVEF, global longitudinal strain (GLS), myocardial work indices, biomarkers assay (NT-proBNP, troponin, galectin-3) and DSTE at baseline. That assessment was repeated after 12 months in CTG. Results: In this prospective case—control study, 133 women receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy (with or without anti-HER2 therapy) were included. Based on the presence of CTRCD, they were further subdivided into a CTRCD subgroup (n = 37) and a CTRCD-free subgroup (n = 88). At the end of this study, CTG showed worse values of LVEF, GLS, myocardial work indices than baseline and CG (p < 0.05). Subgroup comparison (CTRCD vs. CTRCD-free) showed significant impairment in LVEF (53.60% vs. 62.60%, p < 0.001), GLS (–16.68% vs. −20.31%, p < 0.001), DSTE-derived tricuspid regurgitation maximum velocity (TRVmax) (3.05 vs. 2.31 m/s, p < 0.001) and elevated biomarkers (NT-proBNP: 200.06 vs. 61.49 pg/mL; troponin: 12.42 vs. 3.95 ng/L, p < 0.001) in the former subgroup. Regression analysis identified GLS, NT-proBNP, troponin, and TRVmax as independent predictors of CTRCD. Notably, a subgroup of CTRCD-free patients (n = 16) showed a high probability for HFpEF based on the HFA-PEFF score, with elevated GLS, NT-proBNP and DSTE-derived TRVmax compared to the rest of CTRCD-free patients and the CG (p < 0.001). Conclusions: STA and DSTE significantly outperform conventional LVEF in detecting subclinical cardiac dysfunction among women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. The combination of novel echocardiographic techniques and biomarkers may enable the detection of early CTRCD, including the under-estimated presence of HFpEF among breast cancer women with HF symptoms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breast Cancer Research: Charting Future Directions)
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