Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.2
4.8
Journals
Biomolecules
Special Issues
Lung Cancer: From Molecular Basis to Therapy
share announcement

Lung Cancer: From Molecular Basis to Therapy

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 1011

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Paolo Borghetti

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Radiation Therapy Unit, “Spedali Civili” University Hospital of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
Interests: lung cancer; thymic cancer; mesothelioma; SBRT; VMAT; immunotherapy; concomitant treatments
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Significant improvements have been made in the last decade, enabling a significant increase in survival. However, lung cancer remains a complex and heterogeneous disease, with a molecular basis that varies from individual to individual, and prognosis and disease control are still poor in many cases. Understanding the molecular basis is crucial in advancing diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. This Special Issue will explore the molecular pathways behind lung cancer, its main genetic mutations, and the latest advances in therapy options. Our aim in launching this Special Issue is to emphasize that research is crucial in overcoming challenges related to drug resistance, early diagnosis, and personalized treatment.

Dr. Paolo Borghetti
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Biomolecules 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

  • biomarkers
  • prognostic factors
  • predictive factors
  • genetic mutations and oncogenes
  • tumor suppressor genes
  • immune checkpoints and PD-L1
  • proteomic
  • genomic
  • radiomic

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 487 KB  
Article
Role of Cytokines in Oligometastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Stereotactic Radiation Therapy: An Observational Pilot Study
by Giorgio Facheris, Alessio Bruni, Valerio Nardone, Andrea Emanuele Guerini, Lorenzo Granello, Anna Gogna, Luca Triggiani, Michela Buglione di Monale e Bastia, Elisa D’Angelo, Stefania Bettelli, Francesca Di Pressa, Antonella Colosini, Giorgio Biasiotto, Roberto Bresciani and Paolo Borghetti
Biomolecules 2026, 16(3), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16030423 - 13 Mar 2026
Viewed by 612
Abstract
Introduction: Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) is increasingly used in oligometastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is known to elicit systemic immune effects, although the underlying mechanisms remain not fully understood. Methods: In this prospective pilot study, we evaluated plasma cytokine variations in 19 patients [...] Read more.
Introduction: Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) is increasingly used in oligometastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and is known to elicit systemic immune effects, although the underlying mechanisms remain not fully understood. Methods: In this prospective pilot study, we evaluated plasma cytokine variations in 19 patients with oligometastatic or oligoprogressive NSCLC undergoing SRT. Peripheral blood samples were collected before treatment (T0) and one month after SRT (T1) and the concentrations of nine cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A and TNF-α) were quantified using a multiplex Luminex assay. Non-parametric tests and Cox regression models were used to investigate associations between cytokine levels, clinical variables, systemic treatments, and survival outcomes. SRT induced significant post-treatment increases in IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-6, consistent with systemic pro-inflammatory activation and T-cell stimulation. Cytokine dynamics were influenced by patient- and tumor-related factors: female sex was associated with higher IL-2 and TNF-α levels; oncogene-addicted tumors showed lower IL-6 levels; and oligoprogressive disease exhibited attenuated cytokine variations compared with metachronous oligometastatic disease. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors were associated with globally reduced cytokine levels and blunted IL-1/IL-2 changes, whereas patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors displayed higher IL-2 and IL-6 concentrations and greater post-SRT increases in IFN-γ. Oncogene-addicted status and IL-12 variation emerged as independent predictors of overall survival and a composite model integrating these variables significantly stratified prognosis. Conclusions: These findings suggest that SRT triggers measurable systemic immune activation in oligometastatic NSCLC, which is further shaped by tumor biology, disease burden, and concomitant systemic therapies. Although limited by the small sample size, this study supports the feasibility and potential utility of cytokine profiling to refine patient selection and guide biomarker-driven combinations of SRT with targeted and immune-based treatments, warranting validation in larger prospective cohorts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Lung Cancer: From Molecular Basis to Therapy)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-1
Back to TopTop