Genetic and Molecular Characterization of Lung Cancer

Dear Colleagues,

Historically, thoracic oncology relied on histology—essentially identifying if a tumor was "small cell" or "non-small cell" based on its physical structure. Today, that approach is seen as a starting point rather than the finish line. The field is now a molecularly guided discipline, where treatment decisions are dictated by the tumor's "genetic fingerprint." Instead of treating a broad category of patients with the same chemotherapy, doctors use Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) to identify specific drivers of the disease. 

Driven by advancements in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), we have moved beyond broad classifications to identify the specific mutations, rearrangements, and copy number variations that fuel tumor progression. Today, clinical management is inextricably linked to these genomic markers, which serve as the blueprint for targeted therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and immune checkpoint inhibitors. 

We seek original research and reviews investigating the molecular foundations of thoracic malignancies, specifically focusing on the identification of oncogenic drivers and the biochemical mechanisms governing metastatic transformation. We welcome studies on next-generation precision therapeutics, including the clinical efficacy of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) and the targeted delivery systems of Antibody–Drug Conjugates (ADCs). Furthermore, we place a significant emphasis on the regulatory role of microRNA (miRNA) as a "master switch" in gene expression, particularly in how these molecules modulate the therapeutic response, influence drug resistance, and reshape the tumor microenvironment to affect treatment outcomes.

Dr. Sk Kayum Alam
Guest Editor

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