The Role of Circulating Tumor Cells in Colorectal Cancer

Dear Colleagues,

The detection and characterization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) represent a growing area of research in the treatment and management of colorectal cancer (CRC). These cells, released from the primary tumor and metastases into the bloodstream, offer a direct view of tumor behavior and can provide clinically relevant information for monitoring disease progression and predicting therapeutic response. This Special Issue focuses on new developments in the biology and detection technologies of CTCs in CRC, exploring their potential as biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and personalized therapies. Contributions will include studies that delve into the molecular mechanisms underlying CTC dissemination, the genetic and phenotypic profiling of CTCs, and innovative approaches for their identification through advanced imaging and sequencing techniques.

I am pleased to invite you to contribute to an upcoming Special Issue of Cancers titled "The Role of Circulating Tumor Cells in Colorectal Cancer". This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research and reviews that explore the role of circulating tumor cells in colorectal cancer, aligning with the journal's focus on advancing translational cancer research. Articles are invited that deepen our understanding of CTC biology and detection methods in CRC and highlight their clinical utility in diagnostics, prognostics, and personalized treatment planning.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Advanced technologies for CTC detection and characterization in CRC;
• Genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic profiling of CTCs in CRC patients;
• Mechanisms of CTC dissemination and their role in CRC metastasis;
• The use of CTCs as biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic response;
• Liquid biopsy applications for targeted, personalized CRC management.

I look forward to receiving your contributions and to working together to advance this exciting field.

Dr. Chiara Nicolazzo
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 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. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2900 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.