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Advances in Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Pathology: Molecular Insights and...
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Advances in Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Pathology: Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Implications

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Pathophysiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2025) | Viewed by 9453

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hisham Bahmad

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
Interests: breast pathology; gynecologic pathology; molecular pathology; biomarkers research
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Breast and gynecologic cancers represent a significant burden on global health. According to the most recent cancer statistics by Siegel et al., 2024, breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer account for 51% of all new diagnoses, with breast cancer alone accounting for 32% of cases, while uterine corpus cancer accounts for 7% of cases. Advances in molecular pathology and immunohistochemical techniques have revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment of these cancers, leading to improved patient outcomes. This Special Issue aims to explore contemporary research and advancements in breast and gynecologic pathology. We invite original research articles and reviews focusing on:

  • Diagnostic innovations in histopathology and cytopathology.
  • The role of molecular profiling and biomarkers in diagnosing and treating these tumors.
  • Pathophysiological insights into breast and gynecologic tumors.
  • Emerging therapeutic targets and resistance mechanisms.

By addressing these themes, this issue seeks to provide a comprehensive resource for pathologists, oncologists, and researchers dedicated to improving outcomes in breast and gynecologic cancer.

Dr. Hisham Bahmad
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.

Keywords

  • breast cancer
  • gynecologic malignancies
  • diagnostic pathology
  • molecular biomarkers
  • histopathology
  • cytopathology
  • prognostic markers
  • targeted therapy

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 7824 KB  
Article
Tumor Growth Rate Predicts Pathological Outcomes in Breast Fibroepithelial Tumors: A Pilot Study and Review of Literature
by Hisham F. Bahmad, Adriana Falcon, Abdallah Araji, Karem Gharzeddine, Youley Tjendra, Elena F. Brachtel, Natalie Pula, Nicole Brofman, Merce Jorda and Carmen Gomez-Fernández
Cancers 2026, 18(2), 269; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18020269 - 15 Jan 2026
Viewed by 804
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Fibroepithelial tumors (FETs) of the breast, including fibroadenomas (FAs) and phyllodes tumors (PTs), are among the most common breast masses encountered by breast radiologists and pathologists. Differentiating FAs from benign or borderline PTs can be challenging, especially on core biopsy specimens where [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Fibroepithelial tumors (FETs) of the breast, including fibroadenomas (FAs) and phyllodes tumors (PTs), are among the most common breast masses encountered by breast radiologists and pathologists. Differentiating FAs from benign or borderline PTs can be challenging, especially on core biopsy specimens where sampling limitations obscure key histologic features. Although imaging techniques provide useful diagnostic context, their predictive accuracy for pathologic classification remains limited. Methods: We conducted a single-institution pilot study to assess whether tumor growth rate (TGR) derived from serial imaging could serve as a noninvasive correlate of histopathologic outcomes in FETs. Thirty-two patients with serial imaging and subsequent surgical excision (January 2020–May 2025) were analyzed. TGR, expressed as percentage volume increase per month, was calculated from diameter-based volumetrics. Results: The cohort included conventional FA (n = 10), cellular FA (n = 4), benign PT (n = 8), borderline PT (n = 6), and malignant PT (n = 4). Malignant PTs demonstrated significantly higher median TGRs (180.4%/month) and shorter imaging intervals (1.1 months) compared with other groups (p = 0.0357 and p = 0.005, respectively). These large effect-size differences suggest clinically meaningful growth dynamics. Conclusions: As a pilot, this study establishes foundational variance and effect-size estimates for powering a multicenter trial. If validated, TGR may provide an objective, noninvasive metric to enhance preoperative risk stratification and guide management of breast FETs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Pathology: Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Implications)
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Review

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31 pages, 1505 KB  
Review
Molecular Targets of Cervical Cancer and Its Microenvironment: Advances in Treatment
by Joe Youssef, Amal El Masri, Maya Atwi, Elio Ibrahim, Zahraa Salhab, Mohamad Badawi, Fatima Nazar, Jad El Masri and Wassim Abou-Kheir
Cancers 2026, 18(4), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18040563 - 9 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1377
Abstract
Cervical cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women worldwide, with an elevated number of associated annual deaths, even though effective preventive vaccines are available. The pathophysiology of cervical cancer is well understood, with high-risk HPV as the main culprit [...] Read more.
Cervical cancer remains one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women worldwide, with an elevated number of associated annual deaths, even though effective preventive vaccines are available. The pathophysiology of cervical cancer is well understood, with high-risk HPV as the main culprit in carcinogenesis, in addition to cell proliferation signaling alteration and tumor immune microenvironment modulation. This understanding of the disease’s molecular signatures has led to the development of several lines of treatment, especially for advanced, recurrent, persistent, or metastatic disease. For instance, Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting angiogenesis factors, as well as Endostar, a recombinant human endostatin, have been studied and shown to improve survival in advanced disease. In contrast, anti-angiogenic Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors had limited efficacy. Furthermore, antibody-drug conjugates such as Tisotumab Vedotin allow to deliver a highly toxic payload directly to the tumor site by binding to tissue factor, which is highly expressed in cervical tumor cells. Moreover, immunotherapy has emerged as a key treatment modality in cervical cancer by inhibiting immune checkpoint inhibitors (PD1, PD-L1, and CTLA4). In addition, therapeutic vaccines have been investigated for the treatment of localized disease by enhancing cell-mediated immunity against E6 and E7 proteins. However, more robust clinical trials are needed before these vaccines can be effectively and safely used clinically. Finally, several ongoing trials are currently evaluating new therapeutic modalities and combinations of the currently available tools in the cervical cancer treatment armamentarium. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Pathology: Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Implications)
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24 pages, 7621 KB  
Review
Unique Molecular Alteration of Lobular Breast Cancer: Association with Pathological Classification, Tumor Biology and Behavior, and Clinical Management
by Huina Zhang and Yan Peng
Cancers 2025, 17(3), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17030417 - 27 Jan 2025
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6766
Abstract
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), accounting for up to 15% of diagnosed breast cancers, has garnered significant attention due to the loss of the epithelial cell–cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. This loss contributes to its distinct biological, morphological, and clinical characteristics compared to non-lobular breast [...] Read more.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), accounting for up to 15% of diagnosed breast cancers, has garnered significant attention due to the loss of the epithelial cell–cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin. This loss contributes to its distinct biological, morphological, and clinical characteristics compared to non-lobular breast cancers. The use of immunohistochemistry (IHC) for E-cadherin and/or the associated cadherin–catenin complex, such as p120-catenin and beta-catenin, in morphologically equivocal cases, has been increasingly adopted in pathology practice. This approach has substantially improved diagnostic accuracy, interobserver reproducibility, and the identification of new morphologic variants of ILC. ILCs exhibit unique tumor biology, which presents considerable challenges in clinical management, especially in preoperative imaging evaluation, surgical management, and neoadjuvant treatment. Recent advances in translational and clinical research have enhanced our understanding of ILC and have spurred the development of new clinical trials specifically targeting these cancers. This review highlights recent progress in various aspects of ILC, including its unique molecular alteration, pathological classification and diagnostic approach, tumor biology and behavior, key clinical management challenges, and ongoing clinical trials, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in diagnosing ILC radiologically and pathologically. The goal of this review is to provide an updated understanding of the tumor biology, clinical manifestations, and molecular landscape of ILC and to help refine current tumor classification and diagnosis, subsequently improving management strategies and overall outcomes for lobular carcinoma patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Breast and Gynecologic Cancer Pathology: Molecular Insights and Therapeutic Implications)
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