The Development and Application of Imaging Biomarkers in Cancer
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Therapy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2025 | Viewed by 928
Special Issue Editor
Interests: head and neck cancer; thyroid cancer; neuro-oncology; cancer imaging; radiomics; artificial intelligence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Imaging biomarkers have emerged as a cornerstone in the evolving landscape of oncology, offering unparalleled, non-invasive insights into the intricate dynamics of tumor biology, progression, and therapeutic responses. Advances in imaging modalities, including MRI, PET, CT, and hybrid technologies, have revolutionized cancer diagnostics by enabling the precise, quantitative evaluation of tumor characteristics at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels.
These biomarkers have proven instrumental in diverse clinical applications such as the detection, staging, prognosis, and real-time monitoring of cancer and therapeutic efficacy. Unlike conventional tissue biopsies that provide static and localized information, imaging biomarkers offer a comprehensive, dynamic perspective on the tumor microenvironment, capturing spatial and temporal heterogeneity across the entire tumor and metastatic sites. This capability is critical in understanding the complex interplay between cancer and its surrounding tissues.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning, and machine learning (ML) into imaging biomarker research is significantly enhancing their diagnostic and prognostic potential. AI-powered algorithms enable the automated extraction of high-dimensional data from medical images, while deep learning models uncover complex patterns and features that may be imperceptible to the human eye. These advancements are driving innovations in radiomics, predictive analytics, and decision support systems, paving the way for earlier cancer detection, more accurate risk stratification, and the adaptive monitoring of therapy.
Furthermore, imaging biomarkers are advancing the concept of personalized medicine. By characterizing tumor-specific features, such as metabolic activity, receptor expression, and perfusion, these biomarkers inform the selection and optimization of targeted therapies, enhancing the precision of treatment and minimizing adverse effects. Emerging innovations in radiogenomics are further bridging the gap between imaging and molecular biology, offering novel insights into genotype–phenotype correlations.
This Special Issue will explore the latest advancements and applications of imaging biomarkers in cancer, emphasizing their transformative role in the early detection, treatment, and long-term management of patients with cancer. Particular attention will be paid to AI-driven approaches, highlighting how these technologies are reshaping cancer care by making it more precise, efficient, and impactful. We aim to showcase the cutting-edge research, technical innovations, and clinical applications that are driving the future of oncology, toward the ultimate goal of enhanced patient outcomes and cancer prevention.
Dr. Abhishek Mahajan
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 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. 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
- imaging biomarkers
- oncology
- cancer imaging
- artificial intelligence
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