Advances in Immunotherapy, Biomarkers, and Clinical Practice in Pleural Mesothelioma and Thoracic Cancers
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 158
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Pleural mesothelioma and thoracic cancers are among the most challenging malignancies, characterized by aggressive biological behavior, limited therapeutic options, and a persistently poor prognosis. In recent years, immunotherapy has significantly expanded the treatment landscape of thoracic oncology, providing meaningful clinical benefits for certain patients. However, primary and acquired resistance, heterogeneous responses, and a lack of robust predictive biomarkers continue to limit its overall impact. In parallel, advances in molecular biology have highlighted the critical role of biomarkers, including somatic and germline alterations, in refining diagnosis, prognostication, and therapeutic decision-making. The integration of biomarker-driven strategies into daily clinical practice remains uneven, influenced by technical, organizational, and cultural factors within healthcare systems. This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive overview of current advances in immunotherapy, biomarker research, and real-world clinical practice in malignant pleural mesothelioma and thoracic cancers. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and short communications addressing translational and clinical aspects, including mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance, the development and validation of predictive biomarkers, genetic testing strategies, and studies exploring clinical decision-making and implementation in routine practice. Bridging biological insights and real-world evidence, this Special Issue will foster a multidisciplinary perspective and support the optimization of personalized treatment strategies for patients with thoracic malignancies.
Dr. Mario Occhipinti
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
- pleural mesothelioma
- thoracic cancers
- immunotherapy
- biomarkers
- immunotherapy resistance
- molecular and genetic testing
- precision oncology
- real-world clinical practice
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