Prevention, Screening and Early Detection of Cancer

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Causes, Screening and Diagnosis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2025 | Viewed by 1870

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
The Integrated Cancer Prevention Center, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
Interests: liquid biopsy; cancer; screening; prevention; early detection
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Integrated Cancer Prevention Center, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
Interests: liquid biopsy; cancer; screening; prevention; early detection; antibody engineering, gene therapy, exosomes, drug development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, there have been major advancements in understanding cancer in the fields of pathophysiology, pathology, tumor genetic, targeted therapy and precision medicine. Yet, by all means, the best therapy of cancer is prevention or at least screening and early detection. Prevention focuses on lifestyle modifications and risk factor reduction, such as avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy diet and protecting against harmful UV radiation. Screening involves testing asymptomatic individuals for early signs of cancer, allowing for timely intervention before the disease progresses. This Special Issue will focus on innovative research and advancements aimed at improving cancer outcomes through early diagnosis and preventive strategies. It will highlight the importance of screening tools and programs, biomarkers, imaging techniques and genetic tools in identifying cancers at their earliest, most treatable stages. This Special Issue also explores risk assessment methods, lifestyle modifications and public health initiatives to prevent cancer development.

Prof. Dr. Nadir Arber
Dr. Shiran Shapira
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • cancer prevention
  • screening
  • early detection
  • risk factors
  • lifestyle modification
  • biomarkers
  • genetic testing
  • lifestyle interventions
  • cancer risk factors
  • liquid biopsy
  • pan-cancer screening tests

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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13 pages, 2087 KiB  
Article
The Diagnostic Accuracy of the Paris System for Reporting Upper Urinary Tract Cytology: The Atypical Urothelial Cell Conundrum
by Mohamed A. Mansour, Luka Ozretić and Soha El Sheikh
Cancers 2025, 17(7), 1097; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17071097 - 25 Mar 2025
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Abstract
Background: The diagnosis of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in cytological specimens is challenging, particularly the designation of atypical urothelial cells (AUC). The application of the Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS) has improved the performance of lower tract urothelial carcinoma [...] Read more.
Background: The diagnosis of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) in cytological specimens is challenging, particularly the designation of atypical urothelial cells (AUC). The application of the Paris System for Reporting Urinary Cytology (TPS) has improved the performance of lower tract urothelial carcinoma specimens but has shown variable results in upper tract specimens, which are frequently instrumented. Methods: This retrospective study analysed upper tract selective cytology samples from January to December 2023. Samples were classified under TPS 2.0 categories. Histological specimens were used where available as the gold standard to calculate statistical metrics including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV). Results: Out of 122 samples, 12.2% were considered non-diagnostic or insufficient, with 13.1% designated as Non-high-grade urothelial carcinoma (N-HGUC), 53.3% as atypical urothelial cells (AUC) and 21.3% as positive/suspicious for HGUC. Histopathological correlation was available for 48.7% of cases. The risk of malignancy was: NHGUC (0%), AUC (47%) and HGUC (77.7%). The highest PPV was for HGUC (78%), with a diagnostic accuracy of 81.3% and specificity of 88%. In contrast, AUC had a PPV of 47% in instrumented and non-instrumented samples, rising to 58% in combination with the HGUC category. Conclusion: TPS 2.0 is an effective tool with excellent diagnostic accuracy for HGUC and in excluding malignancies in the N-HGUC category, but in our hands, the high rates of the AUC category, together with the low PPV, remain a major challenge and an obstacle to the correct stratification of patients with UTUC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention, Screening and Early Detection of Cancer)
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14 pages, 2078 KiB  
Article
Serum Metabolomics Study to Screen Potential Biomarkers of Lung Cancer Risk in High Natural Background Radiation Areas of Thailand: A Pilot Study
by Narongchai Autsavapromporn, Aphidet Duangya, Pitchayaponne Klunklin, Imjai Chitapanarux, Chutima Kranrod, Churdsak Jaikang, Tawachai Monum, Atchara Paemanee and Shinji Tokonami
Cancers 2024, 16(24), 4182; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16244182 - 15 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1199
Abstract
Background: Indoor radon is a significant risk factor for the development of LC. This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers for LC risk in high background radiation areas using a metabolomics approach (UHPLC-HRMS). Methods: Based on the indoor radon activity concentration measurements in [...] Read more.
Background: Indoor radon is a significant risk factor for the development of LC. This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers for LC risk in high background radiation areas using a metabolomics approach (UHPLC-HRMS). Methods: Based on the indoor radon activity concentration measurements in the Kong Khaek subdistrict, serum samples were collected from 45 nonsmoker or former smoker participants, comprising 15 LC patients and 30 matched healthy controls (low- and high-radon groups, respectively). Results: A total of 90 and 111 differential metabolites were identified in the LC group compared with the low- and high-radon groups, respectively, using criteria such as a variable importance in projection (VIP) of >1, a fold change (FC) of >1 or <0.5, and a p value of <0.05. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (an AUC of ≥ 0.9) indicated that 30 and 21 of these metabolites had the potential to serve as biomarkers of LC development in the low- and high-radon groups, respectively. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that D-sphingosine may have been a candidate biomarker associated with LC in both groups. Conclusions: Overall, this study provides new insights into metabolic biomarkers for screening LC development in high-risk individuals with prolonged exposure to indoor radon. Further large-scale studies are needed to validate our results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention, Screening and Early Detection of Cancer)
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Perspective
The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Cancer Prevention
by Stuart G. Baker and Edward R. Sauter
Cancers 2025, 17(9), 1491; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17091491 - 29 Apr 2025
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a major driver of tumorigenesis, yet its role in cancer prevention has received relatively little attention. Here, we discuss studies linking the ECM to cancer initiation with an emphasis on ECM stiffness and remodeling, pericytes, and hyaluronan (hyaluronic [...] Read more.
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a major driver of tumorigenesis, yet its role in cancer prevention has received relatively little attention. Here, we discuss studies linking the ECM to cancer initiation with an emphasis on ECM stiffness and remodeling, pericytes, and hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid). We then share our thoughts on how an ECM viewpoint could lead to new insights and directions in cancer-prevention research. Topics discussed include mouse experiments, clinical studies, risk factors, biomarkers for risk prediction or the early detection of cancer, surrogate endpoints, and targets for preventive interventions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Prevention, Screening and Early Detection of Cancer)
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