Metals in Cancer: From Molecular Mechanisms to Innovative Therapeutics
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Cancer Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 July 2026 | Viewed by 94
Special Issue Editor
Interests: metal toxicity; essential metals; chemical mixtures; mechanistic toxicology; toxicogenomics; oxidative stress; carcinogenesis; chemoprevention; neurobiology; endocrine disruptors
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
In recent years, the roles of metals in cancer biology have gained growing attention, revealing that both essential and toxic metals profoundly influence tumor development, progression, and therapeutic response. Metals such as iron, copper, zinc, and manganese are vital for normal cellular function, yet their dysregulation can promote tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Conversely, toxic metals—including cadmium, arsenic, nickel, lead, and hexavalent chromium—have been implicated in carcinogenesis through oxidative stress, genomic instability, inflammation, and epigenetic alterations.
Metal-based compounds such as cisplatin and other platinum derivatives remain cornerstones of anticancer chemotherapy, while newer metal complexes (including ruthenium-, gold-, and titanium-based agents) are emerging as promising candidates with distinct and innovative mechanisms of action. Moreover, metal homeostasis directly influences the tumor microenvironment, immune regulation, and metabolic reprogramming, thereby shaping both tumor progression and therapeutic resistance.
Despite remarkable progress, major challenges remain. The precise mechanisms through which metals contribute to cancer initiation, progression, immune modulation, and drug resistance are not yet fully understood. Elucidating these pathways offers opportunities to design innovative metal-based therapeutics and advanced drug delivery systems that enhance the efficacy of existing treatments, including immunotherapies and multimodal therapy.
The purpose of this Special Issue is to advance understanding of the complex and interrelated functions of metals in cancer biology, prevention, and therapy. We encourage studies focused on the following:
- Molecular and cellular mechanisms of metal-induced carcinogenesis;
- Roles of metal transporters and homeostasis in tumor development and progression;
- Toxic and environmental metal exposure in relation to cancer risk;
- Metal-based drugs, metallotherapeutics, and innovative delivery systems;
- Interactions of metals with immune regulation and metabolic reprogramming;
- Contributions of metals to therapy resistance and tumor heterogeneity;
- Translational and clinical studies on metal-modulating interventions.
This Special Issue welcomes both original research articles and comprehensive reviews.
Dr. Katarina Zivancevic
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
- essential and toxic metals
- metal-induced carcinogenesis
- metal homeostasis
- metallotherapeutics
- oxidative stress
- tumor microenvironment
- immune modulation
- metabolic reprogramming
- therapy resistance
- drug delivery systems
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
