Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.8
4.4
Journals
Cancers
Special Issues
Biomarkers for Therapy Response in Gastrointestinal Malignancies: Predicting Outcomes and...
share announcement

Biomarkers for Therapy Response in Gastrointestinal Malignancies: Predicting Outcomes and Personalizing Care

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 1066

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Devalingam Mahalingam

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Developmental Therapeutics, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Interests: drug development; hepatocellular cancer; pancreatic cancer; colorectal cancer; precision oncology; oncolytic viral therapy; apoptosis; autophagy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The management of gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies is undergoing a remarkable transformation driven by advances in targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and precision oncology. Yet, despite these therapeutic innovations, the ability to accurately predict treatment response in GI cancers remains limited. Unlike certain tumor types where validated biomarkers guide therapy selection, most GI malignancies lack robust, clinically actionable biomarkers to inform therapeutic decision-making across both targeted agents and immunotherapy platforms.

To address this critical gap, I am honored to serve as Guest Editor for a special edition titled “Biomarkers for Therapy Response in Gastrointestinal Malignancies: Predicting Outcomes and Personalizing Care”. This issue aims to showcase emerging science and translational research dedicated to identifying, validating, and clinically implementing predictive biomarkers that can optimize treatment selection, forecast resistance, and enhance patient outcomes in colorectal, gastric, hepatobiliary, pancreatic, and esophageal cancers.

We welcome original research, comprehensive reviews, and translational studies that

  • Investigate molecular, genomic, proteomic, and immune-based biomarkers in GI cancers;
  • Examine resistance mechanisms and their implications for biomarker development;
  • Explore early-phase biomarker-driven trial designs in GI malignancies;
  • Present real-world data on biomarker integration into clinical practice.

Through this issue, we seek to foster a deeper scientific dialog and accelerate progress toward personalized oncology care for patients with GI malignancies.

I warmly invite you to contribute your work to this focused edition and join us in advancing the field.

Dr. Devalingam Mahalingam
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

  • immunotherapy
  • biomarkers
  • resistance mechanisms
  • predictive markers
  • clinical trials
  • translational research

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.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

15 pages, 1053 KB  
Article
A Novel Non-Invasive Biomarker for Gastric Cancer: Monocyte-to-HDL Ratio and Clinicopathological Parameters in Predicting Survival Outcomes
by Mehmet Salim Demir and Gözde Ağdaş
Cancers 2025, 17(17), 2816; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17172816 - 28 Aug 2025
Viewed by 428
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the preoperative monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) and clinicopathological parameters for predicting survival outcomes in patients undergoing curative-intent gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 304 [...] Read more.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of the preoperative monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (MHR) and clinicopathological parameters for predicting survival outcomes in patients undergoing curative-intent gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 304 patients with histopathologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma who underwent curative-intent gastrectomy with standardized D1+ or D2 lymphadenectomy. The MHR was calculated using preoperative monocyte counts and HDL cholesterol levels. Patients were dichotomized based on the optimal MHR cutoff determined via receiver operating characteristic curve analysis with the Youden index. Survival outcomes, including overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), were assessed using Kaplan–Meier analysis and compared with log-rank tests. Results: ROC analysis determined an optimal MHR cutoff of ≥11.02 (AUC: 0.654; 95% CI: 0.59–0.718), yielding sensitivities and specificities of 62.6% and 62.4%, respectively. Patients with an elevated MHR (≥11.02) had worse 5-year OS (51.4 vs. 72.2%; p < 0.001) and PFS (65.2 vs. 80.5%; p = 0.003). In the multivariate Cox regression model, elevated MHR emerged as an independent predictor of disease progression (HR: 1.93; 95% CI: 1.17–3.18; p = 0.010), while parameters such as signet ring cell histology, lymphovascular invasion, and perineural invasion were significant in univariate analyses but not in the adjusted multivariate model. Conclusions: MHR should not be regarded as a definitive predictor in isolation but rather as a cost-effective, readily obtainable adjunct within a broader preoperative risk assessment framework. Integration with other inflammation-based and clinicopathological factors may enhance predictive performance and clinical applicability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomarkers for Therapy Response in Gastrointestinal Malignancies: Predicting Outcomes and Personalizing Care)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 3464 KB  
Article
Clinical and Molecular Differences Suggest Different Responses to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Microsatellite-Stable Solid Tumors with High Tumor Mutational Burden
by Imran Nizamuddin, Tarik Demir, Katrina Dobinda, Ruohui Chen, Masha Kocherginsky, Peter Doukas, Neelima Katam, Carolyn Moloney and Devalingam Mahalingam
Cancers 2025, 17(16), 2673; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17162673 - 16 Aug 2025
Viewed by 509
Abstract
Background/Objectives: We aim to identify predictors of response to ICIs in patients with advanced solid tumors that exhibiting a TMB ≥ 10 mut/Mb. Methods: Patients treated with ICIs alone at Northwestern University between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020 were [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: We aim to identify predictors of response to ICIs in patients with advanced solid tumors that exhibiting a TMB ≥ 10 mut/Mb. Methods: Patients treated with ICIs alone at Northwestern University between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020 were identified. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and groups were compared using the log-rank test. Wilcoxon rank sum tests, chi-squared tests, and Fisher’s exact tests were used for univariable analyses evaluating the impact of clinical and genetic variables on response, with significance defined as p < 0.05. Results: A total of 117 patients were classified as ICI-sensitive (n = 88) or non-ICI-sensitive (n = 29). Among evaluable patients (n = 105), the overall response rate was 34% with 14% achieving a complete response. Median PFS and OS were 8.05 months and 26.8 months, respectively. Higher PFS rates were significantly linked to the ICI-sensitive tumor group (p = 0.009), absence of liver metastasis (p = 0.015), and no prior systemic treatment (p = 0.001) in both cohorts. In non-ICI-sensitive patients, a TMB of ≥15 mut/Mb correlated with improved outcomes (p = 0.012). Mutations in the MYC pathway (p = 0.03) and the MLL2 gene (p = 0.014) were associated with poorer responses, while mutations in the TERT gene were linked to better responses (p = 0.031). Conclusions: Patients without liver metastasis, mutations in TERT, and TMB ≥ 15 mut/Mb are associated with superior response, while mutations in the MYC pathway and MLL2 are associated with worse responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomarkers for Therapy Response in Gastrointestinal Malignancies: Predicting Outcomes and Personalizing Care)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop