Integrated Palliative Care in Advanced Cancer

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 30

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Regional Home Palliative Care Program, SAMOT, Palermo, Italy
2. Main Regional Center for Supportive and Palliative Care, La Maddalena Cancer Center, Palermo, Italy
Interests: palliative care; cancer pain; pain management; pain medicine
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The integration of palliative care early in the trajectory of advanced cancer is no longer a recommendation but a standard of high-quality, evidence-based oncology. This paradigm shift from a model of care focused solely on the end of life to one that runs parallel to anti-cancer treatments starting from diagnosis has significantly improved patient outcomes, including their quality of life, mood, symptom burden, and even survival. However, significant challenges remain in terms of implementation, access, and tailoring interventions to the most complex patient needs.

This Special Issue will compile cutting-edge research and review articles that address the forefront of integrated palliative oncology. We aim to move beyond establishing the fact that integration works and delve deeper into how it works best, for whom, and in what settings.

We invite original research studies and reviews exploring the following themes, with an emphasis on novel approaches and current advances:

  • Novel therapeutic strategies for refractory symptoms;
  • Models of integration and implementation science;
  • Patient-tailored and timely intervention;
  • Technological advances and supportive care.

This Special Issue will serve as a vital resource for clinicians and researchers, highlighting evidence-based strategies to optimize care and outcomes for patients through fully integrated, patient-centered palliative oncology.

Prof. Dr. Sebastiano Mercadante
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

  • integrated palliative care
  • advanced cancer
  • cancer pain
  • symptom management
  • early integration
  • supportive care
  • end-of-life care
  • patient-centered outcomes
  • tele-palliative care
  • refractory symptoms

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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