Targeting of Cancer Cells with Small Molecule Drugs
A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Pathology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 27 February 2026 | Viewed by 25
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cancer remains one of the most formidable challenges in modern medicine, driving an urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies that combine precision, efficacy, and reduced toxicity. Small molecule drugs have emerged as a cornerstone of targeted cancer therapy, offering unique advantages in modulating disease-specific pathways, penetrating biological barriers, and enabling tailored treatment regimens. Advances in drug design, computational modeling, and biomarker discovery are revolutionizing the development of these agents, yet challenges such as tumor heterogeneity, drug resistance, and off-target effects persist. This Special Issue, "Targeting of Cancer Cells with Small Molecule Drugs", seeks to highlight groundbreaking research that addresses these challenges and propels the field toward smarter, more effective cancer therapies.
We invite contributions that explore the full spectrum of small molecule drug development—from rational design and mechanistic studies to preclinical validation and clinical translation. By fostering interdisciplinary dialog among chemists, biologists, pharmacologists, and clinicians, this issue aims to catalyze innovations that bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and patient-centered outcomes.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on topics including (but not limited to):
- Novel small molecule drug design (e.g., kinase inhibitors, epigenetic modulators, PROTACs).
- Mechanisms of action and pathway-specific targeting in cancer.
- Advanced drug delivery systems (nanocarriers, prodrugs, stimuli-responsive platforms).
- Computational approaches for drug discovery and optimization (AI, molecular docking, QSAR).
- Overcoming drug resistance and enhancing therapeutic selectivity.
- Biomarker-driven therapies and personalized treatment strategies.
- Preclinical-to-clinical translation of small molecule agents.
Dr. Jannet Kocerha
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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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. Cells 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 2700 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
- small molecule drugs
- cancer cell targeting
- targeted cancer therapy
- drug delivery systems
- precision oncology
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