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Precision Molecular Oncology: From Tumor Biomarker Discovery to Next-Generation Drug Delivery

A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2026 | Viewed by 2002

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
2. School of Medicine & Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
Interests: molecular pathology; cancer; anticancer drugs; cancer marker; drug delivery; cancer pathogenesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Precision molecular oncology represents a transformative approach in cancer treatment, focusing on the individual genetic and molecular profiles of tumors in order to tailor therapies, enhance efficacy and reduce side effects. Central to this paradigm is the discovery and validation of tumor biomarkers, which are molecular signatures that provide insights into tumor behavior, treatment response, and prognosis. This process involves advanced techniques such as next-generation sequencing, proteomics, and metabolomics, which enable a deeper understanding of the heterogeneous nature of cancer. The integration of biomarker data into clinical practice facilitates the identification of patient-specific therapeutic options, including targeted therapies, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and personalized combinations of existing treatments. Furthermore, advancements in drug delivery systems—such as nanoparticles, liposomes, and antibody–drug conjugates—enable the personalized management of patients with cancer.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims to enhance cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes by presenting research that addresses the following topics:

  • Tumor Biomarker Discovery
  • Personalized Treatment Approaches
  • Integration of Multi-Omics Data
  • Development of Next-Generation Drug Delivery Systems
  • Clinical Implementation

Thus, we welcome the submission of original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews.

Dr. Farhadul Islam
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 short 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. Current Issues in Molecular Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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

  • precision oncology
  • molecular pathology
  • personalized treatment
  • tumor marker
  • biomarkers
  • multi-omics
  • drug discovery
  • nanocarriers
  • drug delivery
  • clinical management

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

32 pages, 1653 KB  
Review
Implication of Epigenetic Alterations of ZEB1 in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Pathogenesis and Therapy Development
by Tasnima Kamal, Asma Ul Husna Biswas, Azadur Rahman Bhuiyan, Al-Amin Hossain, Chandan Barai, Yearul Kabir and Farhadul Islam
Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2026, 48(3), 276; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb48030276 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 418
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of cancer mortality in the world, and its etiology is complicated by genetic and epigenetic changes. As one of the most important tumor progression regulators, Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a transcription factor [...] Read more.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant cause of cancer mortality in the world, and its etiology is complicated by genetic and epigenetic changes. As one of the most important tumor progression regulators, Zinc Finger E-box Binding Homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a transcription factor that has a key role in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is essential in the metastasis, drug resistance, and plasticity of cancer cells in CRC. ZEB1 silences the expression of epithelial markers, including E-cadherin, and it induces the development of mesenchymal properties, such as invasion and metastasis, i.e., tumor aggressiveness. ZEB1 drives epigenetic reprogramming in CRC by coordinating histone deacetylation, histone methylation, and DNA methylation of epithelial tumor suppressor gene promoters and by engaging in reciprocal regulatory interactions with non-coding RNAs, including the miR-200 family. Furthermore, multiple oncogenic signaling cascades, including Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β, NF-κB, MEK-ERK, JAK/STAT3, and HIF-1α, converge on ZEB1 to amplify its transcriptional and epigenetic activity, positioning ZEB1 as a nodal integrator of extracellular cues and epigenetic reprogramming in CRC metastasis. This review integrates three interconnected regulatory layers, i.e., (1) ZEB1’s direct epigenetic control of target gene expression via histone modification and DNA methylation, (2) post-transcriptional regulation of ZEB1 itself by ncRNAs (miRNAs, circRNAs, and lncRNAs) that create feedback circuits modulating layer 1, and (3) upstream modulation of ZEB1 transcriptional activity by oncogenic signaling pathways (Wnt/β-catenin, TGF-β, NF-κB, MEK-ERK, JAK/STAT3, and HIF-1α) to provide a comprehensive picture of ZEB1 in CRC metastasis and its therapeutic implications. Full article
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