Biomarkers and Precision Medicine in Upper Gastrointestinal Malignancies

A special issue of Current Oncology (ISSN 1718-7729). This special issue belongs to the section "Gastrointestinal Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 5789

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Oncology, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Interests: immune-oncology; upper gastro-intestinal cancers; hepato-biliary cancers; pancreas cancer; esophagus cancer; gastric cancer; neuro-endocrine tumors; rare cancers; histopathology; precision medicine; targeted treatments; clinical trials
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The current treatment of patients with upper gastrointestinal cancers is centred around chemotherapy and surgery, with a limited number of patients being candidates for immunotherapy or molecularly targeted treatment based on biomarker selection. The poor efficacy of treatment, late diagnoses, and the aggressive behavior of most cases contribute to the high mortality of these diseases.

To improve results, one major approach pursues the stratification of patients, according to the molecular characteristics for predicting treatment responses or resistance. Other strategies focus on novel biomarkers for early diagnosis, the detection of progression or relapse, or prognosis.

We invite researchers to publish studies within this topic in upper gastrointestinal malignancies, including esophageal-gastric, pancreatic, duodenal/small bowel, and hepatic–biliary cancers.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Morten Ladekarl
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • precision medicine
  • molecular biology
  • biomarker
  • prognosis
  • diagnosis
  • esophagus cancer
  • gastric cancer
  • pancreatic cancer
  • hepatocellular carcinoma
  • cholangiocarcinoma
  • duodenal cancer

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 2101 KiB  
Article
MISP Is Overexpressed in Intestinal Metaplasia and Gastric Cancer
by Tomás Vilarinho, Diana Pádua, Bruno Pereira, Patrícia Mesquita and Raquel Almeida
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(5), 2769-2779; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31050210 - 14 May 2024
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Abstract
Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the fourth cause of global cancer mortality. The identification of new biomarkers and drug targets is crucial to allow the better prognosis and treatment of patients. The mitotic spindle positioning (MISP) protein has the [...] Read more.
Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the fourth cause of global cancer mortality. The identification of new biomarkers and drug targets is crucial to allow the better prognosis and treatment of patients. The mitotic spindle positioning (MISP) protein has the function of correcting mitotic spindle positioning and centrosome clustering and has been implicated in the cytokinesis and migration of cancer cells. The goal of this work was to evaluate the expression and clinical relevance of MISP in gastric cancer. MISP expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a single hospital series (n = 286) of gastric adenocarcinomas and compared with normal gastric mucosa and intestinal metaplasia, a preneoplastic lesion. MISP was detected on the membrane in 83% of the cases, being overexpressed in gastric cancer compared to normal gastric mucosa (n = 10). Its expression was negatively associated with diffuse and poorly cohesive types. On the other hand, it was strongly expressed in intestinal metaplasia where it was associated with MUC2 and CDX2 expression. Furthermore, when we silenced MISP in vitro, a significant decrease in the viability of gastric carcinoma cells was observed. In conclusion, MISP is overexpressed in gastric cancer, being associated with an intestinal phenotype in gastric carcinogenesis and having a role in cellular proliferation. Full article
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Review

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15 pages, 1485 KiB  
Review
Integrating Molecular Insights into Biliary Tract Cancer Management: A Review of Personalized Therapeutic Strategies
by Mar Ros-Buxó, Ezequiel Mauro, Tamara Sauri, Gemma Iserte, Carla Fuster-Anglada, Alba Díaz, Laura Sererols-Viñas, Silvia Affo and Alejandro Forner
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(7), 3615-3629; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31070266 - 21 Jun 2024
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Abstract
Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are rare and aggressive malignancies with an increasing incidence and poor prognosis. The standard systemic treatment for BTCs has evolved to include immune checkpoint inhibitors associated with gemcitabine–cisplatin as first-line therapies. However, survival rates remain low, highlighting the critical [...] Read more.
Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are rare and aggressive malignancies with an increasing incidence and poor prognosis. The standard systemic treatment for BTCs has evolved to include immune checkpoint inhibitors associated with gemcitabine–cisplatin as first-line therapies. However, survival rates remain low, highlighting the critical need for personalized treatment strategies based on molecular profiling. Currently, significant advancements have been made in the molecular characterization of BTCs, where genetic alterations, such as IDH1 mutations and FGFR2 fusions, provide targets for therapy. Molecular profiling is crucial early in the management process to identify potential candidates for clinical trials and guide treatment strategy. The integration of these molecular insights into clinical practice has allowed for the development of targeted therapies, although many of them are still in the phase 2 trial stage without definitive survival benefits demonstrated in phase 3 trials. This integration of comprehensive molecular profile insights with traditional treatment approaches offers a new horizon in the personalized medicine landscape for BTCs, with the aim of significantly improving patient outcomes through precision oncology. Full article
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9 pages, 375 KiB  
Review
Evidence to Date on the Therapeutic Potential of Zolbetuximab in Advanced Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma
by Jane E. Rogers and Jaffer Ajani
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(2), 769-777; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31020057 - 1 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2321
Abstract
Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) continues to be a prevalent worldwide malignancy and a leading cause of cancer death, and it is frequently cited as incurable. Targeted therapy in GAC has lagged behind other solid tumors. The human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) represented the [...] Read more.
Gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC) continues to be a prevalent worldwide malignancy and a leading cause of cancer death, and it is frequently cited as incurable. Targeted therapy in GAC has lagged behind other solid tumors. The human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) represented the single target in GACs for many years, seen in approximately 20% of patients with advanced GAC. Recent advances in management now include the addition of immunotherapy checkpoint inhibition to select front-line advanced GACs. Unfortunately, outcomes remain poor for most patients. We anticipate finding a key to future discoveries in GACs in next-generation sequencing and more targeted approaches. Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2) has emerged as a therapeutic target in GACs. CLDN18.2 is reportedly expressed in 14–87% of GACs, and CLDN18.2 is available for monoclonal antibody (mAb) binding as it is expressed on the outer cell membrane. Here, we review the exploration of CLDN18.2 as a target in GACs via the use of zolbetuximab (IMAB362). Zolbetuximab is now under priority FDA review for GACs, and we eagerly await the review outcome. Full article
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