From Genes to Systems: Genetic and Epigenetic Control of the Metastatic Cascade
A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Epigenomics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 April 2026 | Viewed by 71
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
We would like to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue of Genes, entitled “From Genes to Systems: Genetic and Epigenetic Control of the Metastatic Cascade”. Cancer metastasis remains the leading cause of cancer-related death, and it is increasingly recognized as a process driven not only by genetic alterations but also by epigenetic reprogramming. While many genetic changes are tumor cell-intrinsic and may shape a metastasis-permissive ground state, the successful spread of cancer often relies on epigenetic plasticity, within both tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironments at primary and distant sites. Tumor cells can reprogram stromal, vascular, and immune partners to establish supportive niches, while circulating tumor cells (CTCs) serve as metastasis-initiating intermediates capable of surviving in circulation, undergoing dormancy, and reactivating at distant organs.
This Special Issue will bring together research that unravels the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underpinning known stages of the metastatic cascade. Topics of interest include tumor heterogeneity, lineage plasticity, metastatic niche formation, dormancy, CTC biology, immune evasion, therapy resistance, and integrative multi-omics analyses. Both foundational research studies and translational research aimed at biomarker discovery, therapeutic targeting, and metastasis interception are welcome.
Dr. Eric Rahrmann
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 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. Genes 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 2600 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
- cancer metastasis
- genetic alterations
- epigenetic reprogramming
- tumor heterogeneity
- lineage plasticity
- metastatic niche formation
- dormancy
- circulating tumor cells (CTCs)
- immune evasion
- therapy resistance
- tumor microenvironment
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