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Molecular Biomarkers for Targeted Therapies

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1117

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Nuclear Medicine Department, Oncopole Claudius Regaud, 31059 Toulouse, France
Interests: endocrine oncology; theragnostics; molecular targeted radiotherapy; Lu-177 dotatate; Lu-177 PSMA; thyroid cancer; prostate cancer; neuroendocrine tumors
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As the clinical paradigm shifts from “treat what you see” to more refined de-escalation strategies, and with the increasing number of clinical trials related to the development of new radiopharmaceuticals for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications across various oncology fields, new challenges are emerging.

Improving patients’ quality of life and survival while minimizing serious side effects is paramount, especially in aging populations often burdened with complex treatment histories and long-standing disease. Therefore, clinicians are seeking either single or composite biomarkers that can help identify patients with aggressive disease, a high likelihood of rapid progression, or those prone to developing clinical events (prognostic biomarkers), as well as biomarkers that can predict a high probability of response to a given therapy (predictive biomarkers).

This Special Issue is dedicated to original work on the advances in molecular biology, imaging, and translational fields of research aiming at identifying or confirming different biomarkers related to molecular targeted radiotherapies.

Dr. Vija Lavinia
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • biomarkers
  • molecular targeted radiotherapies
  • prognostic biomarkers
  • predictive biomarkers
  • single or composite biomarkers

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1111 KB  
Article
Metabolic Signatures in Lung Cancer: Prognostic Value of Acid–Base Disruptions and Serum Indices
by Florian Ponholzer, Marie-Christin Neuschmid, Helga Komi, Christina Bogensperger, Caecilia Ng, Herbert Maier, Paolo Lucciarini, Stefan Schneeberger and Florian Augustin
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(17), 8231; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178231 - 25 Aug 2025
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Abstract
One characteristic of tumor cells is the increased anaerobic metabolism through glycolysis leading to an acidic environment of the tumor. This acidity is linked to tumor progression, invasion and metastasis, besides stimulated survival pathways in the malignant cells. The aim of our analysis [...] Read more.
One characteristic of tumor cells is the increased anaerobic metabolism through glycolysis leading to an acidic environment of the tumor. This acidity is linked to tumor progression, invasion and metastasis, besides stimulated survival pathways in the malignant cells. The aim of our analysis is to investigate the role of systemic acid–base parameters such as the pH, bicarbonate, baseexcess and lactate in lung cancer patients. Furthermore, alterations in electrolytes and hemoglobin were investigated regarding their impact on overall survival. Data of 937 non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, who underwent anatomic video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) resection, was collected in a prospectively maintained database and analyzed. To minimize confounding effects and due to the retrospective study design, we decided to use data from the first arterial blood gas analysis during surgery and the most recent lab results prior to surgery. We found significant correlations between low systemic bicarbonate (<20 mEq/L) and overall survival (p = 0.006). Hyponatremia (<135 mmol/L) correlated with lower 5-year overall survival (p = 0.004) and decreased disease-free survival (p = 0.017). Hypochloremia (<98 mmol/L) was linked to reduced overall survival (p = 0.003) and hypocalcemia (<1.15 mmol/L) with worse disease-free survival (p = 0.015). Hemoglobin under 12 g/dL for women and 13 g/dL for men was associated with poorer outcomes (p < 0.001). Other acid–base parameters such as the pH (p = 0.563), baseexcess (BE) (p = 0.290) and lactate (p = 0.527) did not show significant differences in overall or disease-free (pH: p = 0.130; BE: p = 0.148; lactate: p = 0.418) survival. Systemic bicarbonate, sodium, calcium, chloride and hemoglobin levels were found as prognostic markers and possible therapeutic targets to improve overall survival. Further investigations are necessary to develop therapeutic strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Biomarkers for Targeted Therapies)
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Review

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14 pages, 633 KB  
Review
A Systematic Review on Biomarkers for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Detection in Pregnancies Conceived Using Assisted Reproductive Technology: Current Trends and Future Directions
by Angeliki Gerede, Efthymios Oikonomou, Anastasios Potiris, Christos Chatzakis, Peter Drakakis, Ekaterini Domali, Nikolaos Nikolettos and Sofoklis Stavros
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(17), 8234; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178234 - 25 Aug 2025
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Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a frequently encountered medical complication during pregnancy that is increasing at a rapid pace globally, posing significant public health concerns. Similarly, there is a rising trend in the number of women who have utilized assisted reproductive technology (ART). [...] Read more.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a frequently encountered medical complication during pregnancy that is increasing at a rapid pace globally, posing significant public health concerns. Similarly, there is a rising trend in the number of women who have utilized assisted reproductive technology (ART). Numerous studies have been carried out to investigate the relationship between GDM and ART. This comprehensive systematic review seeks to identify potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of GDM in pregnancies conceived through ART. We conducted a PubMed search covering the past five years to identify studies that explore biomarkers associated with the development of GDM in pregnancies conceived through ART. The outcome measures included human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), the body mass index (BMI), the Follicle Stimulating Hormone to Luteinizing Hormone (FSH/LH) ratio, increased hemoglobin A1c levels, fasting insulin concentrations, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride levels, total cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein (LDL/HDL), total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (TC/HDL), the estradiol/follicle ratio, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), Placental Growth Factor (PLGF), endometrial thickness, and psychological stress. Seventeen studies were included. The identification and development of serum or ultrasound biomarkers for the early detection of GDM in pregnancies conceived through ART pose considerable challenges. These challenges arise from the multifactorial nature of GDM, the methodological variations in ART, and the limited availability of relevant studies. The most promising biomarker identified was the estradiol/follicle ratio. Women with a higher estradiol/follicle ratio exhibited significantly lower rates of GDM. There is a pressing necessity for biomarkers to enable the early detection of GDM in pregnancies conceived through ART. E2 levels, β-hCG, and the E2/F ratio, along with the TC/HDL and LDL/HDL ratios, show potential as reliable biomarkers for identifying GDM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Biomarkers for Targeted Therapies)
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