Molecular Antimicrobial Resistance in Cancers
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 184
Special Issue Editors
2. Medical Oncology, University of Messina, Piazza Pugliatti 1, 98122 Messina, Italy
Interests: translational research (predictive and prognostic markers in gastrointestinal malignancies); treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies; conduction of clinical trials
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly being recognized as a major determinant of clinical outcomes in vulnerable and immunocompromised patient populations, extending its relevance far beyond the traditional boundaries of microbiology and infectious diseases.
Patients with solid tumors, hematological malignancies, autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, transplant recipients, and individuals receiving immunosuppressive or biological therapies are at a particularly high risk of infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. In these settings, AMR is closely linked to increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospitalization, treatment interruptions, higher healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life.
This Special Issue aims to highlight clinically meaningful and outcome-oriented research on antimicrobial resistance, with a strong emphasis on real-world evidence, observational studies, registries, and translational approaches that reflect everyday clinical practice. Contributions addressing patient-centered outcomes, risk stratification, and prognostic factors are particularly encouraged. A central focus of this Special Issue is the development of personalized and patient-tailored strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of resistant infections in fragile populations. These include optimized antimicrobial stewardship, individualized therapeutic approaches, and integrated models that account for immune status, disease burden, and treatment-related risks.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Molecular and cellular mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance;
- AMR in immunocompromised hosts (oncology, hematology, rheumatology, transplantation);
- Host–pathogen interactions in the context of immune dysfunction;
- The impact of immunosuppressive and biological therapies on infection risk and resistance development;
- Diagnostic challenges and biomarkers in resistant infections;
- Antimicrobial stewardship and personalized therapeutic strategies;
- Novel antimicrobials, combination therapies, and alternative approaches.
By integrating molecular mechanisms with clinical and real-world data, this Special Issue aims to foster a patient-centered and multidisciplinary understanding of antimicrobial resistance, ultimately contributing to improved outcomes in immunocompromised populations.
Prof. Dr. Nicola Silvestris
Prof. Dr. Massimo Andreoni
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- antimicrobial resistance
- host–pathogen interaction
- immune dysfunction
- immunosuppression
- infection
- biomarker
- novel antimicrobials
- cancer
- frail patient
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