Skin Cancer: A Focus from Pathophysiology to Novel Therapeutic Strategies
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: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 2428
Editor
Interests: skin cancer; melanoma; keratinocyte carcinoma; pathophysiology; biomarkers; immunotherapy; targeted therapy; nanomedicine; resistance; precision oncology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Skin cancers—from actinic‑keratosis-derived squamous cell carcinoma to aggressive metastatic melanoma—are the most common human malignancies and an escalating global burden. Although breakthroughs in genomics, imaging, and immuno‑oncology have reshaped our understanding of cutaneous tumorigenesis, many patients still face delayed diagnoses, therapeutic resistance, and treatment‑limiting toxicities. Deeper insight into disease mechanisms and genuinely innovative interventions are urgently required.
This Special Issue, “Skin Cancer: A Focus from Pathophysiology to Novel Therapeutic Strategies” invites original research papers, short communications, and in‑depth reviews that illuminate the biology of skin cancer and translate discovery into improved care. Topics of interest include (i) genomic, epigenomic, and metabolic drivers of malignant transformation; (ii) tumour–stromal–immune crosstalk, microenvironmental dynamics, and the cutaneous microbiome; (iii) emerging biomarkers, liquid biopsies, and advanced imaging for early detection, prognosis, and real‑time therapeutic monitoring; (iv) AI‑assisted predictive modelling and drug discovery pipelines; (v) next‑generation treatments—signal pathway inhibitors, immune checkpoint modulators, adoptive cell therapy, oncolytic viruses, CRISPR‑based platforms, vaccines, photodynamic/photothermal approaches, and nanomedicine‑enabled combinations; (vi) mechanisms of resistance and toxicity mitigation; and (vii) population studies, real‑world evidence, and survivorship quality‑of‑life assessments.
We particularly encourage submissions that bridge fundamental science and clinical practice, present first‑in‑class therapeutic concepts, or showcase interdisciplinary collaborations. By assembling diverse perspectives, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive snapshot of current progress and to accelerate precision prevention and durable control of skin cancer.
We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and advancing the fight against skin cancer together.
Dr. Piotr Sobolewski
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
- skin cancer
- melanoma
- keratinocyte carcinoma
- pathophysiology
- biomarkers
- immunotherapy
- targeted therapy
- nanomedicine
- resistance
- precision oncology
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
