Next-Gen Biomarkers for Cancer Immunotherapy
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editor
Interests: oncology; medicine; cancer biology; autophagy; molecular science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The identification of novel biomarkers in cancer has become pivotal for enhancing diagnosis, prognosis, and personalized treatment strategies. Recent advancements in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have enabled the discovery of a broad spectrum of biomarkers with high specificity and sensitivity across various cancer types. Emerging candidates such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), exosomal RNA, and tumor-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) offer non-invasive options for early detection and monitoring disease progression. Several analytes can be studied through liquid biopsy, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). Both EVs and CTCs have been shown to play central roles in tumor invasion and metastasis. Additionally, immunological markers, including immune checkpoint proteins and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte signatures, are gaining prominence in predicting responses to immunotherapy. Advances in single-cell sequencing and spatial transcriptomics further enable the detection of tumor heterogeneity and microenvironmental influences. Despite these breakthroughs, clinical validation and standardization remain critical hurdles. Integrating multi-omic biomarkers into clinical workflows through artificial intelligence and machine learning holds promise for precision oncology. This review highlights recent discoveries in cancer biomarkers and their potential to revolutionize cancer management, ultimately improving patient outcomes. The unique focus of this work is on identifying biomarkers that can predict patient response or resistance to immunotherapy, allowing for more precise and effective treatment selection. Emphasis is placed on biomarkers that are nearing clinical implementation, highlighting their potential for immediate impact on patient care. Additionally, this Special Issue will try to explore mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy, aiming to uncover novel targets for overcoming therapeutic failure. Continued research and collaborative efforts are essential to transition these novel biomarkers from the laboratory to routine clinical application. The Special Issue leverages translational research and data-driven approaches, including AI-powered analyses, to identify and validate predictive biomarkers for improved immunotherapy outcomes
Dr. Evangelos Koustas
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- cancer biomarkers
- immunotherapy
- circulating tumor DNA
- exosomes
- tumor-specific microRNAs
- sin-gle-cell sequencing
- spatial transcriptomics
- precision oncology
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