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Advances in Molecular Research on Cancer Treatments: Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Drug Selection

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 August 2025 | Viewed by 3882

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Md Ataur Rahman

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
Interests: autophagy; apoptosis; bioactive natural products; glioblastoma; bioinformatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IJMS) will examine novel methodologies in cancer therapy, specifically highlighting the significance of autophagy and apoptosis in the progression and management of cancer. This study requests original research, reviews, short communications, and thorough evaluations of bioactive natural products, nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery approaches, and their potential applications in cancer therapy.

Furthermore, contributions investigating in silico techniques, network pharmacology, and bioinformatics to discover new therapeutic targets and pathways are strongly encouraged. This Special Issue’s main goal is to establish a forum for advanced research that connects molecular processes with practical uses in cancer treatment. Through the integration of research on natural products, precise drug delivery technologies, and computational methodologies, our objective is to promote the advancement of more efficient and focused cancer therapies. This Special Issue invites cross-disciplinary contributions that enrich our comprehension of these complex mechanisms and facilitate the development of innovative therapeutic approaches against cancer.

Dr. Md Ataur Rahman
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. 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

  • autophagy
  • apoptosis
  • bioactive natural products
  • nanoparticles and drug delivery
  • cancer immunotherapy
  • in silico and network pharmacology
  • bioinformatics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

20 pages, 2258 KiB  
Review
A Comprehensive Review of Nanoparticle-Based Drug Delivery for Modulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR-Mediated Autophagy in Cancer
by Md Ataur Rahman, Maroua Jalouli, Sujay Kumar Bhajan, Mohammed Al-Zharani and Abdel Halim Harrath
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 1868; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26051868 - 21 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1617
Abstract
The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays a crucial role in the regulation of autophagy, a cellular mechanism vital for homeostasis through the degradation of damaged organelles and proteins. The dysregulation of this pathway is significantly associated with cancer [...] Read more.
The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway plays a crucial role in the regulation of autophagy, a cellular mechanism vital for homeostasis through the degradation of damaged organelles and proteins. The dysregulation of this pathway is significantly associated with cancer progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. Targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway presents a promising strategy for cancer treatment; however, traditional therapeutics frequently encounter issues related to nonspecific distribution and systemic toxicity. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems represent a significant advancement in addressing these limitations. Nanoparticles enhance the bioavailability, stability, and targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, facilitating the precise modulation of autophagy in cancer cells. Functionalized nanoparticles, such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and metal-based nanocarriers, facilitate targeted drug delivery to tumor tissues, minimizing off-target effects and improving therapeutic efficacy. These systems can deliver multiple agents concurrently, enhancing the modulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy and related oncogenic pathways. This review examines advancements in nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery that target the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, emphasizing their contribution to improving precision and minimizing side effects in cancer therapy. The integration of nanotechnology with molecularly targeted therapies presents substantial potential for addressing drug resistance. Future initiatives must prioritize the optimization of these systems to enhance clinical translation and patient outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Molecular Research on Cancer Treatments: Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Drug Selection)
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22 pages, 1886 KiB  
Review
Emerging Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factors (HIFs) in Modulating Autophagy: Perspectives on Cancer Therapy
by Maroua Jalouli
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(4), 1752; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26041752 - 19 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1149
Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are master regulators of cellular responses to low oxygen levels and modulate autophagy, a conserved process essential for maintaining homeostasis. Under hypoxic conditions, HIFs regulate the expression of autophagy-related genes and influence autophagic flux and cellular stress responses. Dysregulated hypoxia-induced [...] Read more.
Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) are master regulators of cellular responses to low oxygen levels and modulate autophagy, a conserved process essential for maintaining homeostasis. Under hypoxic conditions, HIFs regulate the expression of autophagy-related genes and influence autophagic flux and cellular stress responses. Dysregulated hypoxia-induced autophagy promotes cancer cell survival, metabolism, and metastasis, thereby contributing to treatment resistance. Targeting HIF-mediated pathways or modulating autophagic processes offers the potential to improve traditional cancer therapies and overcome drug resistance. Pharmacological inhibitors of HIFs or autophagy, either alone or in combination with other treatments, may disrupt the pro-survival mechanisms within the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Further research is needed to elucidate the intricate interplay between HIF signaling and the autophagy machinery in cancer cells. Understanding these processes could pave the way for novel therapeutic strategies to enhance treatment outcomes and combat drug resistance. This review highlights the complex relationship between HIFs and autophagy in cancer development and therapy, offering insights into how targeting these pathways may improve patient outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Molecular Research on Cancer Treatments: Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Drug Selection)
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