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Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Tract Oncology: Pathology, Diagnostics and Therapy
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Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Tract Oncology: Pathology, Diagnostics and Therapy

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: closed (20 April 2025) | Viewed by 3069

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Karolina Orywal

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona 15 A, 15-276 Białystok, Poland
Interests: carcinogenesis; cancer diagnostics; cancer markers; minerals; alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes; aldehyde dehydrogenase; nutrition; food safety
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mariusz Gryko

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. 2nd Clinical Department of General, Gastroenterological and Oncological Surgery, Medical University of Bialystok Clinical Hospital, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 24 A, 15-276 Białystok, Poland
2. Department of Surgical Nursing, Medical University of Bialystok, Szpitalna 37, 15-274 Białystok, Poland
Interests: gastrointestinal tract cancers; oncology; cancer diagnostics; general surgery; gastroenterological surgery; apoptosis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gastrointestinal tract cancers pose a significant public health challenge globally, and their incidence is constantly increasing. We suffer from colon cancer more often, but the number of liver cancer cases is also increasing. At the same time, three cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreatic cancer, gallbladder cancer, and liver and intrahepatic bile duct cancer, were placed on the list of the ten most lethal cancers by the American Society of Oncology (ACS).

The molecular aspects of gastrointestinal cancers are the subject of intense research, which may lead to generating a better understanding of the genetic changes and molecular pathways associated with gastrointestinal cancers, facilitating the development of targeted therapies and personalized therapeutic approaches, contributing to improving patient outcomes, greater diagnostic accuracy, and a better overall survival rate. Continued research and innovation in these areas provide hope for making further progress in the prevention, diagnosis, and development of new therapeutic strategies for gastrointestinal cancers.

In this Special Issue, we present original research and literature reviews discussing various aspects of the pathology, diagnosis, and therapy of gastrointestinal cancer.

Dr. Karolina Orywal
Dr. Mariusz Gryko
Guest Editors

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

  • gastrointestinal cancer
  • esophageal cancer
  • gastric (stomach) cancer
  • colorectal cancer
  • liver cancer
  • pancreatic cancer
  • gallbladder and biliary tract cancer
  • genetic alterations
  • molecular subtyping
  • tumor microenvironment
  • innovative therapies
  • targeted therapies
  • tumor biomarkers

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

25 pages, 2003 KiB  
Review
Promising Gastric Cancer Biomarkers—Focus on Tryptophan Metabolism via the Kynurenine Pathway
by Kinga Ożga, Paweł Stepuch, Ryszard Maciejewski and Ilona Sadok
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(8), 3706; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26083706 - 14 Apr 2025
Viewed by 325
Abstract
Currently, gastric cancer treatment remains an enormous challenge and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Globally, the incidence and prevalence of gastric cancer vary, with the highest rates found in East Asia, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe. Early diagnosis is critical for successful surgical removal [...] Read more.
Currently, gastric cancer treatment remains an enormous challenge and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Globally, the incidence and prevalence of gastric cancer vary, with the highest rates found in East Asia, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe. Early diagnosis is critical for successful surgical removal of gastric cancer, but the disease often develops asymptomatically. Therefore, many cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage, resulting in poor survival. Metastatic gastric cancer also has a poor prognosis. Therefore, it is urgent to identify reliable molecular disease markers and develop an effective medical treatment for advanced stages of the disease. This review summarizes potential prognostic or predictive markers of gastric cancer. Furthermore, the role of tryptophan metabolites from the kynurenine pathway as prognostic, predictive, and diagnostic factors of gastric cancer is discussed, as this metabolic pathway is associated with tumor immune resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Tract Oncology: Pathology, Diagnostics and Therapy)
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14 pages, 931 KiB  
Review
The Clinical Outcomes Among Patients Under 60 Years Old with Lynch Syndrome: Variations Based on Different Mutation Patterns
by Calin Muntean, Vasile Gaborean, Razvan Constantin Vonica, Alaviana Monique Faur, Vladut Iosif Rus, Ionut Flaviu Faur and Catalin Vladut Ionut Feier
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3383; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073383 - 4 Apr 2025
Viewed by 409
Abstract
Lynch syndrome (LS)—also known as Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC)—is caused by pathogenic germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes such as MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2. Although it accounts for only 1–5% of all colorectal cancers (CRCs), [...] Read more.
Lynch syndrome (LS)—also known as Hereditary Non-Polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC)—is caused by pathogenic germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes such as MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2. Although it accounts for only 1–5% of all colorectal cancers (CRCs), LS presents with a particularly high lifetime cancer risk and often occurs at younger ages. Identifying LS in patients under 60 years old is crucial for targeted surveillance and early interventions. Variations in clinical presentation and prognosis may exist based on the specific gene mutated, yet these patterns are not fully elucidated. This review aims to synthesize data on clinical outcomes among LS patients under 60, with an emphasis on how different MMR gene mutation patterns might influence prognosis, survival, and treatment decisions. Five population-based studies examining CRC patients younger than 60 years were included according to predefined eligibility criteria. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data focusing on MMR deficiency detection methods (microsatellite instability [MSI] and/or immunohistochemistry [IHC]), rates of confirmed germline mutations, frequency of BRAF testing, and clinical endpoints such as stage distribution, survival outcomes, and recurrence. Risk of bias was assessed using standardized tools appropriate to each study design. The synthesis focused on comparing outcomes among individuals with MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2 mutations, as well as delineating the proportion of patients with sporadic MSI under 60 years of age. Across the five studies, MSI positivity in CRC patients under 60 years ranged from 7.5% to 13%. The frequency of confirmed germline MMR mutations varied between 0.8% and 5.2% in specific cohorts, aligning with LS prevalence estimates of 1–5%. Different mutation patterns correlated with some variation in clinical presentation. Cases with MSH2 and MLH1 mutations more frequently exhibited synchronous or metachronous tumors, while MSH6 and PMS2 mutations displayed more heterogeneous IHC patterns. Where survival data were provided, LS patients under 60 years had better overall survival compared to MMR-proficient individuals, though some studies also noted a potential lack of benefit from standard 5-fluorouracil adjuvant therapy in MMR-deficient tumors. Screening by MSI or by IHC—supplemented with BRAF mutation testing to exclude sporadic MSI—facilitates early detection of LS in CRC patients under 60 and highlights notable differences between mutation types. Although overall outcomes for LS patients can be favorable, especially for stage II disease, the precise impact of each specific mutated gene on clinical course remains heterogeneous. Future large-scale prospective studies are needed to clarify optimal screening protocols and individualized treatment strategies for LS patients under 60. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Tract Oncology: Pathology, Diagnostics and Therapy)
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11 pages, 585 KiB  
Review
Potential Utility of A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL) in Colorectal Cancer
by Monika Zajkowska, Karolina Orywal and Mariusz Gryko
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(23), 12496; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252312496 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1055
Abstract
APRIL (A proliferation-inducing ligand) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily that is overexpressed in a variety of malignant tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Its key physiological roles include inducing the immunoglobulin switch and ensuring plasmocyte survival. In terms of pathological [...] Read more.
APRIL (A proliferation-inducing ligand) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily that is overexpressed in a variety of malignant tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Its key physiological roles include inducing the immunoglobulin switch and ensuring plasmocyte survival. In terms of pathological roles, APRIL antagonism has been identified as a key target in autoimmune diseases and immunoglobulin disorders. As previously demonstrated, several inflammatory processes occur at the site of neoplastic initial stages, and their local symptoms are difficult to detect, particularly in the early stages. That is why we chose to study the current literature on APRIL’s role in the development of colorectal cancer. The main objective of our research was to investigate the role of APRIL in cancer initiation and its usefulness in the detection and therapy of CRC. Interestingly, the findings conducted so far show that the selected protein has a significant potential as a CRC biomarker and treatment target. Importantly, based on its concentration, it is possible to identify CRC patients, but whether the lesion has a benign or malignant nature, indicating the possibility of rapid detection of an ongoing disease process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Tract Oncology: Pathology, Diagnostics and Therapy)
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