From DNA Damage to Cell Death: Emerging Drug Targets and Therapeutic Opportunities
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 2323
Special Issue Editors
Interests: anticancer activity; apoptosis; cell death; combination therapy; cu-proptosis; cytotoxicity; DNA damage; DNA repair; drug design; ferroptosis; necroptosis; proliferation; pyra-zoles; tetrazoles; triazines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: anticancer activity; apoptosis; cell death; combination therapy; cytotoxicity; DNA damage; DNA repair; plant-derived compounds; plant extracts; proliferation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
DNA damage is a fundamental biological event that can lead to genomic instability, cellular senescence, and programmed cell death. Understanding how cells detect, signal, and repair DNA lesions is crucial not only for elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer, neurodegeneration, and aging, but also for identifying vulnerabilities that can be therapeutically exploited. Recent advances in molecular biology have revealed intricate networks linking DNA damage response (DDR) pathways to cellular fate decisions, including apoptosis, ferroptosis, and necroptosis and others.
This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research and reviews focused on the molecular interplay between DNA damage, cell death pathways, and novel therapeutic strategies. We welcome contributions that explore emerging drug targets, the design of DNA damage-inducing or repair-modulating agents, and translational approaches that bridge preclinical insights with clinical applications. Studies addressing the role of DDR in chemoresistance, immune modulation, and tumor microenvironment adaptation are particularly encouraged. Together, these works will provide an integrative understanding of how manipulating DDR can yield innovative treatments for diverse diseases.
Dr. Mateusz Kciuk
Dr. Beata Marciniak
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 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-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
- apoptosis
- cancer therapy
- cell death pathways
- chemoresistance
- DNA damage response (DDR)
- DNA repair inhibitors
- drug discovery
- ferroptosis
- genomic instability
- therapeutic targets
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.
