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Latest Review Papers in Molecular Oncology
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Latest Review Papers in Molecular Oncology

A topical collection in International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This collection belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".

Viewed by 4776

Editors

Dr. Carmine Stolfi

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
Interests: colorectal cancer; immunotherapy; inflammatory bowel diseases; anti-cancer drugs
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eric Huet

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
TRePCa—Therapeutic Resistance in Prostate Cancer, Université Paris-Est Créteil, 94010 Creteil, France
Interests: matrix biology; tumor microenvironment; matric metalloproteinases; extracellular vesicles; tissue remodeling; cell interactions; EMMPRIN
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Through the use of diverse techniques and cutting-edge technologies, molecular oncology seeks to investigate and characterize the molecular alterations underlying the pathogenesis and progression of malignant diseases, with the ultimate goal of improving cancer prevention strategies and therapeutic approaches.

An increasing number of research teams have devoted significant efforts to the development of this field, substantially advancing our understanding of the molecular basis of cancer. By collecting high-quality review articles from scholars working at universities and research institutes worldwide, this Topic Collection aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the most recent advances, discoveries, and progress across all areas of molecular oncology. Full-length, comprehensive reviews are preferred.

Topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • New insights into the molecular mechanisms of cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis
  • Emerging technologies in cancer research (e.g., bioinformatics, proteomics, metabolomics, tissue arrays, imaging)
  • Novel molecular biomarkers and cancer profiling for diagnosis, prognosis, stratification, and treatment efficacy
  • Molecular interactions within the tumor microenvironment, including tumor–immune cell, tumor–stroma, and tumor–microbiota interactions
  • Genomic profiling of human cancers, including genetics, epigenetics, and genomic instability
  • Preclinical research leading to novel therapies based on molecular and cellular mechanisms, including gene therapy, nanomedicine-based treatments, biologics, cancer vaccines, and immunotherapies (e.g., oncolytic viruses, CAR T cells)

Dr. Carmine Stolfi
Dr. Eric Huet
Collection 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 collection 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

  • review
  • molecular oncology
  • cancer genetics and epigenetics
  • cancer genomics development and progression of cancers
  • metastasis
  • tumor microenvironment
  • novel therapies

Published Papers (5 papers)

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2025

21 pages, 732 KB  
Review
Beyond Hematologic Malignancies: Colorectal Cancer as a Solid Tumor Manifestation of Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes
by Sara Cagliano, Marta Potenza, Marta La Vecchia, Steven R. Ellis, Irma Dianzani and Anna Aspesi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(20), 10105; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262010105 - 17 Oct 2025
Viewed by 224
Abstract
Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes (IBMFS) encompass a group of rare genetic disorders characterized by intrinsic hematopoietic stem cell defects, leading to impaired hematopoiesis and increased predisposition to malignancies, particularly hematologic cancers. As advances in supportive care and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have [...] Read more.
Inherited Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes (IBMFS) encompass a group of rare genetic disorders characterized by intrinsic hematopoietic stem cell defects, leading to impaired hematopoiesis and increased predisposition to malignancies, particularly hematologic cancers. As advances in supportive care and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation have extended patient survival, there is growing recognition of an elevated risk of solid tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC), within this population. Epidemiologic data, although limited by small cohort sizes, suggest the need for earlier and more intensive CRC surveillance protocols tailored to IBMFS patients, who tend to develop CRC at younger ages compared to the general population. Among IBMFS, the most robust association with CRC has been reported in Diamond–Blackfan anemia syndrome (DBAS) and Fanconi anemia (FA), while emerging evidence suggests a potential link in dyskeratosis congenita (DC) and Shwachman–Diamond syndrome (SDS). The pathophysiological basis involves defective DNA repair mechanisms, telomere dysfunction, ribosomal protein abnormalities, and impaired cellular stress responses, each contributing to genomic instability and malignant transformation. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning the association between IBMFS and CRC may provide a foundation for future targeted prevention and surveillance strategies and offer broader insights into colorectal carcinogenesis. Full article
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19 pages, 723 KB  
Review
Ocular Melanoma: A Comprehensive Review with a Focus on Molecular Biology
by Lucia Iavarone, Renato Franco, Federica Zito Marino, Giuseppe D’Abbronzo, Giuseppe Argenziano, Camila Scharf, Grazia Nucci, Andrea Ronchi and Gerardo Cazzato
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9799; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199799 - 8 Oct 2025
Viewed by 743
Abstract
Ocular melanoma is a rare but clinically significant malignancy, primarily comprising uveal and conjunctival subtypes. Although sharing some histopathological features with cutaneous melanoma, these tumours are characterized by distinct molecular and biological profiles with direct implications for prognosis and treatment. Uveal melanoma is [...] Read more.
Ocular melanoma is a rare but clinically significant malignancy, primarily comprising uveal and conjunctival subtypes. Although sharing some histopathological features with cutaneous melanoma, these tumours are characterized by distinct molecular and biological profiles with direct implications for prognosis and treatment. Uveal melanoma is predominantly driven by mutations in GNAQ and GNA11, along with alterations in BAP1, SF3B1, and EIF1AX, which are key prognostic determinants. Conversely, conjunctival and eyelid melanoma exhibits greater molecular similarity to cutaneous melanoma, commonly involving BRAF, NRAS, NF1, and TERT promoter mutations. Despite progress in the molecular characterization of these entities, metastatic disease continues to confer a poor prognosis, particularly in uveal melanoma. Ongoing research into the molecular basis of ocular melanoma is essential to advance targeted therapies and improve clinical outcomes. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of ocular melanoma, with a particular focus on the molecular biology underlying its clinical behaviour and emerging therapeutic opportunities. Full article
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14 pages, 286 KB  
Review
Molecular Landscape of Prostate Cancer Across Age Groups: Impact on Prognosis and Treatment Outcomes
by Magdalena Julita Orzechowska and Andrzej K. Bednarek
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(19), 9777; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26199777 - 8 Oct 2025
Viewed by 509
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PC) has long been considered a disease of older men. Still, a significant and concerning rise in diagnoses among younger men has revealed a biologically distinct and more aggressive clinical entity: early-onset prostate cancer (EO-PC). This comprehensive review synthesizes the molecular [...] Read more.
Prostate cancer (PC) has long been considered a disease of older men. Still, a significant and concerning rise in diagnoses among younger men has revealed a biologically distinct and more aggressive clinical entity: early-onset prostate cancer (EO-PC). This comprehensive review synthesizes the molecular and clinical evidence to demonstrate that PC is not a single disease, but a collection of distinct entities delineated by patient age. EO-PC is characterized by a strong genetic component, unique fusion events like TMPRSS2-ERG, and a highly plastic phenotype driven by intense Notch signaling and a hybrid epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In stark contrast, late-onset prostate cancer (LO-PC) is defined by a higher mutational burden, an epigenetic “field defect” that accumulates with age, and a predominantly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. These profound biological differences have significant implications for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic strategies. Traditional prognostic tools, such as the Gleason score, are often insufficient to capture the full spectrum of risk in younger men. The divergent molecular landscapes of EO-PC and LO-PC necessitate a fundamental shift from a standard approach to an age-aware precision medicine framework. This review highlights key therapeutic targets and underscores the critical need for a new paradigm in PC management to improve patient outcomes. Full article
21 pages, 2186 KB  
Review
Knocking on Cells’ Door: Strategic Approaches for miRNA and siRNA in Anticancer Therapy
by Massimo Serra, Alessia Buccellini and Mayra Paolillo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(17), 8703; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178703 - 6 Sep 2025
Viewed by 1639
Abstract
Metastasis is the main cause of failure in anticancer therapies, and is frequently related to poor prognosis for patients. The true challenge in extending cancer patient life expectancy, eventually managing cancer as a chronic disease with periodic but controllable relapses, relies on the [...] Read more.
Metastasis is the main cause of failure in anticancer therapies, and is frequently related to poor prognosis for patients. The true challenge in extending cancer patient life expectancy, eventually managing cancer as a chronic disease with periodic but controllable relapses, relies on the development of effective therapeutic strategies specifically targeting key mechanisms involved in the metastatic cascade. Traditional chemotherapy with alkylating agents, microtubule inhibitors, and antimetabolites has shown limited efficacy against metastatic cells, largely due to the emergence of chemoresistant populations that undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), promoting the colonization of distant organs and sustaining metastatic progression. This scenario has spurred significant efforts to identify small molecules and biologics capable of interfering with specific steps in the metastatic process. In this review, we provide an overview of recent advances involving small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer therapy. Although most of these agents are still under investigation and have not yet been approved for clinical use, insights into their development stage offer valuable information to identify new targets in the ongoing fight against metastasis. Particular emphasis is placed on the role of chemical modifications applied to siRNAs, such as backbone, sugar, terminal, base, and conjugation changes, and how these factors influence their stability, immunogenicity, and targeting precision. By integrating these aspects into the discussion, this review provides a focused and up-to-date resource for researchers in medicinal chemistry, drug delivery, and pharmaceutical formulation, where molecular design plays a critical role in therapeutic success. Full article
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Graphical abstract

34 pages, 2764 KB  
Review
The Inositol-5-Phosphatase SHIP1: Expression, Regulation and Role in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
by Patrick Ehm and Manfred Jücker
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(14), 6935; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26146935 - 19 Jul 2025
Viewed by 1196
Abstract
Despite the successes achieved in recent years in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), high-risk ALL in particular still represents a considerable challenge, with poorer outcomes. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is frequently constitutively activated in ALL and consequently leads to unrestricted [...] Read more.
Despite the successes achieved in recent years in the treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), high-risk ALL in particular still represents a considerable challenge, with poorer outcomes. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is frequently constitutively activated in ALL and consequently leads to unrestricted cell proliferation, without showing frequent mutations in the most important representatives of the signaling pathway. Recent studies have shown that fine balanced protein expression is a common way to adjust oncogenic B cell directed receptor signaling and to mediate malignant cell proliferation and survival in leukemic cells. Too low expression of inhibitory phosphatases can lead to constitutive signaling of kinases, which are important for cell proliferation and survival. In contrast, marked high expression levels of key phosphatases enable cells with distinct pronounced oncogenic B cell directed receptor signaling to escape negative selection by attenuating signal strength and thus raising the threshold for deletion checkpoint activation. One of the most important B cell receptor-dependent signaling cascades is the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, with its important antagonist SHIP1. However, recent data show that the inositol-5-phosphatase SHIP1 is differentially expressed across the heterogeneity of the ALL subtypes, making the overall therapeutic strategy targeting SHIP1 more complex. The aim of this article is therefore to provide an overview of the current knowledge about SHIP1, its expression in the various subtypes of ALL, its regulation, and the molecules that influence its gene and protein expression, to better understand its role in the pathogenesis of leukemia and other human cancers. Full article
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