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Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Cancer, 3rd Edition
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Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Cancer, 3rd Edition

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 July 2026 | Viewed by 5931

Editor

Dr. Aneta Koronowicz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Agriculture in Krakow, A. Mickiewicz Av. 21, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
Interests: health prevention; human nutrition; nutrigenomics; nutrition and immunity; epigenetics; functional foods
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gastrointestinal cancer is the most common human malignancy, with colorectal and gastric cancer accounting for the third and fifth highest global incidences, respectively. Despite the use of new and innovative chemotherapeutic agents and combination treatment strategies, including chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy, and targeted therapies, modern medicine still lacks a fully effective therapy approach. In addition, survival rates remain notably low for patients with advanced-stage malignancies. A better knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that influence cancer progression and the development of optimal therapeutic strategies for gastrointestinal cancer malignancies are urgently needed.

Alongside the need for utilizing existing knowledge regarding the process of developing and synthesizing new, potential chemotherapeutic agents characterized by appropriate effectiveness against gastrointestinal cancer cells, it is also important to emphasize prevention, which may involve, for example, proper nutrition. Numerous studies show that natural plant-derived compounds may contribute to cancer prevention and may also support the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer and other chronic diseases. The anticancer potential of compounds is often related to changes in the expression of genes that are implicated in cell cycle arrest and apoptotic death.

This Special Issue is supervised by Dr. Aneta Koronowicz and assisted by our Topical Advisory Panel Member Dr. Ewelina Piasna-Słupecka (University of Agriculture in Krakow). In this Special Issue, we will discuss recent advances and future directions of therapies for malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal system, as well as describe innovative chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, we will discuss the biological properties of natural products and new and classical dietary bioactive compounds, which may reduce the risk of gastrointestinal cancer in the future.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

More published papers can be found in the closed Special Issue.
Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Cancer, 2nd Edition

Dr. Aneta Koronowicz
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 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-anonymized 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
  • chemotherapeutic agents
  • innovative therapies
  • human nutrition
  • nutrigenomics
  • nutrition and immunity epigenetics
  • cytotoxicity
  • apoptosis

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 2103 KB  
Article
ABCG2 Contributes to Multidrug Resistance and Aggressive Phenotypes Associated with ERK Signaling in Gastric Cancer
by Özlem Türksoy Terzioğlu and Gökhan Terzioğlu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(11), 5039; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27115039 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 347
Abstract
Multidrug resistance remains a major obstacle in gastric cancer therapy and is frequently associated with aggressive phenotypes. Although ABCG2 is a well-known drug efflux transporter, its functional contribution to paclitaxel (PTX) resistance and its relationship with ERK signaling in gastric cancer remain incompletely [...] Read more.
Multidrug resistance remains a major obstacle in gastric cancer therapy and is frequently associated with aggressive phenotypes. Although ABCG2 is a well-known drug efflux transporter, its functional contribution to paclitaxel (PTX) resistance and its relationship with ERK signaling in gastric cancer remain incompletely understood. In this study, PTX-resistant gastric cancer cell models were established through prolonged drug exposure. Resistant cells exhibited cross-resistance to cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil together with enhanced drug efflux activity, invasion capacity, spheroid formation, stemness-associated marker expression, and G0/G1 enrichment. ABCG2 expression was markedly increased in resistant cells. Stable knockdown of ABCG2 restored PTX sensitivity and significantly reduced drug efflux, invasion, spheroid formation, and stemness-associated phenotypes, while increasing apoptosis and altering cell cycle distribution. ABCG2 depletion was associated with reduced ERK phosphorylation and decreased expression of ERK downstream target genes. Pharmacological inhibition of ERK signaling similarly suppressed resistance-associated phenotypes and reduced ABCG2 expression. Whereas reactivation of ERK signaling by constitutively active MEK1 partially rescued the effects of ABCG2 depletion, restoring aggressive and multidrug-resistant phenotypes. Our findings indicate that ERK signaling functionally contributes to ABCG2-associated multidrug resistance and aggressive phenotypes in PTX-resistant gastric cancer cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Cancer, 3rd Edition)
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15 pages, 1204 KB  
Article
Post-Surgical Remodeling of Circulating Monocytes Identifies CD86 Expression on Non-Classical Monocytes as a Prognostic Indicator in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
by Lisa-Sophie Arnold, Anne Jacobsen, Isabelle Kuchenreuther, Johanne Mazurie, Finn Niklas Clausen, Melanie Litau, Sebastian Klöckner, Franziska Czubayko, Bruno Leonardo Bancke Laverde, Yazan Amin, Nadine Weisel, Bettina Klösch, Susanne Merkel, Maximilian Brunner, Christian Krautz, Robert Grützmann, Anke Mittelstädt, Georg F. Weber and Paul David
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(11), 5012; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27115012 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 285
Abstract
Circulating myeloid cells are critical regulators of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression. However, their postoperative dynamics and clinical relevance remain poorly defined. In a prospective longitudinal study, blood was collected from PDAC patients prior to surgery and on postoperative day 7. Flow cytometry [...] Read more.
Circulating myeloid cells are critical regulators of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) progression. However, their postoperative dynamics and clinical relevance remain poorly defined. In a prospective longitudinal study, blood was collected from PDAC patients prior to surgery and on postoperative day 7. Flow cytometry was used to characterize monocytes, including classical (CM), intermediate (IMM), and non-classical (NCM) subsets, along with regulatory and co-stimulatory molecules (CD71, CD40, CD141, CD80, CD86, PD-L1). Cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IL-1β) were quantified by ELISA and correlated with clinical parameters and survival. Total monocytes and CM increased significantly at day 7, whereas IMM and NCM decreased. CD71, CD141, CD80, and CD86 expression were significantly altered across subsets, with the most pronounced reduction observed in CD86 expressing NCM. CD86 expressing NCM correlated inversely with systemic bilirubin but not CEA, lymphocytes, thrombocytes, or hospital stay. IL-6 and IL-10 increased postoperatively; IL-10 showed a tendency toward inverse correlation with CD86+ NCM. Low CD86 expression on NCM at day 7 was associated with reduced survival and higher relapse probability. CD86 expression on NCMs is profoundly reduced after PDAC surgery and serves as a prognostic biomarker linked to inflammation, bilirubin metabolism, survival, and recurrence. Postoperative monocyte profiling may improve risk stratification and inform early clinical decision-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Cancer, 3rd Edition)
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Review

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33 pages, 460 KB  
Review
Paraneoplastic Endocrine Changes in Gastrointestinal Tumors: A Clinical and Mechanistic Review
by Dragoș Forțofoiu, Victor-Mihai Sacerdoțianu, Robert-Emmanuel Șerban, Petrică Popa, Ioana-Gabriela Dragne, Ion Rogoveanu, Mihail Virgil Boldeanu, Dragoș-Marian Popescu and Cristin-Constantin Vere
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(11), 4677; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27114677 - 22 May 2026
Viewed by 330
Abstract
Paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes (PESs) are hormonal disturbances associated with malignancies that result from tumor-related production of hormone-like substances, immune-mediated mechanisms, or dysregulated signaling pathways. While they are well recognized in lung and neuroendocrine cancers, their relevance in gastrointestinal tumors remains less clearly defined. [...] Read more.
Paraneoplastic endocrine syndromes (PESs) are hormonal disturbances associated with malignancies that result from tumor-related production of hormone-like substances, immune-mediated mechanisms, or dysregulated signaling pathways. While they are well recognized in lung and neuroendocrine cancers, their relevance in gastrointestinal tumors remains less clearly defined. This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge on paraneoplastic endocrine manifestations in gastrointestinal malignancies, based on a structured search of the literature in major databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The analysis focuses on clinically relevant syndromes such as hypercalcemia, Cushing-like manifestations, disorders of water balance, hypoglycemia, and acromegaly, with emphasis on underlying mechanisms, associated tumor types, diagnostic approaches, and therapeutic considerations. Available evidence indicates that gastrointestinal tumors can produce a range of biologically active substances, leading to diverse endocrine manifestations that may precede tumor detection and influence disease course. Among these, hypercalcemia and Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH) are among the most frequently reported, while other syndromes, such as ectopic Cushing syndrome or tumor-related hypoglycemia, are less common but often associated with more severe clinical outcomes. Recognition of these manifestations has direct clinical implications, as they may support earlier diagnosis, contribute to prognostic assessment, and guide therapeutic management. Improved awareness and a multidisciplinary approach remain essential for optimizing outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Cancer, 3rd Edition)
19 pages, 1445 KB  
Review
The Molecular Landscape of Colorectal Laterally Spreading Tumors: From Endoscopic Subtypes to Molecular Targets
by Mara Martinelli, Nicoletta Cascelli, Ottavia Bartolo, Mario Ciuffi, Carmela Mazzoccoli, Rosalia Dieli, Rosa Lioy, Matteo Landriscina, Carlo Calabrese and Fabiana Crispo
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(17), 8445; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26178445 - 30 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4573
Abstract
Lateral Spreading Tumors (LSTs) are a type of non-polypoid lesion known for their flat morphology, which often leads to them going undetected. However, especially nongranular (NG) LSTs have the potential for malignant transformation. Recent advances in endoscopic technologies have improved the detection of [...] Read more.
Lateral Spreading Tumors (LSTs) are a type of non-polypoid lesion known for their flat morphology, which often leads to them going undetected. However, especially nongranular (NG) LSTs have the potential for malignant transformation. Recent advances in endoscopic technologies have improved the detection of these lesions. Despite growing research interest in their role in colorectal cancer (CRC) development, a comprehensive molecular characterization of LSTs is still lacking. The aim of this review is to highlight the current knowledge of the molecular characteristics of LSTs, that may help in determining whether LSTs can be prognostic indicators and identifying cases where they may rapidly progress to CRC through characteristic molecular pathways. From a mutational point of view, LSTs seem to be more closely associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) than with polypoid lesions. Nonetheless, they have peculiar epigenetic and genetic traits, which set them apart from other adenomas or bowel diseases. Elucidating their role in CRC development would provide benefits for their classification and management, by enhancing clinical surveillance strategies for patients diagnosed with these lesions in order to improve the efficient prevention of colorectal cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Gastrointestinal Cancer, 3rd Edition)
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