Topic Editors

Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA

Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: From Laboratory to Clinical Studies, 2nd Edition

Abstract submission deadline
20 May 2026
Manuscript submission deadline
20 August 2026
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1905

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading global health burden, ranking third in incidence and mortality. With the growing recognition of its molecular heterogeneity, CRC is increasingly seen not as a single disease, but as a constellation of distinct molecular subtypes with varied therapeutic responses. While next-generation sequencing, organoid models, and liquid biopsy technologies have deepened insights into the tumor microenvironment and mechanisms of resistance, translating these findings into durable clinical benefits remains a pressing challenge. Emerging areas such as immune evasion, tumor–stroma interactions, microbiome influences, and spatial transcriptomics are reshaping how we understand and treat metastatic CRC. Moreover, disparities in access to precision oncology and limited efficacy in microsatellite stable tumors highlight persistent gaps. This Special Issue invites original research and comprehensive reviews that explore novel biomarkers, therapeutic targets, resistance mechanisms, and integrated multimodal treatment strategies. We especially welcome multidisciplinary contributions that bridge molecular biology, immunology, surgical innovation, computational medicine, and translational oncology to advance personalized care in CRC. We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos
Dr. Diamantis I. Tsilimigras
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • colorectal cancer (CRC)
  • tumor microenvironment
  • liquid biopsy
  • immunotherapy resistance
  • precision oncology
  • cancer biomarkers
  • next-generation sequencing (NGS)
  • microsatellite instability (MSI)/stability (MSS)
  • tumor heterogeneity
  • multimodal cancer therapy

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Cancers
cancers
4.4 8.8 2009 19.1 Days CHF 2900 Submit
Current Oncology
curroncol
3.4 4.9 1994 22.8 Days CHF 2200 Submit
Diagnostics
diagnostics
3.3 5.9 2011 21.6 Days CHF 2600 Submit
Gastrointestinal Disorders
gastrointestdisord
0.8 1.2 2019 22.2 Days CHF 1400 Submit
Journal of Clinical Medicine
jcm
2.9 5.2 2012 18.5 Days CHF 2600 Submit

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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36 pages, 18321 KB  
Systematic Review
Evaluating MiRNAs in Blood-Based Liquid Biopsy for Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer Detection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Aman Ullah, Mustafa Ghulam, Jiahao Liu, Sanfei Peng, Yuhan Yin, Sihan Wu and Yang Fu
Cancers 2026, 18(5), 720; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers18050720 - 24 Feb 2026
Viewed by 901
Abstract
Background: A significant rise is observed in the incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) worldwide, demanding discovery of promising non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of single circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) for EOCRC detection. Methods: The protocol for [...] Read more.
Background: A significant rise is observed in the incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) worldwide, demanding discovery of promising non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of single circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) for EOCRC detection. Methods: The protocol for this systematic review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD420251252155). We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus through September 2025 following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Studies stating diagnostic accuracy of single circulating miRNAs in blood samples for histologically confirmed CRC were included. The quality assessment of included studies was done by using QUADAS-2 and bivariate random-effect meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled diagnostic metrics. Results: Sixteen studies comprising 909 CRC cases and 1214 controls evaluating 22 distinct miRNAs were included. In the primary meta-analysis restricted to early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC, <50 years), pooled sensitivity was 84.4% and specificity was 85.7%. Analyses including mixed-age or all CRC populations were conducted as secondary analyses and showed comparable diagnostic performance. Subgroup analysis showed EOCRC patients (<50 years, n = 15) demonstrated sensitivity of 84.4% and specificity of 85.7%. Substantial heterogeneity existed (I2 > 85%). Quality assessment revealed high risk of bias in patient selection (87.5%) and index test domains (87.5%). Mechanistic analysis identified key pathways including Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/AKT and EMT regulation. Sensitivity analyses confirmed robust estimates and Deeks’ test (p = 0.99) indicated no publication bias. Conclusion: This study has shown that individual circulating miRNAs provide consistent diagnostic accuracy for early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC); however, these findings require prospective validation in true screening settings before clinical implementation. Full article
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