Cell-Free DNA as Prognostic and Predictive Biomarker in Solid Cancers (2nd Edition)
A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Cancer Biomarkers".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2025 | Viewed by 930
Special Issue Editors
Interests: hormone-sensitive prostate cancer; metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer; androgen receptor agents; bone health agents; bone metastases; cfDNA; taxanes; biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: genitourinary malignancies; liquid biopsy; cfDNA; methylated DNA; genetic and epigenetic biomarkers
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: breast cancer; urogenital cancers; neuropathology; molecular pathology; digital pathology; tumor microenvironment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue is the second edition of the previous one, entitled "Cell-Free DNA as Prognostic and Predictive Biomarker in Solid Cancers" (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers/special_issues/cfDNA_Biomarker).
In recent years, we have witnessed the approval of an increasing number of therapeutic options extending the survival of patients with solid malignancies. However, the selection of the optimal drug, timing, sequencing, and combinations has become increasingly challenging, as the number of genomic, molecular, and clinical biomarkers is still insufficient to effectively personalize treatment. Tailoring patient therapy would allow for maximizing the efficacy of novel agents while avoiding toxicity and the direct and indirect costs of futile treatments. Consequently, there is an urgent need for novel prognostic and predictive biomarkers to guide treatment selection.
In this regard, the analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) derived from body fluids, such as plasma or urine, was recently shown to be a minimally invasive and accurate method of comprehensive tumor genetic and epigenetic profiling, including the profiling of copy number alterations, mutations, and methylation patterns. Furthermore, there is evidence suggesting that both the total quantity of cfDNA in the blood and the estimated tumor-derived fraction of cfDNA could have potential prognostic and predictive value. While tissue biopsies are invasive and impractical to perform on a routine basis, the discovery and validation of genetic or epigenetic biomarkers through cfDNA analysis would allow for advancing precision medicine and facilitating its application in clinical practice.
This Special Issue will highlight the role of cfDNA in the research of novel prognostic and predictive biomarkers for solid malignancies as well as in the monitoring of the courses of these diseases.
Dr. Edoardo Francini
Dr. Pier Vitale Nuzzo
Dr. Giuseppe Fanelli
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 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. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). 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
- cell-free DNA
- cfDNA
- solid tumors
- predictive biomarkers
- prognostic biomarkers
- precision medicine
- treatment personalization
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