Comprehending Molecular Targets: Mechanisms and Actions in Drug Development

A special issue of Targets (ISSN 2813-3137).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 2137

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The identification and validation of drug targets both play a pivotal role in drug discovery and development. Targeted therapies have revolutionized modern medicine by providing more effective and precise treatments for various diseases. Understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis and the interactions between drugs and their targets is crucial for the development of novel therapeutics.

In this Special Issue, we aim to explore the diverse landscape of drug targets across different therapeutic areas. We invite researchers, scientists, and clinicians to contribute original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that will advance our understanding of drugs’ targets. Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Molecular mechanisms of drug action
  • Identification and validation of novel drug targets
  • Targeted therapies for cancer and other diseases
  • Target-based drug design and development
  • Emerging targets for precision medicine
  • Target engagement and pharmacodynamics
  • Biomarkers of target engagement and drug response
  • Target-based screening and drug discovery strategies
  • Personalized medicine approaches targeting specific molecular pathways
  • Challenges and opportunities in targeting complex diseases

We encourage submissions that encompass interdisciplinary approaches, ranging from basic science to clinical applications. By bringing together cutting-edge research in this field, we aim to foster collaboration and accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into innovative therapies that improve patient outcomes.

We welcome submissions of original research articles, reviews, and perspectives for inclusion in this Special Issue on "Comprehending Molecular Targets: Mechanisms and Actions in Drug Development".

Dr. Cristina Manuela Drăgoi
Dr. Ion-Bogdan Bogdan Dumitrescu
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 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. Targets is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1000 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

  • drug development
  • therapeutic targets
  • drug research
  • drug design
  • drug–drug interactions
  • biochemistry of drug uptake, action, and metabolism
  • drug target discovery
  • individualized therapy
  • pharmacogenomics
  • novel therapeutics
  • chronobiology
  • medicinal chemistry
  • biologics
  • personalized medicine
  • biomolecular targets
  • drugs mechanisms of action
  • pharmacodynamics
  • molecular pathways
  • pharmacokinetics
  • signal transduction pathways
  • receptor biology
  • molecular interactions
  • drug metabolism
  • structural biology
  • pharmacotherapeutics
  • molecular pharmacology
  • target identification
  • precision medicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

22 pages, 5138 KiB  
Review
Potential of MMP-2 and MMP-9 Gelatinase Blockade as a Therapeutic Strategy in Fibrosarcoma Treatment: A Decadal Review
by Alireza Shoari
Targets 2024, 2(2), 104-125; https://doi.org/10.3390/targets2020007 - 5 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1496
Abstract
Fibrosarcoma represents a significant challenge in oncology, characterized by high invasiveness and a poor prognosis. Gelatinases, particularly matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, play a pivotal role in the degradation of the extracellular matrix, facilitating tumor invasion and metastasis. Inhibiting these enzymes has emerged [...] Read more.
Fibrosarcoma represents a significant challenge in oncology, characterized by high invasiveness and a poor prognosis. Gelatinases, particularly matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, play a pivotal role in the degradation of the extracellular matrix, facilitating tumor invasion and metastasis. Inhibiting these enzymes has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. This review evaluates the progress in the development and therapeutic potential of gelatinase inhibitors as treatments for fibrosarcoma over the last decade, highlighting molecular mechanisms and future directions. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, focusing on studies published from 2013 to 2023. Research articles and review papers relevant to gelatinase inhibition and fibrosarcoma were examined to assess the efficacy and mechanisms of gelatinase inhibitors. Gelatinase inhibitors have shown the potential to reduce tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis in fibrosarcoma. Clinical trials, although limited, have indicated that these inhibitors can be effectively integrated into existing therapeutic regimens, offering a reduction in metastatic spread and potentially improving patient survival rates. Mechanistic studies suggest that the inhibition of MMP-2 and MMP-9 disrupts critical pathways involved in tumor growth and cell invasion. Gelatinase inhibition represents a viable and promising approach to fibrosarcoma treatment. Future research should focus on developing more specific inhibitors, understanding long-term outcomes, and integrating gelatinase inhibition into multimodal treatment strategies to enhance efficacy. Full article
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