Editor's Picks

Open Access Review
Dysbiosis and colorectal cancer: conducive factors, biological and molecular role, and therapeutic prospectives
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Emerging evidence highlights the significant role of gut microbiota dysbiosis, characterized by a reduction in beneficial bacteria and an increase in pro-inflammatory and pro-carcinogenic bacteria, in CRC pathogenesis. Both genetic and environmental factors, including diet, antibiotic use, physical activity, aging, and obesity, contribute to this microbial imbalance. Dysbiosis promotes chronic inflammation and immune dysregulation, which facilitates tumor initiation and progression. This review examines the intricate interactions between gut microbiota, immune modulation, and CRC development. It explores current and emerging therapeutic strategies that target the microbiome to enhance treatment efficacy, discusses interventions aimed at restoring healthy microbiota in CRC patients, and outlines future directions for microbiome-based therapies to improve clinical outcomes.
Open Access Review
Biliary tract cancers: advances in diagnostic and management
Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are aggressive malignancies associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Advances in precision oncology, notably the identification of recurrent molecular alterations such as fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusions, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutations, ERBB2 amplifications, and v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B (BRAF) V600E mutations, have introduced new therapeutic avenues and modest survival benefits for patients with advanced disease. However, the practical implementation of targeted therapies remains hampered by challenges in tumor tissue acquisition and molecular testing, highlighting the need for alternative genomic profiling strategies. This comprehensive review examines the role of liquid biopsy as a non-invasive strategy for molecular profiling in BTCs, with a focus on the clinical applications of plasma and bile-derived circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). We synthesized findings from recent clinical studies evaluating mutation detection rates, concordance between liquid biopsy and tissue-based assays, and the comparative performance of plasma versus bile ctDNA. Liquid biopsy demonstrates high rates of mutation detection and good concordance with tissue analyses. Bile-derived ctDNA, owing to its proximity to the tumor, consistently shows higher sensitivity and mutant allele frequencies (MAFs) than plasma ctDNA. Nevertheless, challenges remain, including lower sensitivity for detecting structural alterations (e.g., gene fusions), variability in ctDNA yield depending on disease status, and a lack of assay standardization across platforms. Liquid biopsy, particularly through bile ctDNA analysis, emerges as a promising adjunct to tissue biopsy for molecular profiling in BTCs. It offers opportunities for earlier, less invasive, and more personalized treatment decisions. Future directions should aim at developing tumor-informed liquid biopsy strategies that increase precision, reduce costs, and ultimately improve patient outcomes. Prospective studies are needed to confirm its clinical utility and survival impact.
Open Access Perspective
Future perspectives: targeting fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) plays a critical role in the progression of various cancers through its involvement in cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. More recently, FGFR1 has been implicated in the mechanisms of immune evasion, particularly its role in resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab. Targeting FGFR1 with monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to enhance ICI efficacy by altering the tumor microenvironment and countering immune suppression. Preclinical studies demonstrate that combining FGFR1 inhibitors, such as the novel monoclonal antibody OM-RCA-01, with ICIs significantly improves antitumor activity, enhancing T cell responses and cytokine production. This article explores the role of FGFR1 in cancer biology, its contribution to immunotherapy resistance, and the therapeutic potential of targeting FGFR1 to enhance the efficacy of ICIs.

Articles

Latest
Most Viewed
Most Downloaded
Most Cited
Open Access Review
Next-generation cancer vaccines: targeting cryptic and non-canonical antigens for precision immunotherapy
Anu Shibi Anilkumar ... Ramakrishnan Veerabathiran
Published: September 25, 2025 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2025;6:1002338
This article belongs to the special issue Cancer Vaccines: From Basic Innovations to Clinical Translation
108 8 0
Open Access Review
Metabolic plasticity drives specific mechanisms of chemotherapy and targeted therapy resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer
Mariam Rojas ... Joan Maurel
Published: September 23, 2025 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2025;6:1002337
135 11 0
Open Access Review
Genetic and epigenetic landscape of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT): implications for DNA repair and cancer therapeutics
Shishir Singh ... Atar Singh Kushwah
Published: August 28, 2025 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2025;6:1002335
This article belongs to the special issue Advances in Cancer Genomics and Therapeutic Targets
850 23 0
Open Access Review
Inflammatory signatures across four photon radiotherapy and proton radiotherapy: mechanisms, mitigation, and quality of life impact
Yuting Sheng ... Yujiang Fang
Published: August 28, 2025 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2025;6:1002334
679 18 0
Open Access Review
Improvement of the sensitivity of circulating tumor DNA-based liquid biopsy: current approaches and future perspectives
Ekaterina S. Kuligina ... Evgeny N. Imyanitov
Published: August 08, 2025 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2025;6:1002333
1999 48 0
Open Access Review
Current strategies for the design of PROTAC linkers: a critical review
Robert I. Troup ... Matthias G. J. Baud
Published: October 30, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:273–312
This article belongs to the special issue Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC)
41194 3551 271
Open Access Review
The impact of tumour pH on cancer progression: strategies for clinical intervention
Carol Ward ... Simon P Langdon
Published: April 28, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:71–100
26670 814 115
Open Access Review
Early-stage triple negative breast cancer: the therapeutic role of immunotherapy and the prognostic value of pathological complete response
Pierluigi De Santis ... Palma Fedele
Published: February 28, 2024 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2024;5:232–250
This article belongs to the special issue Innovative Strategies to Target Triple-negative Breast Cancer
15718 242 6
Open Access Review
Novel approaches for the rational design of PROTAC linkers
Almaz Zagidullin ... Emil Bulatov
Published: October 30, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:381–390
This article belongs to the special issue Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC)
12501 540 44
Open Access Review
Inhibitors of the Fanconi anaemia pathway as potential antitumour agents for ovarian cancer
Sarah J Taylor ... Simon P Langdon
Published: February 29, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:26–52
11383 215 3
Open Access Review
PROTACs are effective in addressing the platelet toxicity associated with BCL-XL inhibitors
Peiyi Zhang ... Guangrong Zheng
Published: August 31, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:259–272
This article belongs to the special issue Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC)
11005 354 19
Open Access Review
Current strategies for the design of PROTAC linkers: a critical review
Robert I. Troup ... Matthias G. J. Baud
Published: October 30, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:273–312
This article belongs to the special issue Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC)
41194 3551 271
Open Access Perspective
Encouraging probiotics for the prevention and treatment of immune-related adverse events in novel immunotherapies against malignant glioma
Sayuri Yoshikawa ... Satoru Matsuda
Published: December 27, 2022 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2022;3:817–827
This article belongs to the special issue Theranostic Frontiers in Neuro-Oncology
5806 1748 9
Open Access Perspective
Potential tactics with vitamin D and certain phytochemicals for enhancing the effectiveness of immune-checkpoint blockade therapies
Ai Tsuji ... Satoru Matsuda
Published: June 30, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:460–473
This article belongs to the special issue Cancer Immunotherapy and Tumor Microenvironment
4912 1231 5
Open Access Perspective
Potential tactics with certain gut microbiota for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma
Sayuri Yoshikawa ... Satoru Matsuda
Published: August 24, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:556–568
This article belongs to the special issue Cancer Immunotherapy and Tumor Microenvironment
4650 1127 1
Open Access Review
The impact of tumour pH on cancer progression: strategies for clinical intervention
Carol Ward ... Simon P Langdon
Published: April 28, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:71–100
26670 814 115
Open Access Review
Novel approaches for the rational design of PROTAC linkers
Almaz Zagidullin ... Emil Bulatov
Published: October 30, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:381–390
This article belongs to the special issue Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC)
12501 540 44
Open Access Review
Current strategies for the design of PROTAC linkers: a critical review
Robert I. Troup ... Matthias G. J. Baud
Published: October 30, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:273–312
This article belongs to the special issue Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC)
41194 3551 271
Open Access Review
The impact of tumour pH on cancer progression: strategies for clinical intervention
Carol Ward ... Simon P Langdon
Published: April 28, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:71–100
26670 814 115
Open Access Review
Novel approaches for the rational design of PROTAC linkers
Almaz Zagidullin ... Emil Bulatov
Published: October 30, 2020 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2020;1:381–390
This article belongs to the special issue Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC)
12501 540 44
Open Access Review
Diagnostic value of liquid biopsy in the era of precision medicine: 10 years of clinical evidence in cancer
Vincenza Caputo ... Stefania Napolitano
Published: February 28, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:102–138
8092 159 44
Open Access Review
The clinical advances of proteolysis targeting chimeras in oncology
Hao Xie ... Jason B. Fleming
Published: December 31, 2021 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2021;2:511–521
This article belongs to the special issue Proteolysis Targeting Chimera (PROTAC)
7901 247 26
Open Access Review
Transforming growth factor-β signaling: from tumor microenvironment to anticancer therapy
Max Kam-Kwan Chan ... Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
Published: April 28, 2023 Explor Target Antitumor Ther. 2023;4:316–343
This article belongs to the special issue Cancer Immunotherapy and Tumor Microenvironment
6298 93 25

Special Issues

Ongoing Special lssues
Completed Special lssues
Breaking Boundaries in Breast Cancer Care: Emerging Controversies and Innovation in Surgical and Medical Approaches
Dr. Armando Orlandi
March 31, 2026
Published Articles: 0
Cancer Vaccines: From Basic Innovations to Clinical Translation
Prof. Panagiotis J Vlachostergios
February 28, 2026
Published Articles: 1
Artificial Intelligence Technology in Tumor Radiotherapy
Prof. Tuan D. Pham
September 30, 2025
Published Articles: 0
​Liquid Biopsy: Has Already Changed the Clinical Decision-Making in Solid Tumors Treatment?​​
Dr. Giulia Martini
June 30, 2025
Published Articles: 4
Predictive and Prognostic Biomarkers in Cancer: Towards the Precision Medicine Era
Prof. Luca Falzone Dr. Antonio Rizzo Dr. Stefano Marletta Dr. Graziana Spoto
December 31, 2025
Published Articles: 5
Potential Clinical Applications of Inorganic Nanomaterials in Cancer
Prof. Javier Reguera
June 30, 2025
Published Articles: 1
Potential of Non-Coding RNAs in Cancer Research and Treatment
Prof. Francesco Bertoni Dr. Luciano Cascione
June 30, 2025
Published Articles: 1
Novel Biomarkers in the Immunotherapy Era
Dr. Carminia Maria Della Corte Dr. Floriana Morgillo Dr. Caterina De Rosa
June 30, 2025
Published Articles: 2
Comprehensive Immunotherapy of Solid Tumors
Dr. Michela Valeria Rita Starace
October 31, 2024
Published Articles: 4
Advances in Cancer Genomics and Therapeutic Targets
Prof. Apostolos Zaravinos
June 30, 2025
Published Articles: 3
Molecular Mechanisms and Intervention Options in Metastatic Spread of Cancer
Dr. Katrin Sak
March 31, 2026
Published Articles: 3
Use of Different Radiation Treatment Modalities in Cancer Therapy: The Role of Inflammation and Immune Response
Prof. Alexandros Georgakilas
May 31, 2025
Published Articles: 3
Mechanisms of Targeted Therapy Resistance and Reversal Strategies
Prof. Pier Paolo Piccaluga
December 31, 2024
Published Articles: 3
Cancer Epigenetics: Implications for Novel Therapeutic Strategies
Prof. Mingzhou Guo
February 01, 2025
Published Articles: 2
Posttranslational Modifications in Health and Disease
Prof. Oliver Krämer
March 01, 2026
Published Articles: 4

Focus

Overview of DNA Damage Laboratory and Group
Prof. Alexandros Georgakilas
May. 18, 2023 3196

Membership

Journal Indexing
Journal Metrics
Speed 2025

From Submission to First Decision: 4 days

From First decision to Acceptance: 91 days

From Acceptance to Publication: 21 days

Article Usage (total)

Views: 1,302,388

Downloads: 28,330

Acceptance Rate

28%; 2024

49%; 2023

42%; 2022

Follow the Journal