Predictive and Prognostic Biomarkers in Cancer: Towards the Precision Medicine Era
Prof. Luca Falzone E-Mail
Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
Research Keywords: Molecular oncology, epigenetics, biomarker discovery, liquid biopsy
Dr. Antonio Rizzo E-Mail
Division of Pathology, Humanitas Istituto Clinico Catanese, Catania, Italy
Research Keywords: Breast cancer, pathology, immunohistochemistry, molecular pathology
Dr. Stefano Marletta E-Mail
Division of Pathology, Humanitas Istituto Clinico Catanese, Catania, Italy; Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Italy
Research Keywords: Digital pathology, cancer immunity, immunopathology, Immunohistochemistry
Dr. Graziana Spoto E-Mail
Division of Pathology, Humanitas Istituto Clinico Catanese, Catania, Italy
Research Keywords: Oncogenetics, hereditary tumors, molecular biology, molecular diagnostics, predictive biomarkers
In recent years, cancer research has experienced significant advancements in understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with the development and progression of tumors. These advancements have highlighted the importance of predictive and prognostic biomarkers in guiding therapeutic decisions and improving clinical outcomes. Predictive biomarkers are crucial for identifying patients likely to respond to specific treatments, while prognostic biomarkers provide information on disease progression regardless of the therapy received.
This Special Issue is dedicated to the exploration and characterization of predictive and prognostic biomarkers in the context of cancer diagnosis and management, aiming to promote the era of precision medicine. We invite contributions covering a wide range of topics, including but not limited to the discovery of new biomarkers through already acknowledged and novel advanced technologies, such as immunohistochemistry and next-generation sequencing; the clinical application and meaning of existing biomarkers; technological advancements in biomarker discovery and analysis; case studies on the successful implementation of precision medicine in oncology. Studies exploring the integration of omics data, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence for identifying and validating biomarkers will be particularly appreciated. Additionally, we welcome research examining the role of epigenetic biomarkers, tissue markers (i.e. immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization techniques), liquid biopsies, and circulating tumor cells in early diagnosis, prognosis, and drug resistance.
This Special Issue aims to bring together researchers, clinicians, and translational scientists to discuss the latest discoveries and future directions in predictive and prognostic biomarker research. Our goal is to foster interdisciplinary collaborations and accelerate the implementation of precision medicine strategies in cancer treatment.
Keywords: Predictive biomarkers, prognostic biomarkers, precision medicine, cancer genomics, molecular oncology, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, multi-omics, liquid biopsy