Guest Editors
Qun Zhao, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China. Email: zhaoqun@hebmu.edu.cn
Huang Lei, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, US. Email: lei.huang@umassmed.edu
Renjun Gu, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China. Email: renjungu@hotmail.com
Summary
In the current landscape of targeted therapies, the exploration of novel targets and biomarkers holds paramount importance in advancing drug development and treatment modalities. A concerted effort is underway to comprehend the intricacies of cancer development, with the ultimate goal of expediting the discovery of groundbreaking pharmaceuticals. While some pioneering drug targets and biomarkers have already been pinpointed, the inherent heterogeneity of cancers underscores the imperative to broaden the spectrum of drugs and biomarkers. Achieving personalized treatment options hinges on this diversity. Thanks to recent strides in biological and medical technologies, there exists a newfound capability to swiftly unravel the mechanisms underpinning cancer initiation and progression, thereby unveiling novel targets. This presents a significant opportunity for the development of clinically effective anticancer drugs and biomarkers.
Beyond the identification of novel targets and biomarkers, a pivotal facet of drug development lies in comprehending how these targets interact with cancer cells, influencing their growth and survival. Such insights are instrumental in crafting drugs that can adeptly target these interactions and impede cancer progression. Furthermore, the trajectory of novel drug and biomarker development extends beyond target identification, encompassing pre-clinical and clinical trials. These trials rigorously evaluate the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of these agents, seeking to establish optimal doses, treatment schedules, and combination therapies that maximize therapeutic benefits while mitigating side effects.
This special issue serves as a forum for disseminating the latest research findings, deliberating challenges, and charting future research directions in this domain. We encourage submissions from a range of disciplines, including reviews, basic and translational research. All clinical trials, bioinformatics research, machine learning, meta-analysis must be validated with animal experiments. By fostering a collaborative community of researchers and clinicians, our aim is to expedite the development of innovative drugs and biomarkers for the treatment of solid tumors.
Keywords
Solid tumor; Biomarkers; Targets
Published Papers