Deciphering molecular mechanisms behind tumor heterogeneity features by using nucleic acid-based technologies

Studies of tumor markers have shown that these aberrant and heterogeneous entities are driven by a process of clonal selection that may determine the worsening of the disease course in patients. Moreover, many of these changes are associated with genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, such as the appearance of mutations or changes in the level of regulatory RNAs (microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, etc.).

New technologies and improved methodologies allow us to investigate these changes to find new companion biomarkers. In the future, new markers may expand our screening strategies to include liquid biopsy and precision medicine approaches. Subsequently, functional tests using synthetic nucleic acids may help validate current research hypotheses related to the control of elusive genetic mechanisms to re-sensitize tumor cells and create theranostic strategies.

This topic will present interdisciplinary research describing work that involves omics, bioinformatics, molecular and cell biology with a translational approach to discover and investigate nucleic acid-based biomarkers in the tumor context. By combining experimental approaches and real-world studies on patients with various neoplasias, we aim to gather relevant information to understand the genetic mechanisms underlying tumor heterogeneity and resistance.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, systematic reviews/meta-analyses, perspectives, and opinion manuscripts highlighting recent, promising, and well-modeled strategies for discovering nucleic acid-based markers or assessing their feasibility as potential therapeutic solutions in cancer models or patients. Areas to be addressed in this Research Topic may include, but are not limited to:

• Single-cell and bulk nucleic acid analyses for evaluating genetic and epigenetic profiles within tumors, focusing on how these variations contribute to heterogeneity

• Innovative analytical frameworks for re-interpreting publicly available tumor datasets to identify and validate additional patterns and markers associated with tumor features

• Genomic and transcriptomic novel techniques to discover tumor biomarkers in solid and liquid biopsies, aiming to understand their role in disease progression

• Nucleic acid-based therapeutic approaches designed to re-sensitize resistant tumor cells

• Delivery strategies for nucleic acid-based therapies that specifically target heterogeneous tumor cell populations, enhancing treatment efficacy

• Cutting-edge nucleic acid detection technologies to better characterize the molecular landscape of tumors, aiding in the identification of tumor subpopulation biomarkers

• Integrate single-cell and spatial profiling techniques to understand how tumor cells interact with surrounding stromal and immune cells, and how these interactions contribute to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance

• Role of epigenetic factors (p.e. DNA Methylation, Chromatin Remodeling, non-coding RNAs) in tumor biology and their potential as biomarkers for diagnosis and disease progression

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: tumor heterogeneity, tumor markers, genetics, epigenetics, nucleic acids, biomarkers, precision medicine

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.