Innovative Approaches to Combat Tumorigenesis and Drug Resistance: From Molecular Insights to Therapeutic Advancements

Tumor pathogenesis and drug resistance remain formidable obstacles in the field of oncology, dealing with the complexities of cancer development and the diminishing efficacy of treatments. The process of tumorigenesis is propelled by various factors including genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, and environmental influences, which facilitate uncontrolled cellular proliferation and metastasis. Parallel to these processes, drug resistance emerges either intrinsically or through evolution during therapy, severely impeding the success of existing cancer treatments. This resistance can be attributed to numerous factors, such as tumor heterogeneity, alterations in drug targets, activation of compensatory signaling pathways, dynamic shifts within the tumor microenvironment and microbiome modulation in cancer treatment—each contributing to the tough challenge of managing cancer effectively.

This Research Topic aims to dissect the complex cellular and molecular underpinnings of both tumor pathogenesis and the development of drug resistance. The primary goal is to uncover new information that could inform the creation of novel therapeutic strategies that are more precise and effective. We aim to explore the myriad roles played by the tumor microenvironment, immune system responses, and epigenetic changes in fostering tumor growth and therapy resistance, advancing our comprehension, guiding more successful treatment protocols and a deeper understanding of fecal microbiota transplantation.

To help explore these complex issues rigorously, we encourage the submission of the following themed contributions:
• Molecular Mechanisms: Exploring tumor pathogenesis and cancer progression at the molecular level.
• Genetic and Epigenetic Factors: Understanding how genetic changes and epigenetic modifications contribute to drug resistance.
• Tumor Microenvironment: Analyzing how the environment surrounding tumors impacts therapeutic resistance.
• Advances in Treatments: Considering innovations in targeted and combination therapies.
• Biomarkers: Developing markers for predicting responses to drugs and identifying resistance.
• Immune Evasion and Immunotherapy: Investigating resistance mechanisms specific to immune-targeted therapies.
• Gut microbiota: Detection of gut microbiota and construction of predictive models.
• Fecal microbiota transplantation: Basic and clinical research on fecal microbiota transplantation in precision cancer medicine.