Emerging Concepts and Therapeutic Strategies for Targeting RTKs in Genitourinary Cancers

Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) such as c-Met, VEGFR, AXL, HER2, and EGFR play pivotal roles in regulating cellular processes like growth, differentiation, motility, and metabolism, which are particularly critical in genitourinary cancers, such as renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer. In these specific cancer types, aberrant RTK signaling is prevalent, driving oncogenesis, tumor progression, and resistance to therapies. Over the years, RTKs have become crucial targets for treatment strategies in genitourinary oncology. Since the approval of the first kinase inhibitor, the development of these drugs has underscored the potential for targeted therapies, offering notable advantages over traditional treatments. Regulatory approvals by the US FDA, among others, have highlighted the significance of RTK inhibitors in improving treatment outcomes within precision oncology for genitourinary cancers compared to conventional methods.

The goal of this Research Topic is to deepen our understanding of the emerging concepts and therapeutic strategies concerning receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) in genitourinary cancers. While substantial progress in targeted therapies has been achieved, therapeutic resistance and disease progression remain significant challenges. Aberrant RTK signaling not only catalyzes tumor progression but also facilitates the development of drug-resistant clones, thereby challenging the long-term efficacy of existing treatments.

To gather further insights into the nuances of RTK involvement in genitourinary cancers, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
o Molecular mechanisms of RTK signaling in genitourinary cancers.
o Innovations in targeted RTK inhibitors and their therapeutic potential in genitourinary cancer treatment.
o Understanding mechanisms of resistance to RTK inhibitors and developing strategies to counteract them.
o Integration of combination therapies to limit resistance and improve clinical outcomes.
o Identification of biomarkers for effectively stratifying patients and predicting therapeutic responses.

We invite original research articles and comprehensive reviews that offer novel insights into these focus areas. Manuscripts should drive significant advancements in the field, drawn from experimental research, clinical trials, or theoretical frameworks. All submissions will be subject to a rigorous peer-review process to ensure high-quality contributions to the field.




Please note that manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public omics databases that are not supplemented by relevant functional validation (clinical cohort or biological validation, in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this Research Topic.

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
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

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
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Cancer, Cell Signaling, RTKs, Targeted Therapies, Small molecule kinase inhibitors, Tumor Microenvironment, Therapeutic Resistance, Translational Research

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.