Cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease driven by complex molecular and genetic alterations. In recent years, the field of precision medicine has revolutionized oncology by shifting the focus from one-size-fits-all approaches to personalized strategies tailored to each patient’s unique tumor profile. This Research Topic aims to highlight innovative therapeutic approaches that are redefining cancer treatment through the lens of precision medicine.

Advances in next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, and molecular diagnostics have facilitated the identification of both invasive and non-invasive biomarkers, oncogenic drivers, and resistance mechanisms. Among these, extracellular vesicle-derived microRNAs (EV-miRNAs) have gained attention as promising non-invasive biomarkers for early cancer detection, owing to their stability in bodily fluids and tumor-specific expression patterns. These discoveries are driving the development of targeted therapies, immunotherapies, cell-based treatments, and combination strategies aimed at enhancing efficacy and reducing toxicity.

One major focus in precision medicine is the development of therapies that inhibit oncogenic proteins—key molecules that promote cancer growth. These include small-molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, RNA-based drugs, and the emerging class of PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras), which degrade cancer-causing proteins. Despite these innovations, many tumors eventually develop resistance due to their ability to adapt or activate alternative pathways. Addressing this challenge requires a deeper understanding of tumor biology, including cellular plasticity and the reactivation of developmental signaling pathways.

We are particularly interested in research that links the dysregulation of developmental pathways with new therapeutic approaches. This Research Topic welcomes Original Research Articles, Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Perspectives, Commentaries, Data notes, and technical notes, but are not limited to the following:

• Targeting oncogenic and developmental pathways in cancer

• Extracellular Vesicle-Derived microRNAs as Promising Biomarkers

• Novel small molecule inhibitors and biologics targeting cancer-specific pathways

• Tumor microenvironment modulation and therapeutic resistance mechanisms

• Investigating how cancer cells adapt to evade targeted therapies and identifying ways to prevent or overcome resistance.

• Identifying genetic, transcriptomic, or proteomic markers that guide patient-specific therapy choices.

• Model systems for testing cancer therapeutics

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Emerging Therapeutics in Precision Cancer Medicine