This collection assembles authoritative review articles that synthesize the state of the science across diagnostic imaging, molecular and functional probes, image‑guided interventions, quantitative methods and AI, and health services research in oncology. Aligned with the Cancer Imaging and Image-directed Interventions section of Frontiers in Oncology, the series focuses on how imaging advances accelerate accurate cancer diagnosis, enable individualized cancer therapy, optimize oncology workflows, and improve patient outcomes.
We welcome state‑of‑the‑art, systematic, scoping, and consensus reviews that:
- Diagnostic and response assessment imaging in cancer: Critically appraise evidence for cancer detection, staging, treatment planning, minimal residual disease, and surveillance across CT, MRI, PET/CT, PET/MRI, ultrasound, and hybrid modalities in oncology.
- Protocol optimization and harmonization for oncologic imaging: Summarize standards and best practices (e.g., RECIST, PERCIST, diffusion MRI parameters, PET timing, motion correction) to ensure multi‑center reproducibility and interoperability in cancer trials and clinical care.
- Molecular and functional probes in oncology: Review radiotracers and contrast agents for tumor target expression, tumor microenvironment, metabolism, hypoxia, immune contexture, pharmacokinetics, target engagement, dosimetry, safety, and regulatory translation specific to cancer imaging.
- Image‑guided and image‑directed cancer interventions: Synthesize evidence for oncologic ablation, embolization, SIRT, endovascular, surgical, and radiation therapy; navigation and intra‑procedural imaging; theranostic workflows; and dosimetry‑guided personalization in cancer care.
- Imaging biomarkers and trial endpoints in oncology: Evaluate prognostic and predictive imaging signatures, lesion‑level analytics, qualification and external validation, adaptive trial designs, and links to clinically meaningful outcomes in cancer populations.
- Systems‑level and whole‑body phenotyping in cancer: Integrate imaging insights on tumor–host interactions, cachexia, immune activation, thromboinflammation, organ function, therapy toxicities, and longitudinal quantitative imaging in oncology cohorts.
- Methods, quantitative imaging, AI, and implementation science for cancer imaging: Cover acquisition/reconstruction, radiomics, foundation models, multimodal and federated learning, bias/uncertainty analysis, harmonization (QIBA/QIN), reporting standards (CLAIM, TRIPOD‑AI, CONSORT‑AI), dose optimization, safety, QA, workflow integration, and decision support in oncologic imaging.
- Screening, surveillance, and health services research in oncology imaging: Review population and risk‑adapted cancer screening, comparative and cost‑effectiveness, access and equity, real‑world utilization, guideline adherence, survivorship imaging, and implementation outcomes in cancer care.
Scope and suitability:
- Manuscripts must be reviews and must focus on cancer imaging or image‑directed interventions in oncology.
- Articles centered primarily on bioinformatics, standalone computational analyses, or predictions from public databases without appropriate experimental or clinical validation are out of scope.
- Topics unrelated to cancer diagnosis, imaging, or treatment (e.g., viral infections, bone fractures, or general non‑oncologic manifestations) will not be considered
Article types and fees
This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:
Case Report
Clinical Trial
Editorial
FAIR² Data
FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
General Commentary
Hypothesis and Theory
Methods
Mini Review
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:
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.
