Tumor Biochemistry Meets Drug Resistance: Turning Molecular Weaknesses into Therapeutic Opportunities
Guest Editors
Special Topic Introduction
This Special Issue is developed in official collaboration with the 5th Workshop of the Tumor Biochemistry Group of the Italian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SIB), to be held in Torino, Italy, on June 9 - 10, 2025. Centered on the theme “Is cancer an inaccessible fortress? Exploiting tumor Achilles’ heels to foster treatment opportunities,” the Special Issue aims to expand upon and disseminate the workshop's key scientific discussions. It will focus specifically on the biochemical and molecular underpinnings of cancer drug resistance, translating foundational insights into potential therapeutic strategies.
Aim and Scope:
Tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment engage in complex bidirectional interactions that enable malignant cells to adapt and survive under hostile conditions, including hypoxia, nutrient scarcity, cytotoxic treatments (such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy), and immune surveillance. The resulting molecular and metabolic networks not only drive tumor progression but also foster the emergence of highly resistant and aggressive cancer cell clones. However, unraveling and disrupting these detrimental interactions may open new opportunities for identifying new predictive and prognostic biomarkers to improve patient stratification, as well as novel therapeutic targets to overcome resistance to current treatments.
This Special Issue will highlight cutting-edge research on the mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, with a particular emphasis on the molecular, metabolic, and microenvironmental determinants of drug resistance, along with strategies to sensitize tumors to both established and emerging therapies.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
1. Organelle dysfunctions and signaling pathway alterations in drug-resistant cancer cells;
2. Metabolic vulnerabilities of resistant cancer cells;
3. Interplay between epigenetic regulation and cancer metabolism in drug resistance;
4. Molecular and metabolic circuitries characterizing the tumor microenvironment in resistant tumors;
5. Novel technologies and experimental models advancing the understanding of cancer drug resistance.
Aim and Scope:
Tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment engage in complex bidirectional interactions that enable malignant cells to adapt and survive under hostile conditions, including hypoxia, nutrient scarcity, cytotoxic treatments (such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy), and immune surveillance. The resulting molecular and metabolic networks not only drive tumor progression but also foster the emergence of highly resistant and aggressive cancer cell clones. However, unraveling and disrupting these detrimental interactions may open new opportunities for identifying new predictive and prognostic biomarkers to improve patient stratification, as well as novel therapeutic targets to overcome resistance to current treatments.
This Special Issue will highlight cutting-edge research on the mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, with a particular emphasis on the molecular, metabolic, and microenvironmental determinants of drug resistance, along with strategies to sensitize tumors to both established and emerging therapies.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
1. Organelle dysfunctions and signaling pathway alterations in drug-resistant cancer cells;
2. Metabolic vulnerabilities of resistant cancer cells;
3. Interplay between epigenetic regulation and cancer metabolism in drug resistance;
4. Molecular and metabolic circuitries characterizing the tumor microenvironment in resistant tumors;
5. Novel technologies and experimental models advancing the understanding of cancer drug resistance.
Submission Information
For Author Instructions, please refer to https://www.oaepublish.com/cdr/author_instructions
For Online Submission, please login at https://www.oaecenter.com/login?JournalId=cdr&IssueId=cdr2505222415
Submission Deadline: 20 Feb 2026
Contacts: Louise Pan, Managing Editor, [email protected]
