The survival rate of childhood cancer has increased remarkably in the past three decades, yet prolonged delay in diagnosis of pediatric cancer is still a major challenge. The genetics and biology of pediatric cancer are distinct from those of adult cancer. A growing number of predictive, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic biomarkers have been identified at a genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and cellular levels. However, these identified biomarkers are mostly applied to adult cancer patients and are not optimal for pediatric cancer patients. Therefore, it remains an urgency to seek for novel biomarkers that are specifically applied to pediatric cancer. A better understanding of molecular biology, including the identification and characterization of predictive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic biomarkers, will hopefully provide improved clinical outcomes for children with cancer.
This Research Topic aims to unify the advances in novel biomarkers and molecular techniques for pediatric cancer. We aim to cover all aspects of predictive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic biomarkers, which will provide us better understanding of pediatric cancer and a medical pathway to its eventual cure.
We are especially interested in Original Research and Reviews focusing on molecular diagnostics with the potential translation into clinical practice. Articles should address, but not limited to, the following themes:
1. Genetic, epigenetic, or environmental factors associated with pediatric cancer occurrence and/or progression and/or prognosis;
2. Identification and characterization of diagnostic biomarkers which improve the early detection rate for cancer in children;
3. Identification and characterization of therapeutic biomarkers to serve as targets for treatment in childhood cancer;
4. Identification and characterization of biomarkers to predict the chemotherapy response and prognosis in pediatric cancer patients.
Pure in silico research without experimental or in situ validation are not in scope of this research topic.
The survival rate of childhood cancer has increased remarkably in the past three decades, yet prolonged delay in diagnosis of pediatric cancer is still a major challenge. The genetics and biology of pediatric cancer are distinct from those of adult cancer. A growing number of predictive, diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic biomarkers have been identified at a genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, and cellular levels. However, these identified biomarkers are mostly applied to adult cancer patients and are not optimal for pediatric cancer patients. Therefore, it remains an urgency to seek for novel biomarkers that are specifically applied to pediatric cancer. A better understanding of molecular biology, including the identification and characterization of predictive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic biomarkers, will hopefully provide improved clinical outcomes for children with cancer.
This Research Topic aims to unify the advances in novel biomarkers and molecular techniques for pediatric cancer. We aim to cover all aspects of predictive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic biomarkers, which will provide us better understanding of pediatric cancer and a medical pathway to its eventual cure.
We are especially interested in Original Research and Reviews focusing on molecular diagnostics with the potential translation into clinical practice. Articles should address, but not limited to, the following themes:
1. Genetic, epigenetic, or environmental factors associated with pediatric cancer occurrence and/or progression and/or prognosis;
2. Identification and characterization of diagnostic biomarkers which improve the early detection rate for cancer in children;
3. Identification and characterization of therapeutic biomarkers to serve as targets for treatment in childhood cancer;
4. Identification and characterization of biomarkers to predict the chemotherapy response and prognosis in pediatric cancer patients.
Pure in silico research without experimental or in situ validation are not in scope of this research topic.