An understanding of the defects in signaling pathways in specific tumor types offers opportunities for targeted therapies, but also significant challenges due to complexity of feedback and crosstalk within and between these. While cancers of endocrine tissues are rare compared to many other solid tumors evaluation of the intricacies of cancer cell signaling will indicate whether targeted treatments can be repurposed or whether specific endocrine tumor types should be included in 'basket' trials of targeted therapies on the basis of specific defects detected by biomarkers of activation. Cancers of endocrine tissues are in themselves diverse and include both genetically inherited and non-inherited forms. Tumors include thyroid carcinoma, parathyroid carcinoma, pituitary tumors, adrenocortical carcinoma, phaeochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. For endocrine-responsive tumors one major clinical problem is developing resistance to endocrine therapies and understanding the potential mechanisms underlying such resistance, such as altered growth factor signaling or changes in miRNA, may lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets for endocrine-resistant patients.We welcome authors to submit review articles and original research reports to address the molecular signaling defects and potential biomarkers of endocrine tissue tumors, with a view to ultimately applying targeted therapies.
An understanding of the defects in signaling pathways in specific tumor types offers opportunities for targeted therapies, but also significant challenges due to complexity of feedback and crosstalk within and between these. While cancers of endocrine tissues are rare compared to many other solid tumors evaluation of the intricacies of cancer cell signaling will indicate whether targeted treatments can be repurposed or whether specific endocrine tumor types should be included in 'basket' trials of targeted therapies on the basis of specific defects detected by biomarkers of activation. Cancers of endocrine tissues are in themselves diverse and include both genetically inherited and non-inherited forms. Tumors include thyroid carcinoma, parathyroid carcinoma, pituitary tumors, adrenocortical carcinoma, phaeochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, and gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. For endocrine-responsive tumors one major clinical problem is developing resistance to endocrine therapies and understanding the potential mechanisms underlying such resistance, such as altered growth factor signaling or changes in miRNA, may lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets for endocrine-resistant patients.We welcome authors to submit review articles and original research reports to address the molecular signaling defects and potential biomarkers of endocrine tissue tumors, with a view to ultimately applying targeted therapies.