About this Research Topic

Background

Intracavitary tumors, including those originating from the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and urinary tract, mainly consist of epithelial cancers sharing similar characteristics, such as exposure to the external environment, relatively high oxygen levels, and the potential for drug delivery via natural orifices. While new treatment options like photodynamic therapy are emerging, the drug targets and treatment mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Investigating both the common and specific biomarkers and drug targets of intracavitary tumors would not only enhance our understanding of tumor progression but also aid in stratifying high-risk patients and discovering promising drugs. Moreover, in the AI era, algorithms can significantly improve the efficiency of screening and identifying new drug targets and potential drugs.

The goal of this Research Topic is to address the knowledge gaps regarding intracavitary tumors, focusing on biomarkers, drug targets, and potential drugs. These tumors, originating from the respiratory, GI, and urinary tracts, are mostly epithelial cancers with shared characteristics, but specific drug targets and treatment mechanisms remain poorly understood. To achieve this, the research community needs to explore common and specific biomarkers and drug targets. Recent advances in AI algorithms and bioinformatics can accelerate the screening of potential drug targets.

It welcomes original research, reviews, mini-reviews, and perspectives manuscripts covering, but not limited to, the following areas:

• New biomarkers and/or drug targets in intracavitary tumors.
• Oncogenic or tumor-suppressive molecular mechanisms of the novel targets in intracavitary tumors.
• New algorithms and models, as well as novel findings of bioinformatics or high-throughput methods such as mass spectrometry and Genome-Wide Association Studies to screen drug targets and potential drugs.
• New interventions or targeted therapies in intracavitary tumors.
• Clinical studies such as cohort studies or Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) to identify new risks or treatment therapies in intracavitary tumors.
• Basic, pharmacological, preclinical, or clinical studies of potential drugs targeting intracavitary tumors.
• New drug delivery methods tailored to the characteristics of intracavitary tumors.

Please note: manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics or computational analysis of public genomic or transcriptomic databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) are out of scope for this section and will not be accepted as part of this Research Topic.

Keywords: Biomarker, drug target, targeted therapy, drug resistance, cancer therapy

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.

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