Surgical Advances in Cancer Treatments: Exploring Innovative Approaches and Emerging Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer remains one of the most formidable challenges in modern medicine, with its multifaceted nature requiring a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach for effective management. Among the various modalities employed in cancer treatment, surgery stands as a cornerstone, offering curative potential, symptom relief, and palliation across a wide spectrum of malignancies. The intricate interplay between surgical techniques, technological advancements, and evolving treatment paradigms underscores the critical role of surgical oncology in the continuum of cancer care. The landscape of surgical oncology has witnessed remarkable transformations in recent years, driven by a confluence of scientific breakthroughs, technological innovations, and refined surgical strategies. This evolution has not only expanded the repertoire of surgical interventions, but has also revolutionized our understanding of cancer biology, tumor behavior, and treatment outcomes. From minimally invasive approaches to precision oncology-guided surgeries, the field of surgical oncology has embraced a paradigm shift towards personalized and tailored cancer therapies. The importance of surgical advances in cancer treatment cannot be overstated. Surgical resection remains the primary curative option for many solid tumors, offering the potential for the complete eradication of localized disease. Moreover, surgical interventions play a pivotal role in achieving local control, debulking tumors, and facilitating the integration of other treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Beyond its curative intent, surgery also holds significance in the realm of palliative care, alleviating symptoms, improving individuals’ quality of life, and prolonging the survival of patients with advanced or metastatic disease. 

We are pleased to invite colleagues and experts from across the globe to join us in this research adventure by contributing their insights, research findings, and clinical experiences to this Special Issue.

Furthermore, we are pleased to propose this Special Issue under the umbrella of the highly esteemed Italian College of Associate Professors of Surgery. As a society exclusively composed of associate professors of surgery, the College collects a wealth of expertise and experience in surgical oncology. Partnering with such a recognized institution will undoubtedly enhance the credibility and relevance of this Special Issue. 

This Special Issue aims to achieve the following:

• Showcase cutting-edge surgical techniques: Highlighting innovative surgical approaches and technologies employed in the treatment of various cancer types.
• Explore interdisciplinary collaborations: Examining the synergies between surgery, oncology, radiology, pathology, and other specialties to optimize patient outcomes.
• Provide a comprehensive overview: Offering insights into surgical interventions across different anatomical regions and cancer types, from gastrointestinal to skin cancer and beyond.
• Foster research on clinical outcomes: Encouraging studies that evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and long-term outcomes of novel surgical interventions in cancer care.
• Promote personalized cancer therapies: Investigating the role of precision medicine and tailored surgical approaches in optimizing treatment strategies for individual patients.
• Enhance knowledge dissemination: Facilitating the exchange of scientific knowledge, best practices, and emerging trends in surgical oncology among researchers, clinicians, and policymakers.
• Address challenges and controversies: Addressing current debates and challenges in cancer surgery, such as minimally invasive versus open procedures, organ preservation, and surgical margins.
• Advance the field of surgical oncology: Contributing to the advancement of surgical techniques, patient care standards, and interdisciplinary collaboration in the fight against cancer.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. Innovative Surgical Techniques: Exploration of novel surgical approaches and methodologies aimed at improving the efficacy, safety, and precision of cancer surgeries.
2. Technological Advancements: Investigation of cutting-edge technologies such as robotics, image-guided surgery, and augmented reality in enhancing surgical outcomes and patient recovery.
3. Interdisciplinary Collaborations: Examination of collaborative efforts between surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and other healthcare professionals to optimize multidisciplinary cancer care pathways.
4. Clinical Outcomes Research: Evaluation of surgical interventions' short-term and long-term outcomes, including survival rates, recurrence rates, functional outcomes, and quality of life measures.
5. Personalized Medicine in Surgery: Study of personalized treatment strategies, including patient-specific surgical planning, genomic profiling, and targeted therapies tailored to individual tumor biology and patient characteristics.
6. Minimally Invasive Surgery: Assessment of minimally invasive surgical techniques, including laparoscopic, robotic-assisted, and endoscopic procedures, in the context of cancer treatment.
7. Surgical Oncology in Special Populations: Investigation of surgical considerations and outcomes in special patient populations, such as elderly patients, pediatric patients, and those with comorbidities or rare cancers.
8. Quality Improvement and Patient Safety: Initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of cancer surgical care, including protocols for surgical safety, standardized practices, and quality metrics assessment.
9. Health Economics and Healthcare Policy: Studies examining the cost-effectiveness of surgical interventions, healthcare resource utilization, and policy implications for optimizing cancer surgical care delivery.
10. Surgical Education and Training: Innovations in surgical education, simulation-based training, and competency assessment for aspiring and practicing surgical oncologists.
11. Ethical and Societal Considerations: Exploration of ethical dilemmas, patient-centered decision-making, and societal implications of emerging surgical technologies and treatment modalities in cancer care.
12. Global Perspectives on Surgical Oncology: Insights into the challenges, opportunities, and disparities in the delivery of cancer surgical care across different regions and healthcare systems worldwide. 

We look forward to your valuable contributions and to the collective impact we can achieve in advancing research on cancer. 

Prof. Dr. Salvatore Sorrenti
Prof. Dr. Luigi Marano
Prof. Dr. Fabio Medas
Prof. Dr. Angela Gurrado
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• surgical oncology
• surgical innovation
• image-guided surgery
• robotic-assisted surgery
• multidisciplinary oncology
• surgical outcomes research
• precision surgery
• healthcare economics
• surgical training and simulation