Colorectal Cancer: Molecular Mechanism and Treatment Strategies

Dear Colleagues,

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. It occurs due to the accumulation of multiple genetic and epigenetic changes in the normal mucosa of the colon and rectum, leading to progression from colorectal adenomas to invasive carcinomas. During the disease, almost half of all CRC patients will develop metastases, and the 5-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with stage IV CRC is less than 10%. Recent advances in cancer biology and genetics have contributed to an enhanced understanding of CRC and its metastasis. As a result, researchers have identified the early driver genes responsible for carcinogenesis and metastasis. Nevertheless, current research indicates that transcriptional and epigenetic aberrations play a significant role in CRC, affecting numerous central signaling pathways. Therefore, treatments targeting these distinct molecular pathways may have significant implications for their efficacy.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to our Special Issue in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, entitled “Colorectal Cancer: Molecular Mechanism and Treatment Strategies”. We encourage you to submit original articles or reviews that provide an overview of current knowledge regarding the molecular network of CRC, including cellular signaling pathways, CRC microenvironment modulation, epigenetic changes, and CRC biomarkers for diagnosis and predictive/prognostic use. We also welcome papers addressing the opportunities for treatment and prevention strategies in this field. 

Dr. Pina Ziranu
Guest Editor

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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.

• colorectal cancer
• personalized treatment
• treatment strategies
• cancer biology