Announcements

May is Bladder Cancer Awareness Month, a time when organizations and individuals around the world come together to raise awareness and show support for research into bladder cancers. On this occasion, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the researchers who are working tirelessly to combat this disease. We also want to highlight some of the high‑quality, innovative research on bladder cancer that has been published across MDPI’s oncology journal cluster, including Cancers, Current Oncology, Onco, Targets and Precision Oncology. We hope that sharing these findings will provide valuable insights for everyone interested in this important field.

“Prognostic Value of PLR, SIRI, PIV, SII, and NLR in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Can Inflammatory Factors Influence Pathogenesis and Outcomes?”
by Francesco Pio Bizzarri, Marco Campetella, Pierluigi Russo, Giuseppe Palermo, Seyed Koosha Moosavi, Francesco Rossi, Lorenzo D’Amico, Antonio Cretì, Filippo Gavi, Enrico Panio et al.
Cancers 2025, 17(13), 2189; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17132189 

“Novel Urinary Biomarkers for the Detection of Bladder Cancer”
by Matthijs Oyaert, Charles Van Praet, Charlotte Delrue and Marijn M. Speeckaert
Cancers 2025, 17(8), 1283; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17081283

“Urinary Biomarkers in Bladder Cancer: FDA-Approved Tests and Emerging Tools for Diagnosis and Surveillance”
by Zhenyun Yang, Fengyu Song and Jin Zhong
Cancers 2025, 17(21), 3425; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17213425 

“Squamous Cell Bladder Cancer: A Rare Histological Variant with a Demand for Modern Cancer Therapeutics”
by Scott D. Bell, Anthony E. Quinn, Alfred Bajo, Trenton G. Mayberry, Braydon C. Cowan, Austin J. Marrah, Mark R. Wakefield and Yujiang Fang
Cancers 2025, 17(2), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17020169

“Circulating Tumor DNA in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Implications for Prognosis and Treatment Personalization”
by Stamatios Katsimperis, Lazaros Tzelves, Georgios Feretzakis, Themistoklis Bellos, Ioannis Tsikopoulos, Nikolaos Kostakopoulos and Andreas Skolarikos
Cancers 2025, 17(12), 1908; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17121908

“Crizotinib Inhibits Viability, Migration, and Invasion by Suppressing the c-Met/PI3K/Akt Pathway in the Three-Dimensional Bladder Cancer Spheroid Model”
by Byeongdo Song, Danhyo Kim, Jin-Nyoung Ho, Van-Hung Le and Sangchul Lee
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(4), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32040236

“Mechanistic Insights and Future Directions for Enfortumab Vedotin in Urothelial Carcinoma: Highlights from the 10th Annual Leo & Anne Albert Institute for Bladder Cancer Care and Research Symposium”
by Catherine C. Fahey, Sean Clark-Garvey, Sima Porten, Ashish M. Kamat, Thomas W. Flaig, John A. Taylor, William Y. Kim and Matthew I. Milowsky
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(5), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32050278

“Prognostic Factors and Treatment Outcomes in Gallbladder Cancer Patients Undergoing Curative Surgery: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study”
by Bowen Xu, Yanjiang Yin, Jianping Chang, Zhiyu Li, Xinyu Bi, Jianqiang Cai and Xiao Chen
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(6), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32060328

“Prognostic Utility of Combining VI-RADS Scores and CYFRA 21-1 Levels in Bladder Cancer: A Retrospective Single-Center Study”
by Shunsuke Ikuma, Jun Akatsuka, Godai Kaneko, Hayato Takeda, Yuki Endo, Go Kimura and Yukihiro Kondo
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(8), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32080415

“Transcription Factors as Drivers of Gallbladder Cancer: Mechanisms, Dysregulation, and Therapeutic Prospects”
by Sunanda Kulshrestha, Sabuj Samaddar, Anshika Singh, Kunal Yadav, Deepanshu Aul, Tulika Singh, Sonika Kumari Sharma and Samarendra Kumar Singh
Onco 2025, 5(4), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/onco5040049

“Advancing Bladder Cancer Biomarker Discovery: Integrating Mass Spectrometry and Molecular Imaging”
by Vadanasundari Vedarethinam
Onco 2025, 5(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/onco5020013

Cancers (ISSN: 2072-6694) is pleased to announce the following 20 researchers, who have been added to our group of 2025–2026 Early Career Editorial Board Members. Please join us in congratulating them on their new roles in the Cancers community!

We had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Eman A. Toraih, the corresponding author of the Editor’s Choice Article in Cancers (ISSN: 2072-6694). Dr. Toraih is a physician–scientist and biostatistician with dual faculty appointments at SUNY Upstate Medical University and Suez Canal University, Egypt. Below, she shares her insights into her academic journey, research focus, and the motivation behind this landmark study.

“Survival Benefits of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Patients with Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: A Large-Scale Propensity-Matched Cohort Study”
by Manal S. Fawzy, Awwad Alenezy, Jessan A. Jishu, Issa Khan, Ahmad Dessouky, Ahmed Abdelmaksoud, Kristen E. Limbach and Eman A. Toraih
Cancers 2025, 17(9), 1593; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17091593
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/17/9/1593

The following is an interview with Dr. Eman A. Toraih:

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and describe your main research focus?

I am a physician–scientist and biostatistician with dual faculty appointments at SUNY Upstate Medical University and Suez Canal University. My work focuses on real-world evidence generation, biomarker discovery, and the intersection of metabolic health and cancer outcomes. In recent years, I have concentrated on leveraging large federated clinical databases—particularly TriNetX—to address clinically relevant questions that randomized trials often cannot capture, including heterogeneous populations, long-term outcomes, and drug repurposing. My goal is to bridge population-level data with actionable insights for individual patient care.

2. What inspired you to pursue this particular area of cancer research?

Neuroendocrine neoplasms remain relatively understudied despite their rising incidence and limited therapeutic options, particularly in advanced disease. At the same time, GLP-1 receptor agonists were rapidly transforming metabolic medicine beyond glycemic control. The observation that GLP-1 receptors are expressed in certain neuroendocrine tumors—combined with emerging preclinical signals—highlighted a clear gap: no large-scale clinical study had evaluated outcomes in NEN patients receiving these agents. That intersection between metabolic therapeutics and oncology presented a question that was both scientifically compelling and clinically relevant.

3. Was there a personal or professional turning point in your research career?

Several moments shaped my career, but a defining turning point was gaining access to large, federated real-world databases. Early in my training, research was often limited by single-institution data, small sample sizes, and resource constraints—especially for rare diseases. Working with platforms like TriNetX, which aggregate de-identified data across multiple healthcare systems, fundamentally changed my perspective. It enabled the study of diverse patient populations at a scale that reflects real clinical practice rather than the narrow scope of traditional studies. This experience shifted my focus from what is feasible within one center to what is meaningful across populations, and it reinforced the value of carefully designed observational research in answering clinically relevant questions.

4. In your own words, what are the key findings or main messages of your Editor's Choice Article?

The central finding is that among adult patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms who also had diabetes or obesity, those who received GLP-1 receptor agonists after their NEN diagnosis experienced substantially better survival compared to matched patients who did not receive these agents. After 1:1 propensity score matching across 3,043 patients per cohort, all-cause mortality occurred in 11.7% of GLP-1Ra users versus 24.7% of non-users—a 44.3% relative reduction in mortality risk, with a hazard ratio of 0.56 (95% CI: 0.49–0.63).  This benefit was consistent across sex, age groups, tumor grade—whether well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors or poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas—and across the three primary sites examined: gastrointestinal, pancreatic, and lung. Lung NENs showed the most pronounced benefit (HR = 0.42). Among individual agents, tirzepatide demonstrated the strongest survival association (HR = 0.16), followed by semaglutide (HR = 0.27) and dulaglutide (HR = 0.52), while liraglutide and exenatide did not reach statistical significance.  The key message is not that GLP-1Ra should immediately replace established NEN therapies, but that this drug class—which millions of patients already receive—may offer meaningful adjunctive oncologic benefits and warrants rigorous prospective evaluation.

5. What current developments in your area of expertise are most exciting to you?

Three developments are particularly compelling. First, the recognition that metabolic pathways are central—not peripheral—to cancer biology. Second, the emergence of dual and triple receptor agonists, such as tirzepatide, which introduce new mechanistic possibilities and may explain differential effects observed across agents. Third, the integration of artificial intelligence into clinical research workflows. When used appropriately, AI can accelerate hypothesis generation and pattern recognition in large-scale datasets without replacing rigorous statistical reasoning.

6. What were the biggest challenges you encountered during this study, and how did you overcome them?

The primary challenge was confounding. Patients receiving GLP-1RAs represent a selected population with differences in survival, access to care, and follow-up. We addressed this using comprehensive propensity score matching across demographics, comorbidities, procedures, and medications. However, we explicitly acknowledge that residual confounding and immortal time bias cannot be fully eliminated. A second limitation was data granularity. Key variables such as tumor stage and dosing were limited in TriNetX. These limitations informed both our interpretation and our call for prospective trials.

7. How do you see this research evolving or influencing future studies in the field?

This study should be viewed as hypothesis-generating. The next step is prospective randomized trials stratified by tumor type, grade, and specific GLP-1RA agent to establish causality. In parallel, translational studies examining GLP-1 receptor expression across tumor subtypes could help identify patients most likely to benefit. More broadly, this work contributes to a growing body of literature exploring the role of metabolic therapies in oncology and supports a move toward more integrated, cross-disciplinary approaches.

8. What advice would you give to early career researchers who aim to publish impactful work in oncology?

Start with a meaningful clinical question, not with a dataset. The strongest research is driven by genuine uncertainty. Develop a deep understanding of your methods, particularly when working with real-world data. Knowing when an approach is appropriate is as important as knowing how to apply it. Choose journals strategically based on audience, not just metrics. And write clearly, complex analyses lose value if they are not communicated effectively.

9. Why did you choose Cancers for this publication, and how was your experience with the journal?

Cancers was an appropriate platform given its broad, clinically engaged, and international readership. This is particularly important for neuroendocrine neoplasms, which span multiple subspecialties. The editorial and peer-review process was efficient and constructive. Reviewers engaged thoughtfully with methodological considerations, particularly around propensity matching and bias, which strengthened the final manuscript. The Editor’s Choice recognition is appreciated and helps extend the visibility of findings that may inform future clinical research.

We are pleased to announce that four new scholars have been appointed Editorial Board Members (EBMs) of Cancers (ISSN: 2072-6694), joining in April 2026. We wish our new members success in both their research and their efforts to develop the journal.

Name: Dr. Joachim Yahalom
Affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
Interests: radiation of hematological malignancies

Name: Prof. Dr. Gopal C. Kundu
Affiliations: ¹ School of Biotechnology, KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar 751024, India;
² Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar 751024, India
Interests: tumor–stroma interaction; understanding tumor heterogeneity in tumor microenvironment; regulation of gene expression; targeted drug delivery and development; angiogenesis; cancer stem cells; chemical biology; nanotechnology

Name: Prof. Dr. Soon Lee
Affiliation: Department of Anatomical Pathology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
Interests: gastrointestinal cancer; molecular pathology/genomics of common cancers (lung, colorectal and liver cancer); liver pathology

Name: Dr. Giacomo Corrado
Affiliation: Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna, del Bambino, e di Sanità Pubblica, Ginecologia Oncologica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
Interests: gynecologic oncology; electrochemotherapy; oncofertility

Further details about the Editorial Board of Cancers can be found by clicking the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/cancers/editors.

Cancers is recruiting scholars from around the world to join our Editorial Board. To apply for membership, recommend potential candidates, or request further information, please contact the Cancers Editorial Office and provide the following files:

• A full academic CV;
• A short cover letter detailing your interest in the position.

We are honored to have invited Dr. Zhaoming Wang, a new Editorial Board Member of the “Pediatric Oncology” Section of Cancers (ISSN: 2072-6694), for an interview. During this conversation, Dr. Wang shared the latest developments in his research, his views on cutting-edge trends in medicine, as well as his suggestions for young researchers.

The following is an interview with Dr. Zhaoming Wang.

1. What initially inspired your research interest in this field?

I started my career as a software engineer in Silicon Valley in 2000.  It is really my early childhood dream of becoming a scientist that inspired me to make a move after working in a software company for five years. My scientific research career started in 2005 with the National Cancer Institute.

2. What current developments in your area of expertise are most exciting to you?

The most exciting research that I initiated was studying accelerated aging in cancer survivors. I have been a standing member in the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Aging and Cancer Task Force since 2022 and a standing member of the American Cancer Society (ACS) Cancer Detection and Progression (CDP) Peer Review Committee since 2024.

3. Could you please briefly introduce the main research content of the recently published paper?

As recognized leaders in the field, Dr. Jinghui Zhang and I were invited by Nature Review Cancers for a commissioned review of genetic and epigenetic basis of therapy-related long-term adverse effects of childhood cancer (PMID: 39511414).

4. Could you tell us a little bit more about yourself and your current research?

I joined the National Cancer Institute as a bioinformatician in 2005 when high-throughput array technology just emerged and I became one of the early pioneers carrying out large-scale cancer genome-wide association studies. I moved onto studying pediatric cancer survivorship using whole-genome sequencing approach in 2015. My current research interests are: (1) targeting biological aging for primary cancer prevention; (2) tailoring therapy based on biological aging for cancer patients; and (3) ameliorate treatment-induced accelerated aging to improve quality of life for cancer survivors.  I have a total of 240 peer-reviewed publications including those in Lancet Oncology, JAMA Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Nature Genetics, Nature Cancer, and Nature Reviews Cancer with 45,000+ citations (Google Scholar H-Index: 91), and the full bibliography: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/zhaoming.wang.2/bibliography/public/.

5. Have you encountered significant challenges in your research, and if so, how did you overcome them?

I’m experiencing setbacks now but I’m optimistic moving forward like a bulldozer and taking temporary challenges as opportunities for long-term success.  

6. What qualities do you believe are most essential for a young researcher today?

I think a young researcher needs to be genuinely passionate about scientific discovery, faculty with research methods and equipped with perseverance to overcome setbacks and obstacles.

7. What advice would you give to early-career researchers aiming to make an impact in oncology?

Be committed, open-minded and collaborative to pursue innovation. Be bold to take on high-risk and high-reward ideas and projects.  

8. What are your views on the scientific publishing landscape and the open access model?

Be efficient in peer review process is critically important to serve the scientific community.

As part of its continued efforts to support impactful cancer research and foster scientific dialogue, MDPI is spotlighting head and neck cancer in this edition. Encompassing a diverse group of malignancies affecting the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx, head and neck cancers collectively account for over 900,000 new cases and more than 400,000 deaths globally each year.

In recent years, shifting epidemiological patterns, particularly the rise of HPV-associated cancers, have introduced new challenges and opportunities in both research and clinical practice. These developments call for deeper insights into disease mechanisms, as well as more precise approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and patient stratification.

By bringing together cutting-edge research, focused Special Issues, and an expert-led webinar, MDPI journals aim to continue to facilitate knowledge exchange and highlight emerging advances in the field. These efforts play an important role in advancing innovation, improving early detection and therapeutic strategies, and ultimately enhancing outcomes for patients worldwide.

Keynote speakers
Dr. Kousik Kumar Kesh, St. Louis University, USA	Prof. Dr. Richard Yuxiong Su, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong S.A.R	Dr. Jennifer Anderson, The University of Texas, USA
Dr. Jay J. Liao, University of Washington Medical Center, USA	Prof. Dr. Wendell G. Yarbrough, University of North Carolina, USA	Dr. Joshua D. Smith, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, USA

Register for this webinar for free here!

“Enhancing Patient Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Radiotherapy: Integration of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes and Artificial Intelligence-Driven Oncology Care Using Large Language Models”
by ChihYing Liao, ChinNan Chu, TingChun Lin, TzuYao Chou and MengHsiun Tsai
Cancers 2025, 17(14), 2345; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17142345

“Advancing Head and Neck Cancer Therapies: From Conventional Treatments to Emerging Strategies”
by Aleksandra Mordzińska-Rak, Ilona Telejko, Grzegorz Adamczuk, Tomasz Trombik, Andrzej Stepulak and Ewa Błaszczak
Biomedicines 2025, 13(5), 1046; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13051046

“The Role of Dysphagia on Head and Neck Cancer Patients’ Quality of Life, Functional Disabilities and Psychological Distress: Outcomes of Cancer Rehabilitation from an Observational Single-Center Study”
by Špela Matko, Christina Knauseder, David Riedl, Vincent Grote, Michael J. Fischer, Samuel Moritz Vorbach, Karin Pfaller-Frank, Wilhelm Frank and Thomas Licht
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(4), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32040220

“PDLIM3 Regulates Migration and Invasion of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma via YAP–Mediated Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition”
by Fan Yang, Ying Zhou, You Zhang, Weideng Wei, Fei Huang, Dan Yang, Yixin Zhang, Ruiyang Zhang, Xiaoqiang Xia, Qianming Chen et al.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3147; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073147

“Inflammatory Biomarkers and Oral Health Disorders as Predictors of Head and Neck Cancer: A Retrospective Longitudinal Study”
by Amr Sayed Ghanem, Kitti Sipos, Ágnes Tóth and Attila Csaba Nagy
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(5), 2279; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26052279

“Trends in Incidence and Mortality of Head and Neck Cancer Subsites Among Elderly Patients: A Population-Based Analysis”
by Małgorzata Wierzbicka, Wioletta Pietruszewska, Adam Maciejczyk and Jarosław Markowski
Cancers 2025, 17(3), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17030548

“Recurrent and Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer: Mechanisms of Treatment Failure, Treatment Paradigms, and New Horizons”
by William T. Barham, Marshall Patrick Stagg, Rula Mualla, Michael DiLeo and Sagar Kansara
Cancers 2025, 17(1), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17010144

“Identification of Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer: Bioinformatics Approach”
by Alexandra Fernandes and Rui Vitorino
Targets 2024, 2(4), 470-480; https://doi.org/10.3390/targets2040026

“Clinical Evidence of Methods and Timing of Proper Follow-Up for Head and Neck Cancers”
by Riccardo Gili, Simone Caprioli, Paola Lovino Camerino, Gianluca Sacco, Tommaso Ruelle, Daria Maria Filippini, Silvia Pamparino, Stefania Vecchio, Filippo Marchi, Lucia Del Mastro et al.
Onco 2024, 4(4), 275-286; https://doi.org/10.3390/onco4040020

“Artificial Intelligence in Head and Neck Cancer: Innovations, Applications, and Future Directions”
by Tuan D. Pham, Muy-Teck Teh, Domniki Chatzopoulou, Simon Holmes and Paul Coulthard
Curr. Oncol. 2024, 31(9), 5255-5290; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol31090389

“The Advances in Proton Therapy in Head-and-Neck Cancers” Guest Editors: Dr. Nancy Lee and Dr. Edward Christopher Dee Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026	“Decoding and Remodeling the Suppressive Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Head and Neck Cancer” Guest Editors: Dr. Andrew G. Sikora and Dr. Jennifer L. Anderson Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026
“The Role of Targeted Therapy in Head and Neck Cancers” Guest Editor: Dr. Rikki A.M. Brown Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026	“Molecular Targets for HPV-Related Head and Neck Cancer” Guest Editor: Dr. Joshua D. Smith Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026
“Head and Neck Cancer: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Approaches—Advances and Challenges” Guest Editors: Dr. Barbara Verro, Dr. Carmelo Saraniti and Dr. Daniela Carlisi Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026	“Targeting Head and Neck Cancer: From Tumor Microenvironment to Therapy Resistance” Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Ratna B. Ray and Dr. Subhayan Sur Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2026

Cancers (ISSN: 2072-6694, IF 4.4) is proud to announce its role as a media partner for the World Pediatrics Conference 2026. This sponsorship highlights the journal’s commitment to supporting the scholarly community and engaging in critical industry discussions with the public.

Conference: 2026 World Pediatrics Conference (2026WPC)
Date & Venue: 5–6 October 2026 | Hotel Agora Regency Osaka Sakai, Osaka, Japan
Website: https://pediatrics.episirus.org/

Theme: “Advancing Pediatric Innovation for a Healthier Tomorrow”

The 2026 World Pediatrics Conference (2026WPC) is a premier international platform that brings together pediatricians, clinicians, researchers, academicians, and healthcare professionals from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in pediatric medicine and child healthcare. The conference will be held in Osaka, Japan, and aims to foster global collaboration and knowledge exchange in the field of pediatrics.

The scientific program is designed to cover a comprehensive range of pediatric disciplines, with a focus on both clinical practice and research innovations. It will highlight emerging trends, novel diagnostic techniques, and advancements in treatment strategies that contribute to improving pediatric healthcare outcomes.

Key areas of discussion will include pediatric critical care, neonatology, pediatric neurology, cardiology, oncology, immunology, infectious diseases, genetics, gastroenterology, hepatology, allergy, dermatology, and related specialties. The conference will also emphasize interdisciplinary approaches and translational research that bridge the gap between laboratory findings and clinical applications.

The event will feature keynote lectures, plenary sessions, oral and poster presentations, and interactive discussions, offering participants valuable opportunities to present their research, gain insights from leading experts, and expand their professional networks.

2026WPC welcomes participation from pediatricians, physicians, nurses, researchers, PhD scholars, and industry professionals who are committed to advancing pediatric healthcare and contributing to a healthier future for children globally.

April is Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Month, a time when organizations and individuals around the world come together to raise awareness and show support for research into head and neck cancers. On this occasion, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the researchers who are working tirelessly to combat this disease. We also want to highlight some of the high‑quality, innovative research on head and neck cancer that has been published across MDPI’s oncology journal cluster, including Cancers, Current Oncology, Onco, Targets and Precision Oncology. We hope that sharing these findings will provide valuable insights for everyone interested in this important field.

“Petosemtamab, a Bispecific Antibody Targeting Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and Leucine-Rich G Repeat-Containing Protein-Coupled Receptor (LGR5) Designed for Broad Clinical Applications”
by Ante S. Lundberg, Cecile A. W. Geuijen, Sally Hill, Jeroen J. Lammerts van Bueren, Arianna Fumagalli, John de Kruif, Peter B. Silverman and Josep Tabernero
Cancers 2025, 17(10), 1665; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17101665

“The Role of Macrophages in Various Types of Tumors and the Possibility of Their Use as Targets for Antitumor Therapy”
by Enar Jumaniyazova, Anastasiya Lokhonina, Dzhuliia Dzhalilova, Ekaterina Miroshnichenko, Anna Kosyreva and Timur Fatkhudinov
Cancers 2025, 17(3), 342; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17030342

“Enhanced Lung Cancer Survival Prediction Using Semi-Supervised Pseudo-Labeling and Learning from Diverse PET/CT Datasets”
by Mohammad R. Salmanpour, Arman Gorji, Amin Mousavi, Ali Fathi Jouzdani, Nima Sanati, Mehdi Maghsudi, Bonnie Leung, Cheryl Ho, Ren Yuan and Arman Rahmim
Cancers 2025, 17(2), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17020285

“Current Evidence on the Relation Between Microbiota and Oral Cancer—The Role of Fusobacterium nucleatum—A Narrative Review”
by Federica Chiscuzzu, Claudia Crescio, Simona Varrucciu, Davide Rizzo, Michela Sali, Giovanni Delogu and Francesco Bussu
Cancers 2025, 17(2), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17020171

“Impact of Oncological Treatment on Quality of Life in Patients with Head and Neck Malignancies: A Systematic Literature Review (2020–2025)”
by Raluca Grigore, Paula Luiza Bejenaru, Gloria Simona Berteșteanu, Ruxandra Ioana Nedelcu-Stancalie, Teodora Elena Schipor-Diaconu, Simona Andreea Rujan, Bianca Petra Taher, Șerban Vifor Gabriel Berteșteanu, Bogdan Popescu, Irina Doinița Popescu et al.
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(7), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32070379

“Tegafur–Uracil Maintenance Therapy in Non-Metastatic Head and Neck Cancer: An Exploratory Systematic Review”
by Hsu-Lin Lee, Po-Huang Chen, Tzu-Chuan Huang, Ren-Hua Ye, Yueng-Hsiang Chu, Jih-Chin Lee, Hong-Jie Jhou and Jia-Hong Chen
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(5), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32050286

“The Role of Dysphagia on Head and Neck Cancer Patients’ Quality of Life, Functional Disabilities and Psychological Distress: Outcomes of Cancer Rehabilitation from an Observational Single-Center Study”
by Špela Matko, Christina Knauseder, David Riedl, Vincent Grote, Michael J. Fischer, Samuel Moritz Vorbach, Karin Pfaller-Frank, Wilhelm Frank and Thomas Licht
Curr. Oncol. 2025, 32(4), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol32040220

“Clinical Evidence of Methods and Timing of Proper Follow-Up for Head and Neck Cancers”
by Riccardo Gili, Simone Caprioli, Paola Lovino Camerino, Gianluca Sacco, Tommaso Ruelle, Daria Maria Filippini, Silvia Pamparino, Stefania Vecchio, Filippo Marchi, Lucia Del Mastro et al.
Onco 2024, 4(4), 275-286; https://doi.org/10.3390/onco4040020

“Identification of Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Head and Neck Cancer: Bioinformatics Approach”
by Alexandra Fernandes and Rui Vitorino
Targets 2024, 2(4), 470-480; https://doi.org/10.3390/targets2040026

“The Role of Imaging in Cervical Cancer Staging: ESGO/ESTRO/ESP Guidelines (Update 2023)”
by Daniela Fischerova, Filip Frühauf, Andrea Burgetova, Ingfrid S. Haldorsen, Elena Gatti and David Cibula
Cancers 2024, 16(4), 775; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16040775

“A Mechanistic Dynamic Surrogate Framework for Personalized Radioactive Iodine Therapy in Metastatic Thyroid Cancer”
by Marie Fusella Giuntini, Cyril Voyant, David Taieb and Dominique Barbolosi
Precis. Oncol. 2026, 1(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/precisoncol1010002

We had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Daniela Amicizia, the first and corresponding author of the Editor’s Choice Article in Cancers (ISSN: 2072-6694). Here, she shares insights into her paper, research focus, area of expertise and daily life.

“Organizational Determinants, Outcomes Related to Participation and Adherence to Cancer Public Health Screening: A Systematic Review”
by Daniela Amicizia, Maria Francesca Piazza, Federico Grammatico, Rosa Lavieri, Francesca Marchini, Matteo Astengo, Irene Schenone, Gabriella Paoli and Filippo Ansaldi
Cancers 2025, 17(11), 1775; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17111775
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/17/11/1775

The following is an interview with Dr. Daniela Amicizia:

1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and describe your main research focus?
I am a physician and an Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health (University of Genoa, Italy), with extensive experience in the field of disease prevention and population health.
My professional activity integrates academic, research and applied public health practice, with a strong focus on translating scientific evidence into effective health policies and interventions.
In my daily work, I am actively involved in healthcare planning and organization, as well as epidemiological surveillance. I contribute to the design and evaluation of preventive programs aimed at improving population health outcomes and optimizing the use of healthcare resources.
My current research focuses on the epidemiology and prevention of infectious diseases, with particular attention to vaccination policies and their impact on public health. I am also engaged in health technology assessments, which evaluate the clinical, economic and organizational implications of healthcare interventions, as well as in health promotion initiatives aimed at fostering healthy behaviors and reducing disease burden.

2. What inspired you to pursue this particular area of cancer research?
My interest in this area of cancer research stems from the recognition that public health screening programs are among the most effective tools we have to reduce mortality, yet their impact is often limited by suboptimal participation. As a public health physician, I have seen how preventable disparities persist not because of a lack of medical knowledge, but due to organizational, social and behavioral barriers that prevent individuals from accessing these services.
This motivated me to focus on the organizational determinants of screening uptake. The evidence shows that participation is not simply an individual choice, but the result of how programs are designed and implemented. Coordinated management, personalized invitation systems and strong community engagement can substantially improve adherence. At the same time, digital tools such as reminders, along with culturally tailored communication strategies, are essential to reach underserved populations.
Ultimately, my work is driven by the goal of making prevention more equitable and effective. By identifying and promoting integrated, evidence-based strategies, I aim to support policymakers and healthcare systems in strengthening screening programs, increasing participation and reducing health disparities at the population level.

3. Was there a personal or professional turning point in your research career?
A key turning point in my research career was the shift from a predominantly epidemiological perspective to a broader population-based and systems-oriented approach. Early in my career, I was mainly focused on studying disease patterns and risk factors. However, through my involvement in large-scale research projects and real-world public health programs, I began to recognize that generating evidence alone is not sufficient to improve health outcomes.
Working directly on vaccination strategies and cancer screening programs made it clear that the effectiveness of preventive interventions depends heavily on how they are organized, communicated and implemented within healthcare systems. I observed that even well-established, evidence-based interventions can fail if barriers such as limited access, low health literacy or lack of trust are not adequately addressed.
This realization led me to focus more on health technology assessments, health service organization and strategies to improve participation in preventive programs. It marked a transition toward research that not only produces knowledge but also actively contributes to shaping policies and practices, with the ultimate goal of improving equity and effectiveness in public health.

4. What current developments in your area of expertise are most exciting to you?
The most exciting developments in preventive medicine include the growing use of digital health, artificial intelligence and big data to improve surveillance, risk prediction and the planning of vaccination and screening programs. These tools enable real-time monitoring and more targeted, personalized preventive strategies.
At the same time, there is increasing attention to equity, highlighting the importance of organizational and social factors in ensuring access to prevention. Finally, renewed focus on infectious disease preparedness and vaccination strategies is strengthening integrated surveillance systems and improving public health responses.

5. What are your views on the scientific publishing landscape and the open access model?
Open access publishing has a significant impact on authors, primarily by increasing the reach and influence of their work. By removing paywalls, research findings become immediately accessible to clinicians, researchers, policymakers and the public worldwide. In the medical field, this is particularly important, as new evidence can more rapidly inform clinical practice, public health strategies and future research.
For authors, this wider accessibility translates into greater visibility, higher potential for citations and more opportunities for international collaboration. Open access also supports equity in knowledge dissemination, allowing researchers from low-resource settings to both access and build upon published work.
At the same time, this model places responsibility on journals and the scientific community to maintain rigorous peer review and high editorial standards. Thus, ensuring quality, transparency and credibility is essential to preserve trust in published research.