Telomere Homeostasis, Genomic Instability and Cancer
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2021) | Viewed by 8539
Special Issue Editors
Interests: DNA and chromosomal damage; DNA repair; colorectal cancer; pancreatic cancer; cancer risk; cancer prognosis; therapy prediction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: melanoma genetics; telomere biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Impaired DNA repair and disrupted telomere length homeostasis are key events in the initiation, progression and prognosis of several solid malignancies. In recent years evidence has accumulated about the role of the microenvironment in carcinogenesis.
There are several pathways implicated in the maintenance of genomic integrity and the prevention of its instability. These include mainly: (i) DNA repair mechanisms, (ii) DNA replication and mitosis and (iii) telomere maintenance. DNA damage signalling is a prerequisite for the induction of subsequent cellular responses like DNA repair, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The crosstalk between proteins involved in DNA repair and apoptosis has been postulated as an essential process in carcinogenesis and in strategies involving cancer treatment. Tumorigenesis is also marked by continuous cellular proliferation through stabilization of short telomeres that allow for processes like aneuploidy. DNA damage sensing and DNA repair are the key processes triggered in response to dysfunctional telomeres. The disruption of telomere homeostasis through DNA damage due to exogenous exposure results in enhanced telomere shortening, leading to replicative senescence.
The mechanisms maintaining genomic integrity and stability are further modulated by the microenvironment (e.g., microbiota), with ultimate induction of proinflammatory and pro-carcinogenic pathways in target epithelium. These processes comprise the production of genotoxins and reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in DNA damage, changes in host immune response, induction of chronic inflammation and increase in the conversion of procarcinogens into carcinogens. Recent studies point to similarities between processes leading to carcinogenesis and chronic inflammatory processes. Further, telomere length and telomerase activity in lymphocytes could indicate the magnitude of immune response, with a substantial effect on tumour growth.
Since DNA damage, DNA repair and telomere maintenance represent key players in carcinogenesis, and since the microenvironment is an inseparable part of the process, the aim of this Special issue is to invite papers from experts in the field to contribute to further enhancement of the knowledge on the topic.
Dr. Pavel Vodicka
Prof. Dr. Rajiv Kumar
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. 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.
Keywords
- telomere homeostasis
- genomic instability
- microenvironment
- tumorigenesis
- cancer risk
- prognosis
- susceptibility to therapy
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.
