Advances in Genetic Medicine for Cancer Research

Genetic medicine is rapidly transforming the landscape of cancer research, offering novel strategies for treating malignancies beyond the capabilities of traditional approaches. While conventional therapies, including chemotherapeutics and targeted small molecules, have yielded substantial progress, significant challenges such as drug resistance, off-target toxicity, and tumor heterogeneity persist. Over the past decade, the surge of interest in gene-based therapies—encompassing RNA therapeutics, DNA editing, and engineered nucleic acids—has created new avenues for therapeutic intervention. These advances are powered by progress in computational nucleic acid design and a growing understanding of the molecular underpinnings of cancer. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of sophisticated vector systems, such as lipid nanoparticles, polymeric carriers, and viral-mediated delivery, to efficiently deliver genetic payloads to tumor cells while minimizing systemic toxicity. Despite exciting breakthroughs, numerous barriers remain on the path toward clinical translation. Efficient, precise, and safe delivery of nucleic acids to cancerous tissues poses formidable hurdles, especially in the context of immune activation and in vivo stability. Continued innovation in delivery vehicles and platform technologies is crucial, particularly for complex and heterogeneous tumors. Furthermore, questions remain about the long-term effects and immunogenic potential of advanced carrier platforms, the scalability of complex RNA and DNA therapies, and the optimization of gene-editing approaches. The field would benefit from a concerted exploration of multidisciplinary strategies that integrate rational nucleic acid design—including computational and synthetic routes—and state-of-the-art carriers, excluding small molecule cargoes, to meet these pressing needs. This Research Topic aims to highlight and accelerate advances in genetic medicine, specifically in cancer research, focusing on non-small-molecule cargo modalities. We aim to bring people from different fields together and support innovation in the design, engineering, and clinical translation of new delivery systems and genetic cargos for anticancer therapy. The scope of this Research Topic is limited to nucleic acid-based therapies in cancer that employ novel delivery systems, excluding small-molecule deliveries. It encompasses research on all classes of carriers, as well as new design and therapeutic modalities in genetic medicine. To gather further insights into genetic medicine for cancer, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:&#8226 Nucleic acid design and computational strategies for anticancer gene therapies&#8226 RNA-based therapeutics, including siRNA, mRNA, and lncRNA agents&#8226 Development and engineering of delivery systems: lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), polymers, hydrogels, and viral vectors&#8226 Advances in gene therapy, CRISPR-based editing, and viral-mediated genetic interventions&#8226 Overcoming barriers in in vivo delivery, specificity, and minimizing immunogenicity&#8226 Preclinical and clinical studies on genetic medicine platforms in cancer models&#8226 Emerging challenges and regulatory considerations for gene-based cancer therapiesTopic Editor Lukas Farbiak holds shares within Signify Bio, Inc. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject. Topic editors: Abdel Kareem Azab, Carlos Pérez-Plasencia, Lukas Farbiak Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75353/advances-in-genetic-medicine-for-cancer-research