Epigenetic Signatures in Liquid Biopsy: Bridging Molecular Insights and Clinical Utility in the Era of Precision Oncology in Solid Tumors

Over the last few years, liquid biopsy has proven to be a revolutionary tool in oncology, providing a minimally invasive approach to monitoring tumor progression and treatment response in real time. In addition to genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA expression, play a significant role in the onset, progression, and resistance to therapy of tumors. These epigenetic changes are often tissue- and tumor-specific, making them powerful biomarkers for the early diagnosis and stratification of solid tumors. Unlike genetic mutations, epigenetic alterations are dynamic and reversible, which could be very interesting for both diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. With the growing landscape of precision oncology, the integration of epigenetic signatures from liquid biopsy could play a key role in providing more comprehensive, real-time information on tumor biology.The objective of this Research Topic is to deepen our knowledge and understanding of epigenetic signatures detected in liquid biopsies in the context of precision oncology in solid tumors. Interest in epigenetics has led to greater attention being paid to current challenges and how these biomarkers can be translated into clinical practice: from the standardization of detection techniques to validation across different tumor types and the interpretation of dynamic epigenetic landscapes in the context of therapy. Thanks to recent technological advances, such as highly innovative next-generation sequencing platforms, machine learning for biomarker discovery, and multi-omic integration, epigenetics has been able to enter these new contexts. This research topic, which is still not fully explored, aims to collect innovative studies and expert reviews exploring the identification, validation, and application of epigenetic biomarkers in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and extracellular vesicles (EVs). Finally, tumor biology is strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, where this tool is becoming increasingly important for the management of solid tumors.We invite submissions addressing the discovery, validation, and clinical implementation of epigenetic biomarkers in liquid biopsy in solid tumors. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:- New methodologies for detecting epigenetic alterations in liquid biopsy samples.- Clinical applications of epigenetic signatures for early diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic monitoring.- Integration of epigenetic data with genomic, transcriptomic, or proteomic profiles.- Machine learning and AI approaches in the discovery of epigenetic biomarkers.We welcome original research articles and reviews that contribute to the advancement of this rapidly evolving field. Interdisciplinary contributions from oncology, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and translational medicine are particularly encouraged. Topic editors: Federico Pio Fabrizio, Antonio Giordano, Tancredi Didier Bazan Russo, Marco Donatello Delcuratolo Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76018/epigenetic-signatures-in-liquid-biopsy-bridging-molecular-insights-and-clinical-utility-in-the-era-of-precision-oncology-in-solid-tumors