Translational Small-Molecule Discovery for Gastrointestinal Cancers: Druggable Targets, Resistance, and Multi-Target Strategies

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Colorectal, gastric, esophageal, liver and pancreatic cancer are certainly the most common type of GI cancer. Currently, several treatments have been developed, such as surgical techniques, chemoradiotherapies, and immunotherapies, but advanced-stage patients continue to face five-year survival rates that rarely exceed 15%. Generally, this poor prognosis is related with the rapid disease progression, metastasis, or drug-resistance mechanisms. The better understanding of these mechanisms can definitely improve our knowledge of gastrointestinal cancer cell biology and offer opportunities for the design of new and more effective therapeutic strategies. Small-molecule targeted agents act on defined oncogenic pathways that drive tumor growth and dissemination. Despite different small molecules have been approved for clinical usage, the complexity of GI cancers requires the development of innovative therapies. In this scenario, advancing GI cancer patient outcomes will require a clearer dissection of the molecular events underlying tumor progression, coupled with the rational design of next-generation targeted therapeutics.The purpose of this Research Topic is mainly about the discovery of innovative approach for the treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancers through the study of new chemical entities able to interact with biological targets involved in the cancer growing and spreading. We invite contributions from diverse research disciplines — including tumor biology, immunology, microbiology, medicinal chemistry, drug design and synthesis, diagnostics, pharmacology, and bioinformatics — provided they maintain a clear focus on GI malignancies. We also welcome studies that explore the molecular underpinnings of GI cancer progression, identify and validate promising oncogenic targets, or investigate the role of the microbiome in reshaping the tumor microenvironment.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:● Identification of novel biological targets crucial for GI cancer ● Design and synthesis of potential drugs● Investigation of multitarget compounds● Screening and evaluation of novel chemical entities● Characterization of novel molecular mechanismsPlease note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent clinical or patient cohort, or biological validation in vitro or in vivo, which are not based on public databases) are not suitable for publication in this journal. Topic editors: Davide Moi, Simone Carradori, Andrea Citarella, Xiaojun Liu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80469/translational-small-molecule-discovery-for-gastrointestinal-cancers-druggable-targets-resistance-and-multi-target-strategies