Proteomics in Cancer: Current Research and Future Outlook

Dear Colleagues,

Proteomics has emerged as a pivotal tool in unravelling the landscape of cancer biology, offering unprecedented insights into the molecular intricacies underlying cancer tumorigenesis, progression, and therapeutic responses.

The proteome reflects cellular processes and cancer-associated alterations identifying biomarkers for early detection, signalling pathways crucial for tumour progression, and explaining the complex interplay of proteins within cancer cells and their microenvironment. Despite the relatively small number of human genes, alternative splicing generates diverse protein isoforms that further vary thanks to post-translational modifications (PTM) and protein–protein interactions. Understanding these complexities will help in predicting cancer indicators and therapies. High-throughput analysis explores protein expression, structures, variants, PTMs, and functional effects to elucidate the cancer mechanisms at a protein level.

This Special Issue of Biomolecules is dedicated to cancer proteomics aiming to showcase the latest advancements and prospects in the dynamic field of cancer proteomics, including high-throughput methods, biological findings, target discovery, immunotherapy, PTM analysis, and AI/statistics.

Interdisciplinary research contributions, including original articles and reviews, are encouraged. Submissions may encompass, but are not limited to, the following areas of cancer study:

• Biomarker discovery and their clinical implications in diagnosis and prognosis;
• Proteomic profiling of tumour heterogeneity and personalized medicine;
• Integration of multi-omics data to unravel complex signalling networks;
• Advancements in mass spectrometry and computational tools;
• Functional proteomics to decipher the roles of specific proteins in cancer development and progression;
• Structural proteomics to elucidate new therapeutic treatment approaches;
• Future directions and emerging technologies in cancer proteomics;
• Single-cell proteomics of tumoral biopsies.

Join us in this endeavour to push the boundaries of knowledge in "Proteomics in Cancer." Your contributions will enhance our understanding of cancer biology and pave the way for innovative strategies in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Sincerely,

Dr. Cinzia Franchin
Guest Editor

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Type of Paper: Review

Title: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Carcinogenesis: A Proteomic Approach

Abstract: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory illness of the gastrointestinal tract of unknown etiology. Clinical studies have highlighted a link between IBD and cancers (e.g., intestinal lymphoma, small bowel cancer, colorectal cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma), probably due to the chronic inflammation state and some common therapeutic treatments (e.g., anti-TNF, thiopurines). However, the causes of these correlations are still unknown and several questions are still unsolved. Proteomic techniques have emerged as a crucial tool in investigating the pathophysiology of various diseases including IBD and cancer. In this context, proteomic studies might allow the exploration of pathways involved in IBD pathogenesis identifying potential biomarkers for disease activity, mucosal healing, and tumor progression. The use of proteomic analysis could lead to a deeper understanding of the molecular interactions between IBD and cancer, supporting the development of targeted and personalized therapies. This review aims to present the state of the art in cancer research related to IBD and their therapeutic treatments, obtained through proteomic approaches.