Guest Editors
Prof. Dr. Christos Papaneophytou
Email: papaneophytou.c@unic.ac.cy
Affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
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Research Interests: biomarkers, non-coding RNAs, liquid biopsy, personalized medicine, drug discovery
Summary
Liquid biopsy has emerged as a powerful and minimally invasive approach for disease detection, monitoring, and therapeutic decision-making. By enabling the analysis of circulating biomolecules in body fluids, liquid biopsy offers unique opportunities to capture dynamic biological processes associated with disease onset and progression.
However, beyond its diagnostic and prognostic potential, a deeper understanding of the cellular origins and molecular mechanisms governing circulating biomarkers is essential to identify novel therapeutic targets, optimize detection sensitivity, and advance both fundamental biology and clinical translation. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in liquid biopsy research with a strong emphasis on cellular and molecular mechanisms. In line with the scope of BIOCELL, contributions are expected to move beyond descriptive clinical correlations and provide mechanistic insights into the generation, regulation, and functional roles of circulating biomarkers. By integrating experimental evidence at the cellular and molecular levels, this Special Issue seeks to bridge mechanistic discoveries with translational relevance.
Key areas of focus include, but are not limited to:
· Cellular origins and release mechanisms of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites.
· Biogenesis, cargo sorting, and functional roles of extracellular vesicles and exosomes.
· Molecular regulation and stability of circulating non-coding RNAs, including miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs.
· Cell–cell communication mediated by circulating biomarkers in disease microenvironments.
· Mechanistic links between circulating biomarkers and disease initiation, progression, or therapeutic resistance.
· Technological innovations that exploit specific molecular properties or biological mechanisms for improved detection.
· Integration of liquid biopsy with single-cell, spatial, or multi-omics approaches to elucidate cellular heterogeneity.
By focusing on the mechanistic basis of circulating biomarkers, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive platform for high-quality original research and in-depth reviews that advance our understanding of liquid biopsy at the cellular level and support its rational translation into clinical applications.
Keywords
liquid biopsy, circulating biomarkers, cellular origins, molecular regulation, extracellular vesicles, non-coding RNA, translational research, cell-free DNA
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