Molecular Diagnostics to Targeted Therapy: The role of Pathology and Informatics

The landscape of oncology is being transformed by targeted therapies, which rely heavily on the precision of molecular diagnostics. Modern pathology has evolved beyond morphological assessment to include complex genomic profiling, ensuring that treatments are tailored to the unique molecular signature of each tumor. Furthermore, the integration of AI-based algorithms is playing a critical role in this shift; by analyzing vast datasets of clinical and biological information, these technologies enable more accurate predictions of therapeutic responses and accelerate the discovery of novel biomarkers.

The rapid evolution of oncological precision medicine necessitates a profound integration of diagnostic pathology and computational informatics. The primary goal of this special issue is to provide a comprehensive platform for multidisciplinary research that elucidates how molecular diagnostics translate into tangible targeted therapies.
As we move beyond traditional morphology, the role of the pathologist has evolved into that of a data integrator. This issue aims to capture this transition by focusing on:
Integration of Multi-Omics Data: Exploring how NGS, proteomics, and transcriptomics are integrated into routine pathology workflows to identify actionable mutations and biomarkers.
Computational Pathology and AI: Demonstrating the use of informatics and artificial intelligence in analyzing complex histological patterns and genomic signatures to predict treatment efficacy.
Translational Synergy: Bridging the gap between the laboratory and the clinic by showcasing how molecularly-driven pathology reports directly influence decision-making in targeted therapy.
Standardization in the Molecular Era: Addressing the challenges of implementing WHO-mandated molecular classifications (such as the shifts in glial tumor grading) across different global healthcare infrastructures.
By consolidating high-quality original research and expert reviews, this special issue seeks to redefine the diagnostic-therapeutic pipeline, emphasizing that the future of oncology lies at the intersection of tissue-based pathology and advanced informatics.

Authors are welcome to submit articles presenting original studies or literature review work. Please consult the journal's information regarding Author Guidelines, Article Types, and Publishing Fees, or direct any questions to the Editorial Office: por@por-journal.com.

Even though abstract submission is not mandatory, we encourage all interested researchers to submit a “manuscript summary” before submitting their article. Manuscript summaries do not have to coincide with the final abstract of the article.

Article types and fees

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Commentary
• Guideline
• Hypothesis & Theory
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Commentary
• Guideline
• Hypothesis & Theory
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Molecular diagnostics, Targeted therapy, Informatics, Pathology, Cancer