Topic: Overcoming Drug Resistance in Solid Tumors: Nanotechnology, Precision Medicine, and Multimodal Therapies

Solid cancers, including gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, lung cancers, pancreatic malignancies and so on, remain the leading causes of cancer-related mortality globally. A critical barrier to improving patient outcomes is the emergence of drug resistance, which undermines conventional therapies and contributes to disease recurrence. This Special Issue explores innovative approaches to circumvent resistance by integrating nanotechnology, precision medicine, and multimodal therapeutic strategies. Nanotechnology offers transformative potential through targeted drug delivery, enhanced bioavailability, and theranostic platforms that overcome physiological barriers and tumor heterogeneity. Precision medicine leverages genomic, proteomic, and microenvironmental insights to tailor therapies to individual molecular profiles, while multimodal strategies synergize chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy, and epigenetic modulation to disrupt resistance pathways. Contributions in this issue highlight advances in nanoparticle design, biomarker-driven therapies, and combinatorial regimens that address resistance mechanisms such as efflux pumps, DNA repair dysregulation, and immune evasion. By bridging interdisciplinary research, this collection aims to catalyze the translation of these cutting-edge innovations into clinical practice, ultimately improving survival and quality of life for patients with refractory solid cancers.

The topics covered include, but are not limited to:

1. Nanotechnology-Driven Drug Delivery Systems for Overcoming Resistance Mechanisms

● Nanoparticle-based strategies to enhance drug accumulation and retention in resistant tumor cells;

● Smart nanocarriers for controlled and tumor-specific drug release;

● Theranostic nanomedicine for simultaneous imaging and treatment of drug-resistant cancers.

2. Precision Biomarkers and Molecular Profiling for Tailored Therapies

● Identification and validation of predictive biomarkers for drug resistance;

● Multi-omics approaches (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) for stratifying treatment-resistant tumors;

● Liquid biopsy applications in monitoring therapy response and early resistance detection.

3. Multimodal Synergy: Integrating Immunotherapy, Epigenetics, and Targeted Therapies

● Combination strategies that enhance drug efficacy and prevent resistance evolution;

● The role of the tumor microenvironment and immune modulation in overcoming therapeutic resistance;

● Epigenetic reprogramming as a strategy to reverse resistance to chemotherapy and targeted agents.

4. Translational Challenges and Emerging Technologies in Overcoming Drug Resistance

● Clinical translation hurdles: nanoparticle pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, and safety considerations;

● Challenges in precision medicine implementation: patient stratification, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory barriers;

● Emerging technologies, including AI-driven drug discovery and single-cell analysis, to combat drug resistance.   

   etc.