Virchows Archiv - Annual Review Issue 2024: Molecular pathology as basis for timely cancer diagnosis and therapy
Molecular pathology has become an integral part of pathology that is essential to complement conventional pathological tools, to obtain a correct diagnosis with appropriate assessment of prognosis and prediction to response to therapy in cancer. Interpretation of somatic gene alterations in cancer belongs to the scientific knowledge of pathology. However, cancer is a complex disease, with an increasing number of diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers, which require the use of complex technologies for their evaluation. The main objective of the present annual review issue of Virchows Archiv is to provide information regarding the basis of the advanced molecular techniques to assess important molecular features in a wide range of diseases. This has been achieved thanks to a group of highly distinguished, expert authors in a group of articles.
The guest editors of this annual review issue have long experience in attempting to bring molecular pathology into diagnostic pathology, since the 90 s in the last century. From their perspective, the current situation fulfills the most optimistic previsions. It is now clear that molecular pathology is very important in daily pathology practice. However, there are still some concerns. Technology complexity is increasing very fast, which pose problems in adapting the molecular facilities and the qualification of the required human resources. Pathology departments have to adapt to this situation. Moreover, an important question is equity in the access to molecular tests in different types of hospitals, but also in different countries with different economic resources. Important efforts should be made to guarantee access of the molecular tests to the population, for the benefits in outcome and quality of life.
Molecular pathology as basis for timely cancer diagnosis and therapy (this opens in a new tab). A. Craig Mackinnon Jr, Darshan Shimoga Chandrashekar & David I. Suster
Molecular diagnostics tailoring personalized cancer therapy—an oncologist’s view (this opens in a new tab). Jakob M. Riedl, Florian Moik, Tamara Esterl, et al.
Molecular neuropathology: an essential and evolving toolbox for the diagnosis and clinical management of central nervous system tumors (this opens in a new tab). Luca Bertero, Luca Mangherini, Alessia Andrea Ricci, et al.
Diagnostic and prognostic molecular pathology of lymphoid malignancies (this opens in a new tab). Falko Fend, Michiel van den Brand, Patricia JTA Groenen, et al.
Molecular pathology in diagnosis and prognostication of head and neck tumors (this opens in a new tab). Alena Skálová, Martina Bradová, Michael Michal Jr., et al.
Current challenges and practical aspects of molecular pathology for non-small cell lung cancers (this opens in a new tab). Paul Hofman, Sabina Berezowska, Daniel Kazdal, et al.
Molecular pathology in breast disease: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic tools (this opens in a new tab). Zsuzsanna Varga & Umberto Maccio
Molecular diagnostics of hepatobiliary and pancreatic neoplasias (this opens in a new tab). T. Longerich, A. Stenzinger & P. Schirmacher
Molecular pathological classification of colorectal cancer—an update (this opens in a new tab). Philip D. Dunne & Mark J. Arends
Molecular pathology of endocrine gland tumors: genetic alterations and clinicopathologic relevance (this opens in a new tab). Antonio De Leo, Martina Ruscelli, Thais Maloberti, et al.
Genomic alterations and diagnosis of renal cancer (this opens in a new tab). Xingming Zhang, Hella A. Bolck, Niels J. Rupp & Holger Moch
Molecular features for timely cancer diagnosis and treatment – tumors of the ovary, fallopian tube and endometrium (this opens in a new tab). Sonia Gatius, Xavier Matias Guiu & Ben Davidson
Current challenges and practical aspects of molecular pathology for bone and soft tissue tumors (this opens in a new tab). Enrique de Álava
The practical utility of AI-assisted molecular profiling in the diagnosis and management of cancer of unknown primary: an updated review (this opens in a new tab). Shuhui Wang Lorkowski, Josephine K. Dermawan & Brian P. Rubin
Image: Figure 1 from Zhang et al. Genomic alterations and diagnosis of renal cancer. Virchows Arch 484, 323–337 (2024).