Malignant diseases of digestive system represent a significant health problem worldwide. In recent years, the advances in mechanisms of digestive system cancers have revealed multiple molecular pathways participating in the process of carcinogenesis, angiogenesis, tumor microenvironment, metastasis, and so forth. These findings lead to the innovation of novel molecular-targeted therapeutics including multikinase inhibitor sorafenib for hepatocellular carcinoma, c-kit inhibitor imatinib for gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and VEGF-targeting bevacizumab for colorectal cancer, which have significantly improved the prognosis of these malignancies. Upcoming research on potential molecular targets in digestive system tumors will have distinguished significance in novel drug development and may have a direct impact on clinical practice.

We are particularly interested in studies reporting novel molecular targets in digestive system cancers with relevance to carcinogenesis, tumor malignant behavior, prognosis prediction, or monitoring of therapy. Manuscripts delineating potential molecular targeting compounds or biochemical intervention with mechanism discussion would be of great interest. Reviews that summarize recent improvements in novel molecular targets and novel therapeutic innovations in malignancies of digestive system are also welcome.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Molecular targets in carcinogenesis
• Molecular targets in metastasis (cancer cell motility, invasion, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, etc.)
• Molecular targets in tumor microenvironment (tumor immunity, tumor-associated stromal cells, messengers between cancer cell and microenvironment, etc.)
• Molecular targets in cancer-associated inflammation
• Clinical significance of molecular pathways
• Novel targeted compounds and biochemical interventions