Editorial: Beyond borders: exploring diverse roles of heterocyclic compounds in combatting infections and cancer

Article

Shaik, A. B., Bhandare, R. R., Rahman, M. and Dua, K. 2025. Editorial: Beyond borders: exploring diverse roles of heterocyclic compounds in combatting infections and cancer. Frontiers in Chemistry. 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2025.1578852
AuthorsShaik, A. B., Bhandare, R. R., Rahman, M. and Dua, K.
Abstract

This Research Topic aimed to explore the advancements and applications of heterocyclic compounds, highlighting their importance in contemporary medicinal chemistry. The objective was to examine their diverse roles in tackling two major health concerns: infectious diseases and cancer. Currently, cancer and infectious diseases are among the most prevalent and challenging health conditions, significantly affecting the overall wellbeing of the population. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 20 million new cancer cases were diagnosed globally in 2022, with 9.7 million deaths attributed to the disease. Projections suggest that by 2050, the number of cancer cases could rise to 35 million (Seigel et al., 2023). Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as one of the top ten global health threats, posing significant risks not only to human health but also to environmental wellbeing. It is classified as a quintessential One Health challenge. The most concerning pathogens, characterized by multidrug resistance (MDR), extended-drug resistance, and even pan-drug resistance phenotypes, are collectively referred to by the acronym ESCAPE, encompassing Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium difficile, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacteriaceae (De Oliveira et al., 2020). Recent developments in this area have shown the potential of heterocyclic compounds to offer more targeted and effective treatments with fewer side effects. Therefore, this Research Topic invited papers that showcased recent progress in medicinal and natural product chemistry, including the isolation and characterization, design, synthesis, and application of heterocyclic compounds as promising anti-infective and anticancer agents.

JournalFrontiers in Chemistry
Journal citation13
ISSN2296-2646
Year2025
PublisherFrontiers Media SA
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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3389/fchem.2025.1578852
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Online04 Mar 2025
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Deposited04 Mar 2025
Copyright holder© 2025 The Authors
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