Cancer biology explores the complex ways cells grow out of control, investigating the genetic mutations and environmental factors that drive tumor formation. This field seeks to understand how healthy cells transform into malignant ones and how these rogue cells spread throughout the body. By decoding these fundamental mechanisms, researchers aim to develop more effective treatments that target the disease at its source while sparing healthy tissue.

At Gist.Science, we process every new preprint published in this category directly from bioRxiv to ensure you stay ahead of the curve. Our team provides both accessible plain-language overviews and detailed technical summaries for each study, bridging the gap between raw research data and practical understanding. Whether you are a specialist or a curious reader, our goal is to make these critical findings clear and actionable.

Below are the latest papers in cancer biology, offering fresh insights into the ongoing fight against this disease.

Transcriptomic atlas of premalignant oral squamous cell carcinoma in an aging mouse model reveals an enhanced immune response and dysregulation of head and neck tissue stem cells

This study establishes an aging, male-biased mouse model of tobacco-related oral premalignancy to generate a transcriptomic atlas that reveals enhanced immune responses and stem cell dysregulation as key drivers of oral squamous cell carcinoma progression.

Kletzien, H., Nguyen, N.-A., Jena, S. G., Buenrostro, J. D., Wagers, A. J.2026-03-24📄 cancer biology

Multi-omics analysis of the potential of MACC1 as a biomarker and therapeutic target for colonic adenocarcinoma

This multi-omics study utilizing bioinformatics analysis of public datasets identifies MACC1 as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for colonic adenocarcinoma, characterized by its elevated expression in Wnt and chromatin modifier pathways, association with DNA damage repair, and negative correlation with immune cell infiltration.

Zhang, Y., Chen, Z., Zheng, C., Peng, X., Lu, Y., Zhang, J., Sun, P.2026-03-24📄 cancer biology

Safety and Feasibility of Infusing Ex Vivo Expanded Allogeneic Canine Natural Killer Cells for the Treatment of Metastatic Solid Tumors

This study demonstrates the safety and feasibility of infusing ex vivo expanded allogeneic natural killer cells, derived from healthy canine donors and activated with specific cytokines and feeder cells, for the treatment of metastatic solid tumors in dogs, showing successful cell expansion, in vitro potency against osteosarcoma, and well-tolerated administration in a phase 1 clinical trial.

Weisnicht, A. M., Szwec, F., Cho, M. M., Cheng, H.-Y. H., Ganesh, S., Mahoney, L., Fox, K., Smith, P. R., Olsen, M., Richards, R. M., Vail, D. M., Capitini, C. M.2026-03-23📄 cancer biology

A 3D Tumor-on-a-chip Platform to Identify Drugs that Block Breast Cancer Cell Intravasation

This paper presents a novel 3D tumor-on-a-chip platform that mimics the dynamic tumor-endothelium interface to enable real-time imaging and quantification of breast cancer cell intravasation, demonstrating its utility in identifying anti-metastatic drugs like Dactolisib.

Perera, N., Coutinho, D., Morais, C., Faria, M., Neto, R., Roman, W., Gomes, E. R., Franco, C. A., Costa, L., Barata, D., Serre, K., Dias, S., Magalhaes, A.2026-03-22📄 cancer biology

From Single-Cell Emergent Behaviors to Clinical Outcome: PTEN-driven Migratory Efficiency as a Potential New Vulnerability in Glioblastoma

This study identifies a novel vulnerability in glioblastoma by demonstrating that highly efficient, structured migratory behaviors, quantified via Diffusion Entropy Analysis and strongly associated with poor patient survival, are driven by distinct molecular signatures, particularly PTEN gain-of-function alterations.

Morelli, M., Ferri, G., Lessi, F., Franceschi, S., Marchetto, F., Di Lorenzo, F., Tancreda, G., Vadi, T., Sarnari, F., Hohmann, T., Pieri, F., Gambacciani, C., Pasqualetti, F., Shah, Y., Singh, J., We (…)2026-03-20📄 cancer biology

ULK1 drives NDP52-mediated selective autophagic degradation of MHC-I to promote immune evasion in HPV-positive head and neck cancer

In HPV-positive head and neck cancer, the ULK1 complex drives the selective autophagic degradation of MARCHF8-ubiquitinated MHC-I via the cargo receptor NDP52, a mechanism that facilitates immune evasion and tumor growth which can be reversed by inhibiting autophagy initiation to restore CD8+ T cell-mediated antitumor responses.

Vu, L., Giacobbi, N. S., Khalil, M. I., Yang, C., Eckerman, W. J., Gomez Recinos, E., Garber, J. D., Son, H., Chahal, P., Villa, D. M., Srivastava, T., Bennett, A. Z., Martin, K. R., Welbon, C., Willi (…)2026-03-18📄 cancer biology