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.

📄 cancer biology

Positive Selection Screen Identifies Natural Product β-Catenin Inactivators

Through a large-scale positive selection screen of natural product mixtures using mammalian cells, researchers identified a compound that inactivates oncogenic β-catenin by activating novel protein kinase Cs to relocate the protein to juxtamembrane vacuolar structures, demonstrating the potential of phenotypic screening to target previously undruggable cancer drivers.

Boudreau, M. W., Freire, V. F., Corbett, S. C., Martinez-Fructuoso, L., Shenoy, S. R., Yu, W., Kumar, R., Thornburg, C. (…)2026-04-17
📄 cancer biology

Identification of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 as a Master Regulator of Gastric Cancer-Associated Cachexia

This study identifies Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 (BMP7) as a master regulator of gastric cancer-associated cachexia that drives muscle wasting and poor survival by upregulating GDF11 and GDF15, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target.

Yasuda-Koiwa, M., Shoda, T., Nishimura, A., Yasuda, T., Yonemura, A., Muraki, K., Okamoto, Y., Tajiri, T., Wang, Y. A. (…)2026-04-17
📄 cancer biology

Metabolic Salvage and Acyl-chain Remodeling Support Glycosphingolipid Synthesis with the PDAC Tumor Microenvironment

By applying 13C metabolic flux analysis to slice cultures of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors, this study reveals that metabolic salvage and acyl-chain remodeling within the tumor microenvironment are critical for glycosphingolipid synthesis, specifically highlighting the role of PIKfyve in ganglioside homeostasis.

Trimble, A. S., Kubota, C. S., Zhao, E., Ruchhoeft, M. L., Weitz, J. R., Jung, W., Peck, K. L., Ogawa, S., Ashley, E. L. (…)2026-04-17
📄 cancer biology

Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC) as a Tool to Characterize Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) in Preclinical Mouse Models

This study evaluates the utility of Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC) as a multiplexed, unbiased tool for characterizing single and clustered circulating tumor cells in preclinical mouse xenograft models to investigate metastasis and treatment resistance.

Pore, M., Balamurugan, K., Atkinson, A., Breen, D., Mallory, P., Cardamone, A., McKennett, L., Newkirk, C., Sharan, S. (…)2026-04-16
📄 cancer biology

Metabolic maintenance of breast cancer cells and metastases throughE-cadherin/YAP-dependent pyruvate carboxylase expression

This study reveals that E-cadherin maintains mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and protects breast cancer cells from oxidative stress by activating the AKT-YAP/TEAD signaling pathway to upregulate pyruvate carboxylase, a mechanism that supports metastasis and represents a promising therapeutic target.

Balamurugan, K., Weiss, J. M., Sharan, S., McKennett, L., Donohue, D., McVicar, D. W., Sterneck, E.2026-04-16
📄 cancer biology

Regression-based Modeling of Spearman's Rho for Longitudinal Metabolomics and Mental Wellness in Breast Cancer Patients

This paper proposes a novel semiparametric regression framework to extend Spearman's rho for analyzing longitudinal metabolomics and mental wellness data with missing values, demonstrating its utility in identifying metabolic candidates linked to mental health outcomes in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Chen, Y., Gui, T., Huang, Z., Quach, N., Tu, S., Liu, J., Garrett, T. J., Starkweather, A. R., Lyon, D. E., Shepherd, B. (…)2026-04-16