Multi-Cancer Studies
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Jun 01 – Jun 08, 2026
MAGE-A4/MAGE-A8-targeted TCR-based bispecific T cell engager in recurrent and/or refractory solid tumors: a phase 1 trial.
NAT MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/195TOP-TIER
This phase 1 first-in-human trial evaluated IMA401, a TCR-based bispecific T cell engager targeting MAGE-A4/MAGE-A8, in 61 patients with recurrent or refractory solid tumors. The recommended phase 2 dose was established at 1-2 mg biweekly, with a manageable safety profile featuring 38% grade 1-2 cytokine release syndrome and no maximum tolerated dose reached. Efficacy results showed a 20% objective response rate at the recommended dose across multiple indications, notably reaching 29% in head and neck cancer patients. These findings demonstrate the clinical potential of the bispecific TCER platform as a promising immunotherapy for advanced malignancies.
10.1038/s41591-026-04455-x
Tumor-Agnostic Therapies: Translating Scientific Breakthroughs Into Global Implementation.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This review investigates the global landscape of tumor-agnostic cancer therapies, their regulatory approvals, and implementation challenges across diverse regions. It identifies significant barriers in regulatory, reimbursement, infrastructure, and workforce domains, revealing that fewer than 50% of eligible patients receive matched therapies. The study is highly relevant to cancer care, highlighting practical issues affecting patient access to advanced treatments. It proposes a four-pillar framework for equitable implementation, focusing on biomarker testing, innovative trials, harmonized regulations, and workforce development to bridge the gap between innovation and accessibility for cancer patients.
10.1200/JCO-26-00034
SEZ6-targeting antibody-drug conjugate ABBV-706 in advanced small cell lung cancer and solid tumors: a phase 1 trial.
NAT MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/195TOP-TIER
This phase 1 trial evaluated ABBV-706, a SEZ6-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, in 288 patients with advanced solid tumors, specifically focusing on relapsed/refractory small cell lung cancer (R/R SCLC). In the R/R SCLC cohort, the objective response rate was 52%, with a median overall survival of 12.4 months at the 1.8 mg/kg dose. Safety data showed grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events in 61% of patients, primarily anemia and fatigue, which were dose-dependent. These findings establish 1.8 mg/kg every three weeks as the recommended phase 2 dose, offering a promising new therapeutic strategy for neuroendocrine-derived cancers.
10.1038/s41591-026-04452-0
Cancer workforce-a global crisis: a Lancet Oncology Commission.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This Lancet Oncology Commission modeled the global cancer burden and workforce needs for 17 common cancers to provide actionable guidance for strengthening cancer care, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Findings project a global increase in diagnosed incidence, with one in three cancers undiagnosed worldwide and over 60% in parts of Africa. The global cancer workforce shortage is estimated to reach 100 million by 2050, with nurses (65 million) and diagnostic specialists (16 million) most affected. Comprehensive workforce scale-up could avert 170 million cancer deaths and yield $120 trillion in economic benefits, emphasizing the critical need for investment and strategic actions like task-shifting and digital health to improve cancer care delivery.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00065-3
May 25 – Jun 01, 2026
No Smoker Left Behind: Evaluation of a Population-Based, Opt-Out Smoking Cessation Program for Patients With Cancer Who Smoke.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This study evaluated the “No Smoker Left Behind” program, a population-based, opt-out smoking cessation initiative involving 3,706 eligible smokers within a cohort of 37,478 cancer patients at a comprehensive cancer center. Among patients receiving referrals, 16.2% achieved ≥8-day abstinence at 180 days, with significantly higher quit rates in patients with smoking-related cancers (23.7%) compared to non-smoking-related types (14.7%). The program demonstrated high reach among Black and publicly insured patients, though racial disparities in abstinence rates (14.4% for Black vs. 25.7% for White patients) persist. With a cost-per-quit of $6,067, this proactive outreach model offers a feasible, resource-efficient strategy for integrating essential tobacco cessation services into standard oncology practice to improve patient outcomes.
10.1200/JCO-25-02029
May 18 – May 25, 2026
Beyond sex determination: the Y chromosome in male cancers.
NAT REV CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #3/326TOP-TIER
This review article synthesizes evidence on Loss of the Y chromosome (LOY) as the most prevalent somatic genomic alteration in males, linking it to susceptibility, progression, and poor outcomes across multiple cancer types, including haematological malignancies and solid tumours. Functional studies demonstrate LOY’s direct effects on immune surveillance, DNA repair, and the tumour immune microenvironment. The article discusses LOY’s potential as a biomarker for cancer risk, prognosis, and guiding precision therapy, including immunotherapy response and treatment stratification. While LOY’s precise causal role remains unresolved, its clinical implications for male cancer management are significant.
10.1038/s41568-026-00935-x
Pathogenic germline variations and cancer risks in pediatric patients referred for genetic testing.
NAT MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/195TOP-TIER
This study investigated cancer predisposition and tumor characteristics in 75,602 pediatric patients undergoing genetic testing. Analyzing exome sequencing data, 501 pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) germline variants were identified in tumor susceptibility genes. Among patients with tumors, 32.6% harbored causative P/LP variants, notably in NF1, TSC2, RB1, and WT1. Crucially, prospective follow-up revealed a significantly higher incidence of malignant tumors (3.23 per 1,000 person-years) in P/LP carriers compared to other variants, emphasizing the need for proactive genetic counseling and surveillance for cancer risk in this population.
10.1038/s41591-026-04423-5
Regulation of immune checkpoint molecules in cancer immune evasion and therapy.
NAT REV CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #3/326TOP-TIER
This review investigates the multilayered regulatory mechanisms (genetic to post-translational) that govern immune checkpoint molecule abundance and function in cancer cells and the immune microenvironment. It highlights that while PDL1-PD1, CTLA4, and LAG3 inhibitors have transformed cancer therapy, most patients achieve only limited or transient benefit due to checkpoint dysregulation. The study connects these regulatory processes to immune evasion and therapeutic resistance in cancer. This knowledge is critical for developing biomarkers and mechanism-guided strategies to improve immunotherapy outcomes for cancer patients.
10.1038/s41568-026-00934-y
May 11 – May 18, 2026
Stem cells as an essential mediator of the exercise-tumorigenesis link.
NAT REV CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #3/326TOP-TIER
This perspective piece explores the hypothesis that adult stem cells (ASCs) serve as critical mediators between aerobic exercise and reduced cancer incidence. The authors examine how exercise-induced systemic changes reshape distal tissue microenvironments to enhance ASC regenerative capacity while simultaneously activating tumor-suppressive pathways. Although the article lacks specific numerical data from a clinical trial, it provides a mechanistic framework for understanding how exercise maintains tissue homeostasis to prevent oncogenesis. These insights suggest that targeting exercise-sensing pathways in stem cells could offer novel strategies for cancer prevention and the management of age-related pathologies.
10.1038/s41568-026-00933-z
May 04 – May 11, 2026
Tumor-Infiltrating Clonal Hematopoiesis and Pan-Cancer Prognosis in Patients With Solid Tumors.
JAMA ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #14/326TOP-TIER
This retrospective cohort study analyzed whole-genome sequencing data from 10,571 patients with solid tumors to evaluate the prevalence and prognostic impact of tumor-infiltrating clonal hematopoiesis (TI-CH). TI-CH was identified in 18.38% of patients, occurring most frequently in endometrial cancer (32%) and correlating with older age and prior cytotoxic chemotherapy. Results demonstrated that TI-CH is significantly associated with worse pan-cancer overall survival (HR 1.13), with particularly high risk observed in breast cancer patients (HR 1.95) and those with GATA2 variants (HR 3.00). These findings suggest that TI-CH serves as a valuable prognostic biomarker across various solid tumors, potentially refining risk stratification and personalized treatment strategies in oncology.
10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.1036
Apr 27 – May 04, 2026
Targeting Regulatory T Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy: Promises and Pitfalls.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This targeted literature review examines the biological role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the tumor microenvironment and evaluates emerging therapeutic strategies for their modulation or depletion in cancer immunotherapy. The review identifies three primary clinical strategies—depletion via anti-CD25/CCR4/CCR8 antibodies, functional blockade of CTLA-4/TIGIT, and metabolic disruption—noting that while preclinical results are promising, clinical trials show variable efficacy and toxicity. For clinicians, the study highlights how high Treg infiltration facilitates tumor immune escape and discusses the potential of selective intratumoral Treg impairment to improve patient outcomes. Future practice may rely on identifying specific T-cell subsets, such as FOXP3+Helios+CCR8+ cells, to predict therapeutic responses and balance antitumor activity with peripheral immune tolerance.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.04.015
Clinical trial endpoints for metastases-directed therapy in oligometastatic cancer: a review and Delphi consensus on behalf of the EORTC-ESTRO OligoCare consortium.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This systematic review and Delphi consensus involving 30 experts and five patient representatives aimed to standardize primary endpoints for clinical trials evaluating metastases-directed therapies (MDT) in oligometastatic cancer. Analysis of 121 comparative trials revealed that while overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) are most common, consensus was reached on incorporating polymetastatic PFS and systemic therapy-free survival. These novel endpoints allow for repeat MDT without defining it as treatment failure, better reflecting the clinical management of oligometastatic disease compared to traditional metrics. Adopting these standardized, patient-centered endpoints will improve the comparability of future oncological trials and better inform clinical policy decisions regarding MDT integration.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00075-6
The clinical landscape of HIF2α inhibitors in oncology.
NAT REV CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #2/326TOP-TIER
This review examines the clinical development and therapeutic landscape of HIF2α inhibitors, specifically focusing on the first-in-class antagonist belzutifan and emerging small-molecule or RNA-based modulators. Belzutifan has achieved regulatory approval for treating von Hippel-Lindau disease-associated tumors, sporadic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma, and pheochromocytoma, demonstrating significant efficacy by targeting the PAS-B domain. The research highlights the validation of HIF2α as a druggable target in oncology, addressing management of on-target toxicities like anemia and the potential for combination therapies to overcome resistance. Future clinical practice may expand HIF2α inhibition to various hypoxia-adapted malignancies, provided that predictive biomarkers are identified to optimize patient selection and treatment outcomes.
10.1038/s41571-026-01145-y
Enhancer and metabolic rewiring by KMT2C-COMPASS or KMT2D-COMPASS family loss in cancer creates druggable vulnerabilities.
NAT REV CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #3/326TOP-TIER
This review article explores the functional roles of KMT2C-COMPASS and KMT2D-COMPASS epigenetic regulatory complexes and the impact of their mutations on cancer progression. It highlights that KMT2C, KMT2D, and KDM6A are among the most frequently mutated genes across human cancers, especially epithelial cancers. These mutations create tumour-specific and potentially druggable vulnerabilities, offering new avenues for therapeutic intervention. The review outlines strategies to exploit these vulnerabilities in cancer cells, including targeting epigenetic activity, metabolic rewiring, and immune responses, providing a framework for novel cancer treatments.
10.1038/s41568-026-00919-x
Apr 20 – Apr 27, 2026
The sleeping threat: targeting cancer dormancy to transform metastasis therapy.
NAT REV CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #3/326TOP-TIER
This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding metastatic cancer cell dormancy, a critical determinant of cancer relapse. It explores microenvironmental drivers, epigenetic programs, and immune evasion mechanisms in both solid and hematologic malignancies. Key insights reveal how niche signals and molecular programs maintain disseminated cancer cell quiescence, and how these cells evade immune surveillance. Despite mechanistic understanding, clinical translation remains limited, underscoring challenges and opportunities to leverage dormancy biology for preventing metastatic recurrence and improving patient outcomes.
10.1038/s41568-026-00928-w
Canine Olfaction Combined With Bayesian Modeling for Multicancer Detection From Breath Samples: A Phase II Study in India.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This Phase II study evaluated a multicancer breath detection system using trained dogs and Bayesian modeling in a case-control study across six hospitals in India, enrolling 3,275 participants including 283 biopsy-confirmed cancer cases. The system achieved 90.8% sensitivity and 91.3% specificity for multicancer detection, with an AUC of 0.962. Notably, sensitivity for early-stage disease (stage I-II) was 90.6% and consistent across cancer types. These findings establish high analytical accuracy for a low-cost, high-sensitivity cancer triage test, highly relevant for population screening, supporting prospective evaluation in true screening populations.
10.1200/JCO-25-02310
Re-Evaluating Antibody-Drug Conjugate Linker Stability: Assessment, Interpretation, and Clinical Translation.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This review examines the role of linker stability in antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) design, challenging the assumption that increased stability necessarily improves clinical outcomes in cancer therapy. Analysis reveals that several successful ADCs utilize relatively unstable linkers, while more stable designs have frequently failed to improve efficacy or have resulted in unexpected toxicities. The study highlights the limitations of preclinical models in predicting human payload exposure and emphasizes the complex relationship between systemic half-life and off-target toxicity. These findings suggest that future ADC development must move beyond simple stability metrics toward more rational, clinically-informed strategies to optimize the therapeutic index for oncology patients.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.04.008
Context-dependent synthetic lethality - an emerging precision therapeutic approach.
NAT REV CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #3/326TOP-TIER
This review examines context-dependent synthetic lethality as a precision oncology strategy to exploit cancer-intrinsic vulnerabilities beyond direct oncogene inhibition. The authors identify key mechanistic themes such as DNA repair defects and metabolic imbalances, highlighting clinical successes with PARP, HIF-2, and SMO inhibitors. It emphasizes that the therapeutic index, often derived from functional genomics, is a critical determinant for target prioritization and achieving selectivity in cancer treatment. These insights provide a framework for developing more selective and durable cancer therapies by matching specific molecular mechanisms with optimal therapeutic modalities.
10.1038/s41568-026-00929-9
Advancing AI for multi-omics and clinical data integration in basic and translational cancer research.
NAT REV CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #3/326TOP-TIER
This review examines how artificial intelligence (AI) integrates multi-omics and clinical data to advance cancer research. AI enables comprehensive analysis of high-dimensional datasets, driving progress in early diagnosis, patient stratification, and prediction of therapeutic response. The approach directly supports precision oncology by elucidating drug resistance mechanisms and aiming for patient-specific digital twins. Critical implementation requires explainable AI to build clinical trust and address challenges in data accessibility and model generalizability.
10.1038/s41568-026-00922-2
Targeting MEK in cancer and beyond: mechanistic insights and therapeutic opportunities.
LANCET · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/332TOP-TIER
This review examines the therapeutic landscape of MEK inhibitors, focusing on their established role in BRAF-driven cancers and the challenges of toxicity and resistance in RAS-mutant tumors. While effective in BRAF-mutant melanoma, clinical utility is often limited by severe dermatological and gastrointestinal adverse effects, necessitating the development of predictive biomarkers like MAPK pathway activity. Emerging strategies emphasize dual-targeting drug design and combination regimens with immune checkpoint inhibitors or PI3K-mTOR inhibitors to improve durability and expand the therapeutic window. Refined patient selection through biomarker-guided approaches remains essential for optimizing MEK inhibition in oncology while exploring potential applications in non-oncological inflammatory and fibrotic disorders.
10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00199-6
Apr 13 – Apr 20, 2026
DART (NCI/SWOG S1609): Comprehensive Final Results from Dual Checkpoint Inhibition with CTLA-4 and PD-1 Blockade in Rare Cancers.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
The NCI/SWOG S1609 (DART) trial was a prospective, open-label, multicenter phase 2 study evaluating dual CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibition (ipilimumab plus nivolumab) across 53 refractory rare cancer cohorts. Among 727 eligible patients, 24 of 53 cohorts (45%) demonstrated clinical activity, with a median objective response rate of 12% and a 3-year overall survival of 23%. This study is highly relevant to clinicians interested in cancer, particularly those managing patients with refractory rare cancers, by demonstrating meaningful responses to immunotherapy in a population with limited options. The findings suggest that ipilimumab plus nivolumab can provide clinical benefit in various rare cancer types, offering a potential therapeutic strategy, though further characterization of responsive subsets is needed.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.04.004
Microbiota and immune-related adverse events in cancer immunotherapy.
NAT REV CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #3/326TOP-TIER
This review examines the role of tissue microbiomes, specifically in the gastrointestinal tract, lung, and skin, as potential mediators of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients receiving cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The authors specifically analyze clinical and preclinical data regarding ICI-induced colitis, highlighting the complex interplay between microbial drivers and immune responses that lead to off-target toxicities. While specific numerical outcomes are not detailed in this review abstract, the synthesis of evidence points toward the microbiome as a critical factor in determining the risk and severity of treatment-limiting side effects. These findings suggest that modulating the microbiome could offer a therapeutic pathway to mitigate irAEs without compromising the anti-tumor efficacy of ICI regimens in clinical practice.
10.1038/s41568-026-00921-3
Medical Assistance in Dying Use Among Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer.
JAMA ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #14/326TOP-TIER
This mixed-methods retrospective cohort study investigated the utilization and clinical context of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) among 34 adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with cancer in Alberta, Canada, between 2016 and 2022. Results showed that while the median time from advanced diagnosis to MAID was 1.1 years, 50% of patients received specialist palliative care less than three months before death, and 71.4% reported high symptom complexity—particularly pain and tiredness—in their final month. The study directly addresses the clinician’s interest in cancer by highlighting the unique symptom trajectories and psychosocial drivers, such as loss of autonomy (80%) and social isolation, specific to the AYA oncology population. These findings suggest that clinicians should utilize advanced disease markers or symptom scores to trigger earlier palliative care referrals to mitigate suffering and improve end-of-life experiences for young cancer patients.
10.1001/jamaoncol.2026.0700
Nonpharmacologic interventions for managing distress, anxiety, and depression for patients with cancer and their family caregivers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
CA-CANCER J CLIN · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/326TOP-TIER
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 68 randomized controlled trials involving 11,987 participants evaluated the efficacy of nonpharmacologic interventions (NPIs) in reducing psychological distress among adult patients with solid tumors and their family caregivers. Results demonstrated that NPIs significantly reduced patient distress (g = 0.13 to 0.18) and short-term anxiety and depression for both patients (g = 0.31 and 0.28) and caregivers (g = 0.15 and 0.25). The findings highlight that joint delivery of interventions to both patients and caregivers yields superior outcomes compared to separate delivery, offering a practical strategy for outpatient oncology settings. Clinicians should integrate psychoeducation and counseling into cancer care plans to address immediate psychological needs, though further research is required to establish long-term efficacy for delayed symptoms.
10.3322/caac.70076
Apr 06 – Apr 13, 2026
Cytokine Release Symptoms rather than Syndromes: A call for Granular Reporting of Cytokine Related Adverse Events in Clinical Trials.
ANN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/326TOP-TIER
This abstract advocates for a paradigm shift from aggregate syndromic grading to a granular, longitudinal reporting framework for cytokine release-related adverse events (AEs) in clinical trials. It highlights that current disparate grading scales for T-cell redirecting therapies and next-generation immunotherapies, used in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, hinder drug development and patient safety due to inconsistent reporting. The proposed symptom-driven model, integrating specific interventions and real-time biomarkers, aims to enable retrospective application of evolving criteria and develop tailored, evidence-based management algorithms. This framework is essential for harmonizing safety assessments across global trials and optimizing the therapeutic index of next-generation immunotherapies in oncology.
10.1016/j.annonc.2026.03.006
Global burden of cancer in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
LANCET · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/332TOP-TIER
This systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 quantified the global burden of cancer in children and adolescents (0-19 years) using data from cancer registries, vital registration, and verbal autopsies, employing cancer-specific ensemble models to estimate incidence, mortality, YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs. In 2023, there were an estimated 377,000 incident childhood cancer cases, 144,000 deaths, and 11.7 million DALYs globally due to childhood cancer. While global deaths decreased by 27.0% since 1990, they increased by 55.6% in the WHO African region, and age-standardized YLLs were inversely correlated with the Socio-demographic Index. This study provides critical epidemiological data on the global scale and disparities of childhood cancer, directly aligning with the clinician’s interest in cancer research by detailing its burden, trends, and impact. The findings underscore that childhood cancer remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in resource-limited settings, emphasizing the need for targeted efforts to address inequities in diagnosis and care continuum worldwide.
10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00200-X
Mar 30 – Apr 06, 2026
Anti-infective vaccination strategies in patients with haematological malignancies or solid tumours: updated guideline of the Infectious Diseases Working Party of the German Society for Hematology and Medical Oncology.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This updated guideline from the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology reviews literature published since 2017 to provide evidence-based recommendations for anti-infective vaccination in patients with solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The panel utilized a standardized international grading system to evaluate vaccination timing, the use of live vaccines, and immunization strategies for household contacts. For the oncology clinician, the study offers specific protocols for patients receiving modern therapies, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, bispecific antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. These recommendations provide a practical framework for reducing vaccine-preventable morbidity and mortality, which remain major causes of death in the cancer population.
10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00765-X
Advancing cancer equity in seven high-income countries: an analysis of policy levers and National Cancer Control Plans.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This policy review synthesizes evidence from seven high-income countries—Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the USA—to analyze how cancer equity is conceptualized and operationalized within National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs). The analysis reveals significant variation in equity definitions, finding that while most countries emphasize access to care, fewer address clinical outcomes or patient experience, and equity is frequently treated as secondary to broader health system goals. For clinicians and stakeholders, the study highlights that structural determinants and inconsistent terminology remain major barriers to achieving equitable cancer outcomes across the continuum of prevention, treatment, and survivorship. The research culminates in a new evidence-informed Policy Framework for Equity in Cancer Control designed to guide the implementation of more effective and equitable cancer policies in high-income settings.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00072-0
Progress towards the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer target of 60% 5-year survival for all childhood cancers combined, 1990-2019 (CONCORD-4): a Cancer Survival Index derived for 68 countries by analysis of individual records for 613 021 children from 307 population-based cancer registries.
LANCET · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/332TOP-TIER
This study utilized individual records from 613,021 children across 307 registries in 68 countries to evaluate progress toward the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer target of 60% 5-year survival. Results show that for children diagnosed between 2015-19, the Cancer Survival Index (CSI) exceeded 80% in most high-income countries and ranged from 50% to 80% in middle-income countries. The research provides a standardized CSI that allows clinicians and policymakers to quantitatively compare international trends across 12 major cancer groups and six specific tracer cancers. Given that many participating countries have already met or approached the 60% survival target, the authors suggest that global targets may need to be more ambitious to drive further improvements in pediatric oncology.
10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00189-3
Mar 23 – Mar 30, 2026
The Oncology Care Model and Medicare Payments, Utilization, and Quality.
JAMA-J AM MED ASSOC · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #4/332TOP-TIER
This study used a difference-in-differences regression analysis to evaluate the impact of the Oncology Care Model (OCM) on Medicare spending, utilization, and quality of care for over 1.5 million chemotherapy episodes between 2016 and 2022. The OCM was associated with a modest reduction in total episode payments of $616 per episode (90% CI, -$912 to -$321), with significant savings in Medicare Part A (-$176) and Part B (-$340) but no significant change in Part D or quality measures. For clinicians, the results indicate that while the model incentivized some spending reductions, it did not significantly alter hospitalization rates, emergency department visits, or established quality-of-care metrics for cancer patients. Ultimately, the program resulted in a net loss of $639 million to Medicare, suggesting that future oncology payment models must better balance incentive payments with actual savings to achieve financial sustainability without compromising care quality.
10.1001/jama.2026.2075
Striking the right balance with type I interferon signalling in cancer.
NAT REV CANCER · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #3/326TOP-TIER
This review article explores the complex role of type I interferons (IFNs) in cancer therapy, examining their dual immune-stimulatory and immune-suppressive effects within tumours. It investigates how tumour-intrinsic mechanisms, oncogenic signalling, and the tumour microenvironment modulate IFN activity, impacting immune surveillance, metastatic progression, and therapeutic response. The review also considers age-related changes that influence IFN signalling and therapeutic outcomes in cancer. Ultimately, it aims to outline actionable strategies to reprogramme IFN activity in tumours to improve therapeutic efficacy for cancer patients.
10.1038/s41568-026-00915-1
Results From the Genetic Information and Family Testing Study: A Cluster-Randomized Trial.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This cluster-randomized trial (GIFT) evaluated an online, direct-to-family genetic education and communication tool, including home testing, for adult relatives of cancer survivors with pathogenic variants, aiming to increase cascade genetic testing uptake. While 91.3% of enrolled relatives ordered testing, the fraction of relatives tested in a family was low at baseline (0.03), with a modest absolute increase of 0.04 (95% CI, 0.02 to 0.05) in the free testing arm (OR 2.5 [1.6-3.9]) compared to the $50 arm, with no significant increase observed with a human navigator. The study directly addresses a critical barrier in identifying individuals at high risk for hereditary cancers, which is fundamental for cancer prevention and early intervention strategies. An online, low-cost, direct-to-family intervention without a human navigator shows promise for increasing cascade genetic testing for hereditary cancer syndromes, though further strategies are needed to improve overall uptake.
10.1200/JCO-25-02196
Mar 16 – Mar 23, 2026
Real-world clinical utility of tumor whole-genome sequencing in solid cancers.
NAT MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/195TOP-TIER
This real-world study evaluated the clinical utility of routine, paired tumor-normal whole-genome sequencing (WGS) diagnostics in 888 patients with solid cancers. WGS successfully identified potentially actionable biomarkers in 73% of patients, leading to biomarker-informed treatment for 40% within one year, which was associated with a 31% longer median overall survival (+96 days). For patients without prior systemic therapy, biomarker-informed treatment yielded significantly longer overall survival (median not reached) compared to non-biomarker-informed therapy (427 days) or no systemic therapy (214 days). These findings demonstrate WGS as a versatile tool with significant clinical consequences for 41% of tested patients, supporting its integration into routine clinical practice for solid oncology.
10.1038/s41591-026-04280-2
A practical toolkit with recommendations for analysing and visualising patient-reported outcomes in early phase dose-finding oncology trials (OPTIMISE-AR).
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This policy review introduces the OPTIMISE-AR toolkit, developed by international multidisciplinary working groups to standardize the statistical analysis and visualization of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in early-phase dose-finding oncology trials. The toolkit provides specific recommendations for analyzing binary, ordinal, and continuous PRO data across four methodological domains, including time-to-event endpoints and formal dose-decision making in model-based designs. For clinicians focused on cancer research, this framework directly addresses the historical inconsistency in reporting patient-centered tolerability data during the critical dose-escalation phase of drug development. Implementing these standardized approaches facilitates more robust, patient-centered conclusions regarding treatment tolerability, ultimately supporting the development of effective and tolerable oncological therapies.
10.1016/S1470-2045(26)00018-5
Mar 09 – Mar 16, 2026
Clinical development of cancer vaccines.
NAT MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/195TOP-TIER
This review examines the clinical development of cancer vaccines, focusing on strategies to expand tumor-reactive T cell repertoires to overcome the limitations of current immune checkpoint inhibitors. While specific statistical outcomes are not detailed in the abstract, it highlights encouraging preliminary results from phase 1 and 2 clinical trials that utilize high-quality neoantigens and modular vaccine platforms. The study is directly relevant to oncology interests as it outlines critical factors for optimizing vaccine efficacy, particularly the application of (neo)adjuvant therapies in early-stage cancer. These findings provide a roadmap for future clinical practice, suggesting a shift toward personalized immunotherapy to improve long-term patient outcomes.
10.1038/s41591-026-04241-9
Patient-Clinician Communication: ASCO Guideline Update.
J CLIN ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #6/326TOP-TIER
This ASCO guideline update provides evidence-based recommendations for oncology clinicians on effective communication to enhance patient, clinician, and caregiver well-being within cancer care. Developed by a multidisciplinary panel through a systematic review of 73 publications (54 systematic reviews, 19 RCTs), the guideline addresses core communication skills across the cancer continuum, including goals of care, treatment selection, and end-of-life discussions. New topics like telehealth and interprofessional communication are also covered, offering practical strategies for implementation. Full adoption requires health systems to provide adequate time, training, and support, directly impacting the quality of patient-clinician interactions in oncology practice.
10.1200/JCO-26-00118
Mar 02 – Mar 09, 2026
An international modified Delphi study to prioritise levels of evidence and outcomes to appraise radiotherapy innovation in the ESTRO Value-Based Radiation Oncology framework.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This international Delphi study, led by the European Society of Radiation Oncology, aimed to build consensus among experts on the essential levels of evidence and clinical endpoints for appraising radiotherapy innovations. It found that while randomized trials remain a high priority, high-quality prospective observational or pragmatic trials are suitable alternatives in specific scenarios, and a broader set of endpoints beyond overall survival, including quality of life and local control, are crucial. These consensus criteria will inform a structured appraisal framework for radiotherapy innovation, guiding healthcare providers and policymakers in identifying and promoting high-value radiotherapy that offers meaningful benefit to cancer patients. This framework directly impacts the implementation and reimbursement of new cancer treatments.
10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00732-6
Radiotherapy for more efficacious novel anticancer drugs: a position paper from the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) focus group on novel systemic therapies and radiotherapy.
LANCET ONCOL · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #8/326TOP-TIER
This ESTRO position paper explores the strategic integration of modern radiotherapy with novel systemic anticancer therapies to revolutionize cancer treatments and improve survival. It highlights the potential for more personalized approaches through rational combinations, emphasizing the need for robust preclinical data and early introduction of radiotherapy in novel agent development. This review is highly relevant to clinicians interested in cancer, outlining strategies for optimizing treatment, improving patient outcomes, and shaping future oncological practices. It implies a need for collaborative approaches among stakeholders to develop sustainable improvements in cancer therapies and encourages careful selection of combination treatments based on strong evidence.
10.1016/S1470-2045(25)00660-6
Ethical considerations of genetic and genomic testing in pediatric oncology: A narrative review.
CA-CANCER J CLIN · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #1/326TOP-TIER
This narrative review examines the unique ethical considerations of genetic and genomic testing across the pediatric cancer continuum, highlighting how limited evidence on test performance and variant interpretation differs from adult oncology. The authors identify key ethical challenges including consent, privacy, psychosocial impact on families, and equity concerns in implementing genomically informed interventions. For clinicians focused on cancer, the review provides critical analysis of how genomic information affects treatment decision-making while raising practical issues of communication and interdisciplinary support. The primary implication is that realizing the promise of pediatric cancer genomics requires standardized ethical frameworks and communication practices to responsibly integrate testing into clinical care.
10.3322/caac.70075
Effects of Radiotherapy in Normal Tissue.
NEW ENGL J MED · Q1 JOURNAL - RANK #2/332TOP-TIER
This review examines the evolution of radiotherapy as a cornerstone of oncologic treatment, focusing on how technological advances in imaging and delivery have improved tumor control while managing normal tissue toxicity. The article highlights that modern conformal and ablative techniques allow for the integration of radiotherapy with systemic immunotherapies and targeted treatments without increasing side-effect risks. It details the biological mechanisms of radiation-induced damage—including stem-cell senescence and fibroblast activation—providing a framework for understanding and mitigating treatment-related morbidity in cancer patients. Future clinical practice will likely leverage biomarkers and personalized irradiation regimens to further optimize the therapeutic ratio between tumor eradication and normal tissue preservation.
10.1056/NEJMra2506017