Looking Ahead: Predictions for Cancer in 2026

"This is an exciting time for brain tumor research. Technologies like single-cell spatial transcriptomics are revealing how tumors grow, evolve, and interact with their microenvironment, uncovering treatment-resistant niches and cellular communication patterns. These insights will guide precision medicine, while advances in immunotherapy and biomarker-driven treatment selection promise more durable responses. Together, these innovations will reshape brain cancer care with strategies that adapt to each tumor’s evolving landscape."

Priscilla Brastianos, MD
Physician Investigator
Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute

"We’ll see major progress in understanding the links between aging and cancer—why aging is the main risk factor, why younger and older patients respond differently to treatment, and how cell biology can improve responses across age groups."

Peter van Galen, PhD
Investigator
Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute

"Cancer treatment will move beyond genes to targeting the tumor’s environment. Therapies will normalize blood vessels and surrounding structures to improve survival rates in patients with solid tumors. Examples include bifunctional antibodies, CAR-T cells that neutralize angiogenic signals, drugs disrupting cancer-neuronal crosstalk, microbiome reprogramming, and greater emphasis on exercise—all supported by AI for design and personalization."

Rakesh Jain, PhD
Investigator
Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute

"Next-generation spatial technologies will map every cell in human tissue with unprecedented detail, revealing how cellular neighborhoods influence function. Applying AI to these maps will unlock hidden patterns and pathways, transforming our understanding of tissue organization in health and disease."

David Ting, MD, PhD
Scientific Director
Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute