Ten Cancer Breakthroughs Giving Us Hope in 2026

Cancer treatment has evolved dramatically in the first quarter of this century, but there is still much more to do. At Dana-Farber, research continues in the clinic and lab, resulting in exciting breakthroughs that are giving us hope for dramatic advancements in the coming years. **Breakthrough Targeted Therapies** Two novel therapies are generating excitement for previously difficult-to-treat cancers: - For acute myeloid leukemia (AML), menin inhibitors were recently approved for approximately 40% of AML cases. Dana-Farber's Scott Armstrong, MD, PhD, whose research led to the discovery, is now testing these drugs in combination with other therapies. 'This is a monumental step forward,' says Dr. Jacqueline Garcia, a medical oncologist in the Division of Leukemia. - For pancreatic cancer, a novel RAS inhibitor is being tested in a phase III clinical trial led by Dr. Brian Wolpin and showing promising early results. 'The revolution in targeting RAS has been one of the biggest therapeutic advances in the history of clinical care for pancreatic cancer patients,' says Dr. Andrew Aguirre, co-director of the Center for RAS Therapeutics. **Personalized Cancer Vaccines** Personalized cancer vaccines are designed specifically to train a patient's immune system to fight their individual form of cancer. Dana-Farber investigators including Dr. Catherine Wu and Dr. Patrick Ott are continually improving these vaccines and testing them in melanoma and kidney cancer. **A New Way to Deliver Radiation** Radioligand therapy, a form of targeted radioactive treatment, was recently approved for earlier lines of therapy in metastatic prostate cancer and is beginning to be tested for other cancers. 'We have highly trained staff to make sure the radioactivity is administered safely,' says Dr. Heather Jacene. **Protein Degraders** Dana-Farber President Benjamin Ebert, MD, PhD, discovered that certain drugs work by degrading proteins that drive cancer growth. Now researchers are developing novel protein degraders for many forms of cancer. 'We think this next decade could be the clinical decade for protein degradation,' says Dr. Eric Fischer. **Earlier Detection and Interception** Multi-Cancer Early Detection tests are making it possible to detect cancer early, when treatments are most effective. Dana-Farber-led clinical trials aim to determine who might benefit from these tests most. From quantum batteries to malaria vaccines, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of remarkable scientific hope.