CrownCast

In the last two decades, oncology has undergone a transformation with over 300 new cancer therapies approved by the FDA—many offering novel mechanisms of action. Despite these innovations, resistance to treatment remains a critical challenge, with cancer cells evolving or adapting to evade even the most advanced therapeutics. This issue is particularly pressing given that…

In an era where precision and predictability define the future of oncology, organoid technology is emerging as a transformative tool in drug discovery. These miniature, lab-grown 3D tissues mirror real human biology more closely than traditional 2D models or even animal systems, offering researchers the potential to predict patient-specific drug responses. As organoids become more…

In the ever-evolving world of cancer treatment, immuno-oncology (IO) continues to stand at the forefront of innovation. With recent FDA approvals for TIL therapies and bispecific antibodies, and new developments in CAR-T technologies, the field is rapidly expanding into combination-based strategies that integrate with standard care. Researchers are also exploring how to overcome challenges posed…

In a rapidly shifting landscape of personalized medicine, biomarkers have become central to shaping the way drug development and clinical trials unfold. From predicting therapeutic response to identifying optimal patient populations, the complexity and scope of biomarker use has increased alongside technological advances. A key success story like the BCR-ABL biomarker in chronic myeloid leukemia…

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping the drug discovery process, moving from augmenting research to actively driving innovation. As biotech companies face soaring R&D costs and long development cycles, AI promises a breakthrough: slashing drug development time by nearly half while improving accuracy in identifying promising compounds. With global pharmaceutical R&D spending projected to exceed $230…

Once labeled “undruggable,” KRAS has emerged as one of oncology’s most promising—yet complex—targets. With nearly 90% of pancreatic cancers and 30-40% of lung and colorectal cancers harboring KRAS mutations, the need for effective therapies is urgent. Recent FDA approvals of KRAS G12C inhibitors have signaled a new era, but the rise of resistance and diverse…

Preclinicals

As the field of cancer immunotherapy rapidly evolves, researchers are turning to next-generation in vitro technologies to replicate the complexities of the tumor microenvironment with unprecedented fidelity. Organoid platforms and ex vivo patient-derived tissue models are transforming how scientists approach preclinical testing, offering deeper mechanistic insights and better predictive power for therapeutic response. With immunotherapies…

In the rapidly advancing field of cancer immunotherapy, accurately modeling the tumor microenvironment (TME) has become essential to improving the predictive power of preclinical drug testing. As immune-modulating therapies surge forward, with over 4,000 immune modulators in development globally, scientists are refining assay technologies that maintain the complexity of patient-specific tumor biology. In vitro platforms…

As cancer immunotherapy continues to reshape treatment landscapes, fine-tuning T-cell responses has become a critical frontier. Recent advances in 3D organoid models and high-content imaging are enabling scientists to closely mimic patient-specific tumor environments—unlocking insights into how T cells behave, respond, and falter under immune checkpoint blockade. With over 4,000 immune modulators in clinical…

As immunotherapy revolutionizes cancer treatment, the need for physiologically relevant preclinical models becomes more urgent than ever. Despite the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors, a large majority of patients fail to achieve long-lasting responses, prompting researchers to explore more complex and predictive assays. The cancer immunity cycle, first described in 2013, remains a central framework…