Cancer drug resistance is not inevitable. It is a predictable evolutionary process, and new mathematical models suggest it can be exploited rather than overwhelmed. Research published today in the journal Genetics by Dr. Robert Noble and colleagues at City St George's, University of London, applies evolutionary theory to oncology treatment timing, finding that switching between multiple therapies before a tumor begins regrowth could generally perform better than the current standard of treating at maximum tolerated dose until resistance emerges.
"Smarter timing may be one of the keys to making cancer treatment more effective," ScienceDaily summarized the findings on July 22, 2026. "A new study suggests that doctors could improve cure rates by changing therapies before a tumor has a chance to recover."
