chromatin– tag –

Nagaraja et al. Nature 2026/4/16: chronic colitis leaves AP-1-dependent epigenetic memory in colonic stem cell chromatin that persists for 100+ days. SHARE-TRACE proves clonal inheritance through stem cell divisions. Memory + APC mutation cooperatively accelerates tumor formation; AP-1 inhibition eliminates acceleration. New IBD-cancer prevention paradigm. Final volume.

Cell April 2026 paper used human iPSC-derived cerebellar organoids + CRISPR to reproduce all four medulloblastoma subtypes (WNT, SHH, Group 3, Group 4) in real time. Cell of origin for each subtype directly confirmed. Vismodegib and BET inhibitor responses validated in subtype-specific manner. Personalized-therapy organoid proof of concept. Vol. 2.

Reyes et al. Cell May 2026: PDAC's benign-to-malignant transition happens in a rare progenitor-like cell population that assembles a self-reinforcing niche. Tumor-driving and tumor-suppressing programs (p53, CDKN2A, SMAD4) co-activate in these cells. KRAS inhibition or p53 activation collapses the niche and delays malignancy. Vol. 1.

Science April 23, 2026 (Ciucci et al.) finally answered why the heart almost never develops cancer. Three experimental systems — genetic mouse model + heterotopic heart transplantation unloading + engineered heart tissues — established that mechanical load directly suppresses cancer cell proliferation. Mechanism: Nesprin-2 → histone methylation (H3K9me3) → chromatin compaction → reduced proliferation. Opens a new therapeutic axis: mechanical-stimulation therapy.