Cancer Researcher Wins Sjöberg Prize for Unraveling Tumor Evolution

Professor Charles Swanton, a British cancer researcher at the Francis Crick Institute in London, has been awarded the 2026 Sjöberg Prize of one million U.S. Dollars for his groundbreaking work on how tumors evolve over time. The prize, awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in partnership with the Sjöberg Foundation, recognizes scientists who have made decisive contributions to cancer research.

Professor Swanton’s research has fundamentally changed the scientific understanding of cancer by demonstrating that tumors develop through an evolutionary process, much like a family tree. Early mutations that occur in tumor formation are present in all cancer cells and form the “trunk” of the tumor’s genetic landscape, while later mutations arise in specific regions and appear only in certain parts of the tumor, forming the “branches.”

This genetic diversity within tumors helps explain why some cancer treatments fail to completely eradicate the disease. Therapies may eliminate some of the mutated cells in the branches, but other branches with different mutations can survive, leading to relapse. Professor Swanton noted that this variability means treatments often do not work as expected, as not all tumor cells respond in the same way.

To investigate these patterns in depth, Professor Swanton initiated TRACERx (TRAcking Cancer Evolution through therapy), a major UK-wide study funded by Cancer Research UK and led through the UCL Cancer Trials Centre, with University College London Hospitals as a major recruiting site. The project aims to understand how genetic diversity within tumors influences treatment response, relapse, and survival, with the goal of developing better diagnostics and more effective, personalized therapies.

As part of this work, Professor Swanton has developed a blood test capable of identifying, at an early stage, cancer patients who are beginning to relapse. This tool detects circulating tumor DNA and could allow doctors to intervene sooner when signs of resistance emerge.

Professor Urban Lendahl, Secretary of the Sjöberg Prize Committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, described Professor Swanton’s discoveries as a “treasure trove” that can be explored by other researchers seeking to improve cancer treatment and diagnostics. He emphasized that understanding tumor evolution is key to overcoming treatment resistance and improving patient outcomes.

The Sjöberg Prize highlights the importance of viewing cancer not as a static mass of identical cells, but as a dynamic, evolving system shaped by natural selection. Professor Swanton’s work has provided critical insight into how tumors adapt to evade both drugs and the immune system, offering a foundation for future advances in precision oncology.