Is Yeast the key for global cancer research

This paper explores the expanding role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism in global cancer research, emphasizing its ethical, cost-efficient, and high-throughput advantages. Drawing on genetic homology and conserved oncogenic pathways, it examines how yeast reflects key cellular processes in human cancer—such as genome instability, DNA repair, and apoptosis. The review also discusses the use of yeast in high-throughput drug screening, where its simplicity and rapid growth enable efficient testing of chemotherapeutic compounds and genetic interactions. Furthermore, it highlights yeast’s contributions to understanding cancer-related metabolic reprogramming and signal transduction, particularly involving kinases and nutrient-sensing pathways. While recognizing its limitations—such as unicellularity and the absence of a tumor microenvironment—the paper concludes that S. cerevisiae, though not a complete substitute for mammalian systems, remains a vital and scalable platform for advancing cancer diagnostics, therapeutics, and mechanistic research.