Most Common Cancer Research Study Types – and the Histology Solutions That Support Them

From tumour models to immunotherapy trials—see what histology tools support today’s most common cancer research studies.

Histology Paraffin blocks - LabNexus

Introduction

Cancer research is a vast, multi-disciplinary field. From understanding tumour biology to testing breakthrough therapies, modern cancer studies rely on a wide range of experimental designs. But across all of these, one tool remains essential: histology.

Whether you're working in molecular oncology, immunotherapy, or drug development, histology provides the visual confirmation and structural context needed to validate results.

In this blog, we’ll explore the most common types of cancer research studies, and highlight which histology services are most valuable for each—so you can design your next study with clarity and confidence.

1. Tumour Xenograft Studies

Overview:Often used in preclinical cancer research, these studies involve implanting human tumour cells into immunodeficient mice to study tumour growth and drug response.

Histology Solutions:

• H&E staining to assess tumour size, margins, and cellular architecture

• Immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect human vs mouse markers

• Special stains like Masson's Trichrome for fibrosis around tumours

• Slide scanning for digital pathology and AI quantification

2. Immunotherapy Research

Overview:This rapidly growing field investigates treatments that stimulate the immune system to attack cancer (e.g. checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cells).

Histology Solutions:

• IHC panels for T-cell markers (CD3, CD8), macrophages (CD68), PD-L1

• Multiplex IHC to visualise multiple immune targets in the tumour microenvironment

• Digital imaging to quantify immune cell infiltration

• Cryosectioning for delicate epitopes and rapid processing

3. Tumour Microenvironment (TME) Studies

Overview:These studies explore the complex interaction between cancer cells, stroma, immune cells, blood vessels, and extracellular matrix.

Histology Solutions:

• Sirius Red for collagen/fibrosis quantification

• Elastic Van Gieson (EVG) for blood vessels and elastin

• H&E for overall structure

• IHC for stromal and immune markers (e.g., αSMA, F4/80)

• High-resolution slide scanning for image analysis across large tumour sections

4. Drug Toxicity and Efficacy Studies

Overview:Used by pharmaceutical and academic labs to assess whether a drug causes off-target damage to tissues and whether it effectively reduces tumour burden.

Histology Solutions:

• H&E of tumour and key organs (liver, kidney, heart)

• Special stains (e.g., PAS for kidney function, Perls’ for iron overload)

• TUNEL or cleaved caspase-3 IHC for apoptosis detection

• IHC for proliferation markers (e.g., Ki-67)

5. Genetically Engineered Mouse Models (GEMMs)

Overview:These models mimic human cancer development by modifying genes related to tumour growth, suppression, or immune response.

Histology Solutions:

• H&E for phenotype screening

• IHC to confirm transgene or marker expression

• Histochemical stains to track tumour progression or stromal reactions

• Cryosectioning for fresh tissues expressing unstable proteins

6. Patient-Derived Organoids and 3D Culture Studies

Overview:Organoids are lab-grown mini-tumours used for personalised drug testing and mechanistic studies.

Histology Solutions:

• Paraffin embedding and sectioning of organoids

• H&E to evaluate morphology and integrity

• IHC for differentiation and tumour markers

• Special stains to investigate extracellular matrix development

7. Clinical Sample Validation and Biobanking Studies

Overview:Researchers working with patient biopsy material use histology to validate sample quality and extract data for retrospective or translational analysis.

Histology Solutions:

• H&E to verify tumour presence and assess quality

• IHC for known clinical biomarkers

• Slide scanning for digital storage and collaboration

Why Histology Is Critical Across All Study Types

Histology allows researchers to:

• Visually confirm biological changes after treatment

• Identify subtle phenotypes that molecular tools may miss

• Correlate tissue structure with molecular data

• Create reproducible visual records of their findings

With histology, you’re not just collecting numbers—you’re seeing the biological story unfold under the microscope.

How LabNexus Can Help

At LabNexus, we provide research-only histology services tailored to all major types of cancer and tissue research. Whether you're working in preclinical models or analysing human samples, we offer:

• Tissue processing (from 70% alcohol-fixed samples)

• Paraffin embedding and sectioning

• H&E and a wide range of special stains

• IHC with your choice of markers

• Cryosectioning for fresh/frozen samples

• Slide scanning for digital and quantitative analysis

We support researchers across London and the UK, including students, postdocs, PIs, and commercial labs. With fast turnaround, high standards, and fair pricing, LabNexus makes high-quality histology accessible — without needing your own in-house facility.

Please note: LabNexus services are strictly for research use only, not for diagnosis.

Book a free consultation to discuss your next cancer study.

References

1. Hanahan, D., & Weinberg, R.A. (2011). Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell, 144(5), 646-674.

2. Fridman, W.H., et al. (2012). The immune contexture in human tumours: impact on clinical outcome. Nat Rev Cancer, 12(4), 298–306.

3. Junttila, M.R., & de Sauvage, F.J. (2013). Influence of tumour micro-environment heterogeneity on therapeutic response. Nature, 501(7467), 346–354.

4. Bancroft, J.D., & Gamble, M. (2020). Theory and Practice of Histological Techniques (8th ed.). Elsevier.