In January 2021, Cancer Cell became a Transformative Journal as part of Elsevier's efforts to increase Open Access content.

[1][2] Cancer Cell publishes Research, Review, and Perspective articles, in addition to opinion pieces such as Letters, Commentaries, Previews, Spotlight, and Voices.

In the April 2020 special issue of Cancer Cell, Steve Mao published the editorial "Changing for a Better Future"[4] delineating his views for the journal.

In line with the Cell Press rebranding strategy launched in 2020,[5] Steve Mao vowed to continue publishing "Science that Inspires".

These events, in conjunction with the anti-immigration policies of the Trump administration in the U.S., led to a Summer of social reckoning in the scientific community.

[7][8][9] The journal has also published several articles that address ethnic health disparities and aim to increase the representation of non-Caucasian populations in cancer research and oncology.