Abstract
This perspective article discusses emerging advances at the interface of mechanistic modeling and data-driven machine learning, highlighting opportunities for AI to accelerate discovery, improve predictive modeling, and enhance clinical decision-making. We address critical limitations of current AI approaches and propose a perspective on a future where AI augments mechanistic rigor, clinical relevance, and human creativity under the umbrella of a redefined understanding of Mathematical Oncology.
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The authors acknowledge the generosity of the city of Ortigia, Syracuse, Sicily, for providing the meeting venue and refreshments and the Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope for financial support.
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R.C.R. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. M.A. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. A.R.A.A. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. D.B. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. A.B. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. S.Be. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. S.Br. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. S.C.Bru. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. M.C. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. F.F. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. A.K. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. A.K.-L. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. G.L. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. B.M. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. A.S.R. contributed to and approved the final manuscript. L.S. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. J.S. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. C.T. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. K.U. attended the meeting in Syracuse and contributed to and approved the final manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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Rockne, R.C., Andersen, M., Anderson, A.R.A. et al. The future of mathematical oncology in the age of AI. npj Syst Biol Appl (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41540-026-00656-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41540-026-00656-9


