Experimental Design (cc-study-design)

When to trigger

• The mechanism rests on a single system (e.g., cell lines only)
• Reviewers will ask "is this true in vivo?" or "does it hold in patients?"
• Controls, replicates, or sample-size logic are unclear
• Planning mouse / PDX / organoid experiments and unsure about rigor elements

Orthogonal validation ladder

Cancer Cell expects a mechanism corroborated across independent, complementary systems. Build the strongest ladder the biology allows: