Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Bushen Huatan formula improves reproductive and endocrine metabolic disorders in non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome rats via adipose tissue-derived exosomal miR-27a-3p/PPARG signaling pathway.
Chen M, et al
Researchers investigated whether a traditional Chinese herbal remedy called Bushen Huatan (BSHT) formula could treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in non-obese rats, focusing on a newly identified molecular pathway involving fat tissue-derived tiny vesicles called exosomes. Using a rat model of PCOS induced by the drug letrozole combined with a high-fat, high-sucrose diet, the team found that BSHT treatment significantly reduced testosterone levels, restored normal sex hormones FSH and estradiol, and improved glucose tolerance and lipid profiles including lower cholesterol and triglycerides alongside higher HDL cholesterol. At the molecular level, BSHT markedly reduced the expression of microRNA-27a-3p carried within adipose tissue exosomes, which in turn allowed the gene PPARG to be expressed more fully in ovarian tissue, thereby restoring insulin signaling proteins such as INSR, IRS-1, GLUT4, and P-AKT. These findings reveal that fat cells communicate with the ovaries via exosomal microRNAs to suppress PPARG and worsen PCOS, and that BSHT can interrupt this harmful crosstalk. This research offers a mechanistic basis for integrating traditional herbal medicine into PCOS management, particularly for non-obese patients who represent a clinically distinct and often underserved subgroup.
Gynecological endocrinology : the official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Endocrinology
Source →A Novel Anti-CDH5/VE-Cadherin Monoclonal Antibody (Ca5Mab-8) for Flow Cytometry, Western Blotting, and Immunohistochemistry.
Yamamoto H, et al
Researchers have developed a new monoclonal antibody called Ca5Mab-8 that targets CDH5 (also known as VE-cadherin), a protein critical for maintaining blood vessel integrity and regulating how endothelial cells stick together. The antibody was created using a high-throughput flow cytometry screening process and was shown to reliably detect CDH5 in three different laboratory techniques: flow cytometry, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed tissue samples. Ca5Mab-8 demonstrated superior performance compared to an existing commercial antibody (clone BV9), including the ability to detect CDH5 in cervical cancer cells and in preserved tissue sections where BV9 failed entirely. The antibody binds its target with high affinity, measured at a dissociation constant of 6.1 nanomolar, indicating strong and specific recognition of the CDH5 protein. Because CDH5 is expressed on blood vessels that supply tumors, this versatile antibody could serve as a valuable tool for diagnosing cancer by identifying tumor vasculature in tissue biopsies and may open avenues for antibody-based therapies targeting tumor blood supply.
Monoclonal antibodies in immunodiagnosis and immunotherapy
Source →Clinicogenomic Landscape and Function of PIK3CA, AKT1, and PTEN Mutations in Breast Cancer.
Tao JJ, et al
Researchers analyzed genomic data from 51,767 breast tumor samples to comprehensively map the clinical and biological landscape of mutations in three key cancer genes: PIK3CA, AKT1, and PTEN, which are central drivers of breast cancer growth. PIK3CA was the most commonly altered gene (37.4% of cases), followed by PTEN (13.5%) and AKT1 (5.4%), with specific hotspot mutations dominating each gene's alteration profile. A notable finding was that PIK3CA mutations were significantly less common in patients of African genetic ancestry compared to those of European ancestry, highlighting the importance of considering genetic background in cancer genomics. Functional analysis of rare PTEN mutations revealed that nearly one-third had discordant effects on protein stability versus enzymatic activity, underscoring the complexity of interpreting rare variants and the need for specialized tools like deep mutational scanning. Importantly, a subset of patients harboring rare AKT pathway variants showed meaningful improvements in progression-free and overall survival when treated with the AKT inhibitor capivasertib combined with fulvestrant. These findings provide the largest clinical genomic reference to date for AKT pathway alterations in breast cancer and support broader genomic testing to identify patients who may benefit from targeted therapies.
JCO precision oncology
Source →Sites prone to ureteral injury during complex gynaecological surgeries and preventive strategies: a case series.
Gao W, et al
A new case series published in Current Medical Research and Opinion examines ureteral injuries (UIs), a serious complication that can occur when the thin tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder are accidentally damaged during complex gynecological surgeries. Researchers presented three detailed cases illustrating the specific anatomical locations where the ureter is most vulnerable: during surgery for ovarian cysts with dense adhesions, in cases of ovarian endometrioma combined with pelvic endometriosis, and during radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. The study highlighted how the ureter can be mistaken for surrounding structures such as the ovarian suspensory ligament, and demonstrated step-by-step techniques for safe ureter dissection, including handling the ureter's distinctive knee-like bend during cancer surgery. The authors concluded that preventing ureteral injuries requires surgeons to combine thorough knowledge of ureteral anatomy with the ability to recognize high-risk locations and use appropriate dissection techniques. This case series serves as a practical educational reference for gynecological surgeons seeking to reduce the risk of this potentially serious complication for their patients.
Current medical research and opinion
Source →Changes in neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in patients with polycythemia vera treated with ruxolitinib reflect JAK2 variant allele frequency.
Guglielmelli P, et al
A new study published in Haematologica investigated whether changes in the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a simple and inexpensive blood count parameter, could serve as a surrogate marker of treatment response in patients with polycythemia vera (PV) receiving ruxolitinib, a targeted JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor. The researchers examined how shifts in NLR during therapy correlated with changes in JAK2 variant allele frequency (VAF), which reflects the proportion of cancer-driving mutant cells in the blood. The findings suggest that NLR dynamics mirror changes in JAK2 VAF, meaning that as ruxolitinib suppresses the malignant clone, the NLR shifts in a corresponding manner. This is clinically significant because JAK2 VAF testing, while informative, requires specialized molecular assays not universally available, whereas NLR can be derived from routine complete blood counts. For clinicians managing PV patients, monitoring NLR trends could offer a practical, low-cost tool to gauge molecular response and guide treatment decisions. These results may ultimately help improve the accessibility of response monitoring in centers with limited molecular diagnostics infrastructure.
Haematologica
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