Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Genetic landscape of stage II melanoma identifies CBL as a new driver gene and prognostic biomarker.
Lindner ES, et al
Researchers analyzed tumor DNA from 193 patients with stage II melanoma — an early but potentially dangerous form of skin cancer — to find genetic markers that could predict disease recurrence and guide treatment decisions. Using a comprehensive cancer gene panel, the team identified that tumors fell into four molecular groups based on mutations in BRAF, RAS, and NF1 genes, along with a triple wild-type category. Importantly, the study identified CBL, a gene located on chromosome 11, as a previously unrecognized driver gene in melanoma, found to be altered in approximately 10% of patients. Patients whose tumors carried deletions in the chromosomal region 11q23.1-3 containing CBL, particularly alongside RAS mutations, had significantly worse overall survival and recurrence-free survival. These findings position CBL as a promising prognostic biomarker that could help clinicians identify high-risk stage II melanoma patients who may benefit most from adjuvant therapies or more intensive follow-up monitoring.
British journal of cancer
Source →Lattice Radiation Therapy Delays Progression and Extends Survival for Dogs with Macroscopic Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
Morales VR, et al
Researchers conducted a prospective randomized study comparing a novel radiation technique called Lattice Radiation Therapy (LRT) to standard palliative radiotherapy in dogs with large soft tissue sarcomas, tumors that share many biological similarities with their human counterparts. In LRT, high-dose radiation is delivered in a spatially fractionated pattern with simultaneous dose-escalated boosts, aiming to maximize tumor killing while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Dogs receiving LRT showed a 50% overall response rate and, crucially, none experienced local tumor progression, whereas all three dogs in the palliative group had documented local tumor progression within 150 days. Median overall survival was dramatically longer in the LRT group at 436 days compared to 194 days for palliative treatment, and immune profiling of the tumor microenvironment suggested that LRT may stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. These findings demonstrate that LRT can be safely administered to dogs with large macroscopic sarcomas and may offer superior local tumor control and survival benefits over conventional palliative radiotherapy. Because canine sarcomas closely resemble human sarcomas biologically, this study supports the use of dogs with naturally occurring tumors as translational models to advance spatially fractionated radiation approaches toward human clinical trials.
Radiation research
Source →Real-time quantification during indocyanine green fluorescent-guided surgery in canine soft tissue sarcomas and mast cell tumors.
Gariboldi EM, et al
This study investigated the use of real-time quantification of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence during cancer surgery in dogs diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas and mast cell tumors, two of the most common malignancies in canine patients. ICG is a dye that accumulates in tumor tissue and emits near-infrared light, allowing surgeons to visualize cancer boundaries that are invisible to the naked eye. Researchers evaluated whether measuring fluorescence intensity in real time could improve the precision of tumor removal by providing objective, numerical data on tissue margins rather than relying solely on visual assessment. The findings suggest that quantitative fluorescence guidance can help surgeons distinguish cancerous from healthy tissue more reliably, potentially reducing the risk of leaving tumor cells behind after surgery. This work is particularly significant because dogs share many biological similarities with humans in terms of cancer development, meaning these results may inform the refinement of ICG-guided surgical techniques in human oncology as well. Improved surgical margin assessment could lead to lower recurrence rates and better outcomes for both veterinary and human cancer patients.
Scientific reports
Source →A Rare Case of Spindle Cell Rhabdomyosarcoma of the Diaphragm in Adult with Thoracoabdominal Extension.
Gulve SS, et al
Researchers from the Annals of African Medicine report an exceptionally rare case of spindle cell rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) arising from the diaphragm in a 41-year-old male patient, a tumor type that has been documented only a handful of times in adults worldwide. The patient presented with progressive shortness of breath and right-sided chest pain, symptoms that prompted a comprehensive diagnostic workup including X-ray, CT scan, MRI, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. These investigations revealed a large tumor extending across both the thoracic and abdominal cavities, confirming the diagnosis of thoracoabdominal spindle cell RMS. The case underscores the critical importance of early and thorough imaging combined with tissue analysis to correctly identify this unusual malignancy. A multimodal treatment approach was employed, contributing to clinical management and expanding the medical community's understanding of this rare entity. This report serves as a valuable reference for clinicians who may encounter similar presentations, highlighting that RMS should remain on the differential diagnosis even in adult patients with atypical chest and abdominal symptoms.
Annals of African medicine
Source →Helicobacter pylori inhibition by antimicrobial photodynamic therapy of methylene blue and porphyrin.
Zhao D, et al
Researchers investigated antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as an alternative treatment for Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium responsible for peptic ulcers and gastritis that affects roughly half the global population. The study tested two photosensitizers — methylene blue, activated by 660 nm light, and endogenous porphyrin naturally produced by H. pylori, activated by 410 nm light — against both free-swimming bacteria and biofilms, as well as in a suckling pig animal model. Results demonstrated that both photosensitizers effectively eliminated free-swimming H. pylori cells, while bacterial biofilms proved significantly more resistant to the treatment. In vivo experiments in suckling pigs showed that aPDT could reduce H. pylori levels in the stomach, though some animals experienced recurrent infections. This research is particularly important given the global rise of multidrug-resistant H. pylori strains that are increasingly difficult to treat with conventional antibiotic combinations. The findings provide meaningful preclinical evidence that aPDT, potentially administered during endoscopy using methylene blue already used for chromoendoscopy, could serve as an adjunctive treatment strategy, while also highlighting biofilm resistance as a key hurdle to overcome.
Microbiology spectrum
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