Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Bespoke Circulating Tumor DNA Testing for Diagnostic Resolution, Disease Surveillance, and Treatment Monitoring in Hepatopancreatobiliary Malignancies: A Real-World Experience.
Abidoye O, et al
Researchers at a single academic cancer center evaluated the real-world utility of a personalized circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) blood test, called Signatera, in 54 patients with hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) cancers, including pancreatic, liver, bile duct, and gallbladder cancers. The test successfully generated evaluable results in over 84% of patients, with ctDNA positivity detected in nearly 60% of those cases, and performed best in liver cancer patients at a 90.9% success rate. Importantly, ctDNA detected disease recurrence before standard imaging in several patients, with a median lead time of 28 days and up to seven months earlier in some cases, offering clinicians a valuable head start in adjusting treatment. The test showed reasonable agreement with imaging results in nearly 73% of assessments, though its concordance with traditional tumor markers such as CA 19-9 and AFP was lower at 41%, suggesting ctDNA captures information that conventional biomarkers may miss. This study demonstrates that personalized liquid biopsy testing can meaningfully complement existing tools for surveillance, treatment monitoring, and diagnostic clarification in some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers. These findings support broader investigation and potential clinical adoption of ctDNA-based approaches to improve outcomes in HPB malignancies.
JCO precision oncology
Source →Late recurrence of Cushing disease with ubiquitin-specific protease 8 mutation 19 years after initial surgery.
Kakizawa K, et al
Researchers present a rare case of Cushing's disease recurring 19 years after a successful surgical cure, shedding light on the risk of very late relapse in patients with pituitary tumors. Cushing's disease is caused by ACTH-secreting adenomas of the pituitary gland that drive excess cortisol production, resulting in serious metabolic, cardiovascular, and systemic complications. A woman who underwent transsphenoidal surgery at age 36 and achieved full remission developed confirmed biochemical and radiological recurrence at age 55, with the recurring tumor displaying a markedly higher proliferative index than the original. Retrospective genetic sequencing of the initial tumor identified a USP8 gene mutation (c.2159C>G, p.Pro720Arg), a variant known to promote corticotroph tumor development and growth. This case suggests that USP8 mutations may predispose patients to late tumor recurrence even decades after apparent cure, and it underscores the clinical value of routine genetic profiling of pituitary adenomas at the time of initial surgery. The authors conclude that lifelong endocrine surveillance should be considered for all patients with USP8-mutated Cushing's disease, regardless of how long they have remained in remission.
JCEM case reports
Source →Exploring multiple biomarkers and constructing ferroptosis-associated competing endogenous RNA networks as dual targets in retinoblastoma.
Kang Z, et al
Researchers investigated the role of ferroptosis-related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks in retinoblastoma, a rare but serious eye cancer that primarily affects young children. By analyzing multiple public gene expression datasets and applying protein-protein interaction network analysis, the team identified six key hub genes — CAV1, CDKN2A, EPAS1, IDH2, RB1, and SLC2A3 — closely linked to ferroptosis, a form of regulated, iron-dependent cell death driven by oxidative damage. Laboratory experiments using RT-qPCR confirmed that two of these genes, IDH2 and CDKN2A, are significantly upregulated in retinoblastoma tissue, lending biological validation to the computational findings. The study also uncovered alterations in immune cell populations within the tumor microenvironment and constructed a comprehensive regulatory network connecting non-coding RNAs to ferroptosis-related gene expression. Finally, a drug-gene interaction network identified 20 candidate therapeutic compounds targeting these pathways, offering promising new directions for developing more effective treatments for this childhood ocular malignancy.
Oncology letters
Source →Retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma with ectopic inferior vena cava invasion: a case report.
Xu B, et al
Researchers publishing in Frontiers in Surgery describe a rare and surgically challenging case of retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma (GN), a benign tumor arising from neural crest tissue, discovered in a 66-year-old woman being evaluated for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Imaging revealed a 9.5-centimeter left retroperitoneal mass that, unusually, had invaded an ectopic inferior vena cava — an extremely uncommon anatomical variant that significantly complicated preoperative planning. The tumor was successfully removed in its entirety using robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery, and pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of GN with ectopic inferior vena cava invasion. This case highlights the importance of including retroperitoneal ganglioneuroma in the differential diagnosis when evaluating unusual or anomalous vascular structures in the abdomen. The authors emphasize that three-dimensional imaging reconstruction proved invaluable for surgical planning, and that robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery is the preferred approach for anatomically complex retroperitoneal tumors of this kind.
Frontiers in surgery
Source →Exosomal-miR-32-5p directly targets FOXN2 to regulate the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma via the PI3K/AKT/BCL-2 pathway.
Chen X, et al
Researchers investigated the role of exosomal miR-32-5p, a small RNA molecule packaged inside tiny vesicles called exosomes and transferred between cells, in the progression of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC), one of the most common gynecological cancers. Using bioinformatics tools and laboratory experiments including luciferase reporter assays, the team identified FOXN2 (Forkhead Box N2) as a direct molecular target of miR-32-5p and confirmed that this microRNA is significantly elevated in tumor tissues and in plasma exosomes of UCEC patients. The study demonstrated that exosome-delivered miR-32-5p promotes cancer cell proliferation and migration while suppressing programmed cell death (apoptosis) by silencing FOXN2 and activating the PI3K/AKT/BCL-2 pro-survival signaling pathway. These findings reveal a mechanism by which endometrial cancer cells may exploit exosomal communication to spread oncogenic signals, and position exosomal miR-32-5p as a promising candidate for targeted therapy in UCEC patients.
Oncology letters
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