Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Adenocarcinoma of Mammary Gland Type of the Vulva.
Nakra G, et al
Researchers report a rare case of mammary gland-type adenocarcinoma of the vulva in a 38-year-old woman who presented with an ulcerated lesion on the left labia majora, a tumor believed to originate from specialized mammary-like glands found in vulvar tissue. Immunohistochemical testing showed strong expression of markers typically associated with breast cancer, including GATA3, TRPS1, HER2, and androgen receptor, while key squamous and hormonal markers were absent. Molecular analysis identified cancer-driving mutations in PIK3CA and TP53 genes, along with amplification of the ERBB2 gene and gains in cell-cycle regulators CDKN2A and CDK4, painting a genomic picture closely resembling certain aggressive breast cancer subtypes. Because this malignancy is so rare and can be confused with other vulvar tumors under the microscope, accurate diagnosis through immunohistochemistry and molecular profiling is essential to avoid mismanagement. Clinicians are advised to treat this tumor following breast cancer protocols, given its histological and biological similarities to breast tissue, which may open access to targeted therapies such as HER2-directed treatments.
International journal of surgical pathology
Source →Quality of life after breast (reconstructive) surgery-an interim analysis of a prospective three-arm clinical trial with a 10-year follow-up (REKO 001).
Boeer B, et al
Researchers conducted the REKO 001 trial, a prospective three-arm clinical study comparing long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among 227 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy alone, implant-based reconstruction, or autologous free flap reconstruction (DIEP or FCI) at a single center between 2017 and 2022. This interim analysis focused on HRQoL outcomes and complications at five months after surgery, using validated tools including the BREAST-Q and FACT-B questionnaires. Patients who received DIEP or FCI free flap reconstruction showed the most notable improvements across multiple HRQoL domains within the first five months, despite starting with the lowest preoperative scores, while mastectomy patients experienced significant declines in several domains. Implant-based reconstruction patients began with the highest baseline scores and maintained better outcomes than the mastectomy group, though free flap patients reported reduced abdominal well-being and faced higher complication rates requiring reoperation or inpatient care. Radiotherapy and higher body mass index were identified as factors that significantly reduced quality of life in certain domains. These early findings suggest that autologous reconstruction may offer meaningful quality-of-life benefits relatively quickly after surgery, but clinicians must carefully counsel patients about the trade-off with increased surgical risk, with full 2-, 5-, 7-, and 10-year follow-up data still forthcoming.
Archives of gynecology and obstetrics
Source →Male accessory breast mucinous carcinoma: a case report and literature review.
Huang J, et al
Researchers from China have published a case report describing an exceptionally rare occurrence of mucinous carcinoma arising in accessory breast tissue of a 72-year-old man, contributing to the very limited literature on male accessory breast cancer. Accessory breast carcinoma accounts for only 0.3–0.6% of all breast neoplasms, and its occurrence in men is even more uncommon, making this case clinically significant. The patient was initially diagnosed in 2021 with right axillary accessory breast cancer accompanied by lymph node metastasis and underwent surgical removal of the accessory breast tissue along with lymph node dissection, followed by chemotherapy and ongoing endocrine therapy. Four years later, follow-up imaging revealed a new mass near the right axilla, which was histopathologically confirmed as mucinous breast carcinoma, highlighting the importance of long-term surveillance in such patients. The report emphasizes that diagnosis relies on pathological examination supported by imaging modalities including ultrasound, mammography, and MRI, while treatment follows established breast cancer protocols. This case serves as an important reminder for clinicians to maintain heightened awareness of accessory breast malignancies in male patients, particularly in the axillary region, to enable timely diagnosis and appropriate management.
Discover oncology
Source →Diagnosis of Ductal Carcinoma in Situ in Breast Biopsies for a Radiological Mass Lesion: Did We Miss Something?
Theriot J, et al
Researchers investigated ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early form of breast cancer, when it appears as a mass lesion on imaging rather than its more typical presentation as microcalcifications on mammography. A retrospective review of 38 biopsies taken from radiologically detected mass lesions found that 34% of cases harbored invasive carcinoma upon surgical excision, highlighting a significant clinical risk. Among cases without invasion, 60% had a benign lesion responsible for the mass appearance, underscoring the complexity of diagnosis in this setting. Specific DCIS subtypes — including encapsulated papillary carcinoma, solid papillary carcinoma, papillary DCIS, and cystic apocrine DCIS — were identified as plausible causes of mass-forming lesions, and DCIS with desmoplastic stromal fibrosis was associated with higher nuclear grade. No single histologic feature reliably predicted the presence of invasive carcinoma, emphasizing that pathologists and radiologists must closely correlate imaging and tissue findings to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate patient management.
International journal of surgical pathology
Source →ERMP1 Exerts Tumor-Suppressive Functions in KIRC by Inhibiting PI3K/AKT Signaling and Remodeling the Immune Microenvironment: A Pan-Cancer Analysis.
Liu Z, et al
Researchers investigated the role of ERMP1 (endoplasmic reticulum metallopeptidase 1) in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC), an aggressive form of kidney cancer with few effective treatments. Using large-scale genomic databases (TCGA, GTEx, GEO) combined with single-cell transcriptomics and laboratory experiments in cancer cell lines and animal models, the team found that ERMP1 expression is significantly reduced in KIRC tumors and that higher levels of the protein are linked to better patient survival and less advanced disease. Mechanistically, ERMP1 suppresses tumor growth by blocking the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, inhibiting the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process that enables cancer spread, and reducing levels of proteins involved in invasion and cell division. Additionally, high ERMP1 expression was associated with a more immunologically active tumor microenvironment, including greater infiltration of immune cells, suggesting potential interactions with immunotherapy. These findings position ERMP1 as a promising biomarker for prognosis and a potential therapeutic target in kidney cancer, offering a new direction for drug development in this difficult-to-treat disease.
Human mutation
Source →