Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Parathyroid carcinoma co-occurring with parathyroid adenoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma: a rare case report with comprehensive literature review.
Liu J, et al
Researchers from China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University report an exceptionally rare case of a 44-year-old woman simultaneously diagnosed with parathyroid carcinoma, parathyroid adenoma, and papillary thyroid carcinoma — a combination virtually unreported in clinical literature. The patient underwent complex surgery including radical resection of the left parathyroid carcinoma with partial thyroid removal and lymph node dissection, as well as excision of a right parathyroid adenoma and partial right thyroid lobectomy. Postoperative pathology confirmed all four diagnoses, including nodular goiter, highlighting the diagnostic complexity of this concurrent condition. The authors note that preoperative identification is extremely difficult and typically requires intraoperative pathological examination for confirmation. The overlapping pattern of endocrine tumors raises the possibility of an underlying multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome, underscoring the need for genetic screening and long-term hormonal monitoring in such patients. This case report and accompanying literature review provide clinicians with valuable guidance on surgical strategy, diagnosis, and follow-up for this rare and challenging clinical scenario.
Therapeutic advances in endocrinology and metabolism
Source →Functional profiling of somatostatin receptors identifies somatostatin receptor subtype 2 as a vulnerability in Succinate Dehydrogenase SDHB-deficient pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas.
García-Vioque V, et al
Researchers investigated the role of somatostatin receptors as potential therapeutic targets in pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL), rare neuroendocrine tumors where 20-25% of cases progress to metastasis with limited treatment options. The study profiled somatostatin receptor expression across PPGL tumor samples and tested a range of native and synthetic somatostatin analogs in both normal and SDHB gene-knockdown cell lines. While common clinical analogs such as octreotide and pasireotide showed no significant antitumor effects, the selective somatostatin receptor subtype 2 (SSTR2) agonist BIM-23120 significantly reduced cell proliferation and triggered apoptosis, but only in cells lacking functional SDHB — a gene frequently mutated in the most aggressive, metastasis-prone PPGLs. Mechanistic analysis showed that SDHB-deficient cells display stronger membrane localization of SSTR2 and undergo receptor internalization upon BIM-23120 treatment, accompanied by broad dephosphorylation of key survival and growth signaling pathways. These findings identify SSTR2 as a selective vulnerability in SDHB-mutant PPGL and suggest that BIM-23120 could represent a promising targeted therapy for this particularly refractory and aggressive subgroup of patients.
Molecular biomedicine
Source →Successful resuscitation after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by undiagnosed pheochromocytoma-induced cardiomyopathy.
Suetsugu Y, et al
This case report describes a patient who suffered an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by cardiomyopathy that was ultimately traced to an undiagnosed pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor of the adrenal gland that can trigger life-threatening surges in stress hormones. Emergency teams successfully resuscitated the patient, and subsequent diagnostic workup revealed the underlying adrenal tumor as the root cause of the cardiac event. Pheochromocytoma is notoriously difficult to diagnose because its symptoms — including hypertension, palpitations, and chest pain — can mimic many other conditions, and it can remain silent until a catastrophic crisis occurs. This case highlights the importance of considering rare endocrine tumors in the differential diagnosis of unexplained cardiomyopathy and cardiac arrest, particularly in younger or otherwise healthy patients. Clinicians are reminded that prompt identification of pheochromocytoma is critical, as standard cardiac resuscitation protocols alone may be insufficient without addressing the hormonal crisis driving the heart failure.
Clinical and experimental emergency medicine
Source →The Sunburst Sign in the Mesentery: Unveiling the Diagnosis With ⁶⁸Ga DOTATATE PET/CT.
Şahin ÖF, et al
A 57-year-old man presenting with abdominal pain and diarrhea was found to have a spiculated, calcified mass in the mesentery — the fatty tissue anchoring the intestines — which initially appeared to be a desmoid tumor based on CT imaging and a standard FDG PET scan that showed no metabolic activity. Physicians then performed a specialized nuclear medicine scan using ⁶⁸Ga DOTATATE PET/CT, a tracer that targets receptors commonly found on neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and this revealed intense uptake in both the mesenteric mass and a previously undetected primary tumor site in the ileum (small intestine). Biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of an ileal neuroendocrine tumor with spread to mesenteric lymph nodes, completely changing the clinical picture. The case underscores a critical diagnostic pitfall: neuroendocrine tumors can mimic desmoid tumors on conventional imaging and may appear 'cold' on standard FDG PET scans, leading to potential misdiagnosis. This report highlights that ⁶⁸Ga DOTATATE PET/CT should be considered an essential tool when evaluating FDG-negative mesenteric masses with a desmoplastic (fibrous) reaction, as it can identify the true primary tumor site and enable accurate staging. Correct identification is vital because the treatment and prognosis for neuroendocrine tumors differ substantially from those of desmoid tumors.
Clinical nuclear medicine
Source →Higher serum PFDA is associated with increased non-melanoma skin cancer odds in NHANES 2003-2018.
Siddiqui S, et al
Researchers analyzed data from 5,934 U.S. adults participating in eight cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2003 and 2018 to investigate whether exposure to three understudied per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — PFDA, PFUnDA, and 2-(N-methyl-PFOSA) acetate — is associated with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) or melanoma. The study found that adults with serum PFDA concentrations in the second tertile had 73% higher odds of NMSC compared to those in the lowest tertile, with an even stronger association (129% higher odds) observed among adults aged 60 and older. The associations for PFUnDA and 2-(N-methyl-PFOSA) acetate were inconsistent across different exposure measures, and no clear link was found between any of the three PFAS and melanoma. Notably, no straightforward dose-response relationship was observed across all three PFDA exposure tertiles, which the authors acknowledge as a limitation requiring further investigation. These findings are relevant to public health because PFAS chemicals are widely found in everyday products and persist in the environment and human body for years, meaning exposure is nearly universal. The authors call for continued PFAS monitoring in the general population and for prospective studies to establish whether the observed association reflects a true causal relationship, particularly in older adults who may be more vulnerable.
Biomolecules & biomedicine
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