Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Targeting TPO/MPL Signaling to Mitigate JAK2V617F-driven Cardiac Microvascular Disease.
Yang X, et al
Researchers investigated how JAK2V617F-mutant blood cells — found in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms and clonal hematopoiesis — drive cardiovascular disease, focusing on the role of the thrombopoietin receptor MPL in the heart's inner lining. Using chimeric mice with mutant blood cells and normal blood vessel walls fed a high-fat diet, scientists observed coronary microvascular damage, increased heart muscle mass, and scarring around small vessels, without the classic large-artery blockages typically associated with heart disease. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that endocardial endothelial cells — the cells lining the inner surface of the heart — showed the strongest activation of inflammatory and tissue-remodeling pathways, and MPL receptor expression was concentrated in these same cells. Treatment with an antibody that blocks MPL signaling markedly restored endocardial integrity and improved coronary microvascular density, even while systemic inflammation persisted. These findings identify endocardial MPL signaling as a novel, targetable pathway that could explain and potentially prevent the elevated cardiovascular risk seen in patients with JAK2V617F-driven blood disorders.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Source →Comparison of 18F-FDG and 18F-FAPI PET/CT Findings of Primary Extraskeletal Ewing Sarcoma.
Hui J, et al
Researchers present a rare case of primary extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma located in the posterior mediastinum of a 47-year-old man, who underwent two types of advanced nuclear imaging: 18F-FDG PET/CT and 18F-FAPI-74 PET/CT. The study found a striking discordance between the two tracers: the tumor showed intense uptake of FDG, a glucose-based tracer widely used in oncology, while uptake of the FAPI tracer — which targets cancer-associated fibroblasts — was low and limited to the outer rim of the mass. Biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma, a typically bone-associated cancer that rarely arises in soft tissues. These findings suggest that primary extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma may have low fibroblast activation in its tumor microenvironment, which has important implications for emerging FAPI-based therapies and diagnostics. Clinicians should be aware that FAPI imaging may underestimate disease extent in this rare cancer subtype, while FDG PET/CT remains the more reliable imaging tool for its detection.
Clinical nuclear medicine
Source →Diabetes secondary to chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer: Observations from the Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC).
Hart PA, et al
Researchers from the Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC) reviewed how diabetes caused by chronic pancreatitis (CP-DM) and pancreatic cancer (PDAC-DM) differs from common type 2 diabetes (T2D), a distinction that is frequently missed in clinical practice. The review highlights that patients with CP-DM and PDAC-DM show a blunted pancreatic polypeptide response after meals, lower insulin secretion, greater insulin sensitivity, and dysregulation of glucagon-producing alpha cells compared to those with T2D. These metabolic differences have important implications for how these patients should be diagnosed and treated, as standard T2D therapies may not be appropriate for them. The consortium also presented ongoing efforts to develop predictive models using clinical and genetic data to identify patients at risk of developing diabetes secondary to chronic pancreatitis. The authors conclude by outlining remaining knowledge gaps in understanding type 3c diabetes, underscoring the need for continued research to improve patient outcomes.
Pancreatology : official journal of the International Association of Pancreatology (IAP) ... [et al.]
Source →Complications After Rectal Cancer Surgery: Do Female Patients Fare Better? A Retrospective, Matched Cohort Analysis.
Damanakis AI, et al
A large German registry study examined whether sex influences outcomes after rectal cancer surgery, analyzing data from nearly 20,000 patients treated between 2013 and 2023. Using propensity score matching to ensure fair comparison between male and female patients, researchers found that women experienced significantly fewer surgical and general complications than men. Key differences included anastomotic leakage rates of 6.4% in women versus 12.0% in men, lower rates of ileus, and reduced incidence of pneumonia. In matched analysis, women had about 39% lower odds of experiencing any complication compared to men, and mediation analysis confirmed that female sex was an independent protective factor beyond its known association with lower anastomotic leakage rates. These findings suggest that biological sex should be considered in preoperative risk counseling and may inform the development of more personalized, sex-specific surgical strategies for rectal cancer patients.
Diseases of the colon and rectum
Source →Child with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the trachea.
Jaisinghani MD, et al
A rare case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the trachea in a teenage boy was reported in BMJ Case Reports, highlighting the diagnostic challenges posed by this uncommon malignancy. The patient presented with a dry cough and coughing up blood, and imaging revealed a polyp-like tumor arising near the carina that nearly completely blocked the right main bronchus. Initial biopsy results were misleading, suggesting a benign polyp, which led to endoscopic removal using an electrocautery snare before repeat tissue analysis confirmed a low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. A subsequent surgical sleeve resection of the distal trachea was required to achieve complete tumor removal. This case underscores the critical importance of thorough histopathological evaluation of all airway lesions in children, even when initial findings appear benign, to avoid delayed or incomplete treatment. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, though accounting for only 0.1 to 0.2 percent of primary lung malignancies, carries an excellent prognosis when fully resected, making early and accurate diagnosis essential.
BMJ case reports
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