Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Diffuse Infiltrating Perisellar Mass Mimicking Polyneuritis Cranialis.
Kastner PP, et al
Researchers report a rare case of primary skull base diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in an 80-year-old man who presented with progressive double vision, left-sided eyelid drooping, headache, and dysfunction of multiple cranial nerves — a clinical picture closely resembling polyneuritis cranialis, an inflammatory condition. Standard cranial CT scanning and cerebrospinal fluid analysis returned unremarkable results, underscoring how easily this malignancy can evade routine diagnostic workup. A dedicated MRI of the skull base ultimately revealed an extensive infiltrating mass involving the clivus, petrous bone, occipital condyles, and the perisellar and posterior pituitary region, with mildly elevated prolactin levels suggesting compression of the pituitary stalk. Transsphenoidal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of DLBCL of the germinal center B-cell subtype, and the patient achieved complete clinical and radiologically confirmed remission following treatment with corticosteroids and dose-adjusted R-CHOP immunochemotherapy. This case demonstrates that primary bony skull base lymphoma can masquerade as inflammatory cranial neuropathy on conventional imaging, making timely diagnosis challenging and potentially delaying curative treatment. Clinicians evaluating patients with unexplained multifocal cranial nerve deficits should consider dedicated skull base MRI as an essential diagnostic step, since early recognition of this treatable malignancy can be life-saving.
European journal of neurology
Source →Enhancing Diagnostic Pathways for Bronchopulmonary Neuroendocrine Tumors: Assessment of the South Wales Neuroendocrine Tumor Service Transformation.
Imtiaz A, et al
Bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (bpNETs) are rare lung cancers that present significant diagnostic and treatment challenges, often requiring specialized multidisciplinary care. This retrospective study assessed whether the restructuring of the South Wales Neuroendocrine Cancer Service in September 2017 improved clinical outcomes for patients with typical and atypical carcinoids. The analysis found statistically significant reductions in the median time from presentation to diagnosis, from symptom onset to diagnosis, and from presentation to the start of treatment following the service transformation. Advanced diagnostic tools such as Gallium PET scans and EBUS-guided biopsies were used more frequently after the reorganization, and the rate of incidental diagnoses rose considerably, particularly for typical carcinoids where it reached 53%. While survival outcomes showed encouraging trends, the authors note that longer follow-up data are needed to determine whether the accelerated pathways translate into definitive improvements in patient survival. These findings support the broader adoption of centralized, collaborative care models for the management of rare neuroendocrine tumors.
Thoracic cancer
Source →Endobronchial Cryobiopsy of Pediatric Airway Masses-Discussing Its Role Through Two Case Reports.
Golla R, et al
This publication examines the use of endobronchial cryobiopsy as a diagnostic tool for airway masses in pediatric patients, presenting findings through two illustrative case reports. Cryobiopsy is a bronchoscopic technique that uses extreme cold to freeze and extract tissue samples, potentially yielding larger and better-preserved specimens than conventional forceps biopsy. The two cases highlight the feasibility and diagnostic value of this minimally invasive approach in children, a population in which airway procedures carry heightened anatomical and safety challenges. The authors discuss how cryobiopsy can provide sufficient tissue for histopathological and molecular analysis, which is critical for guiding treatment decisions in rare pediatric airway tumors. These cases suggest that endobronchial cryobiopsy may represent a safe and effective alternative to more invasive surgical biopsy in carefully selected pediatric patients with endobronchial lesions.
Pediatric pulmonology
Source →Altered Estrogen Receptor Signaling Pathway in BRCA2-Deficient Estrogen Receptor-Positive/HER2-Negative Breast Cancer.
Kawasaki K, et al
Researchers set out to understand how inherited mutations in the BRCA2 gene alter estrogen receptor (ER) signaling in ER-positive/HER2-negative breast cancer, the most common subtype arising from BRCA2 mutations, which tends to behave more aggressively than its sporadic counterpart. The team combined immunohistochemical analysis of tumor samples from eight BRCA2 mutation carriers and 59 non-carriers with laboratory experiments using two CRISPR-Cas9-engineered BRCA2-deficient breast cancer cell lines. They discovered that BRCA2 deficiency significantly reduces the activity of three key proteins — phosphorylated ER at Ser167, phosphorylated AKT at Ser473, and the tumor suppressor RB1 — both in patient tumors and in cell models. Intriguingly, despite these upstream signaling changes, the downstream estrogen-responsive genes and proteins did not show consistent alterations, pointing to a complex and not fully linear disruption of the ER pathway. Functional experiments showed that BRCA2-deficient cells were markedly more sensitive to the PARP inhibitor olaparib, while sensitivity to the standard hormonal therapy tamoxifen was unchanged. These findings represent the first detailed characterization of ER signaling in BRCA2-mutated ER-positive breast cancers and support further investigation of PARP inhibitors as a targeted treatment strategy for this underserved patient group.
Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)
Source →Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Pediatric Thyroid Nodules: Adult Risk Stratification Systems, 2021 K-TIRADS Revision, and Future Refinements.
Kim PH
This review examines the applicability of ultrasound-based thyroid nodule risk-stratification systems, originally developed for adults, to the evaluation of pediatric patients. Children with thyroid nodules face a higher risk of malignancy and more frequent spread to lymph nodes and distant organs than adults, yet they enjoy paradoxically excellent long-term survival even when distant metastases are present. The 2021 revision of the Korean Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (K-TIRADS) addressed this disparity by introducing pediatric-specific biopsy thresholds and risk-adapted criteria, leading to improved diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy. The authors also highlight distinctive diagnostic pitfalls unique to children, including the diffuse sclerosing variant of papillary thyroid cancer and benign intrathyroidal ectopic thymus tissue, which can mimic malignancy on ultrasound. Concerns about overdiagnosis and age-related variability in nodule appearance further complicate risk assessment in younger patients. The review advocates for future pediatric guidelines that combine age-stratified sonographic protocols with molecular profiling and artificial intelligence-assisted decision support, underscoring that adult diagnostic criteria cannot be uncritically applied to children.
Korean journal of radiology
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