Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Surgical debulking with fertility preservation in primary extra-neural ependymoma presenting with widespread peritoneal and intra-abdominal disease: Case report and literature review.
Christmas D, et al
This case report describes the diagnosis and surgical management of a 29-year-old woman with Stage IV primary extra-neural ependymoma, an exceptionally rare cancer arising outside the central nervous system, which presented with widespread tumour deposits throughout the abdomen and pelvis. Imaging revealed bilateral ovarian masses, omental and peritoneal nodules, and a large left upper quadrant mass, while biopsy confirmed the diagnosis through characteristic histological features — including perivascular pseudorosettes — and diffuse estrogen and progesterone receptor positivity. The patient underwent extensive cytoreductive surgery encompassing hysterectomy, bowel resection, splenectomy, partial diaphragm resection, and peritonectomy, with simultaneous fertility preservation achieved via ex-vivo oocyte maturation from the right ovary and conservation of the left ovary for future egg retrieval and cryopreservation. The patient declined adjuvant chemotherapy and remained clinically well eleven months after surgery. This report, representing one of only five documented cases of peritoneal ependymoma worldwide, establishes surgical cytoreduction as the cornerstone of treatment and demonstrates that fertility preservation can be successfully integrated into the operative plan within a multidisciplinary framework, which is especially important given that this disease predominantly affects young women.
Gynecologic oncology reports
Source →The Impact of Endoscopic Ultrasound and Multidisciplinary Team Evaluation on the Management of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions.
Dbouk M, et al
Researchers at two institutions investigated whether endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) improves the ability of multidisciplinary teams (MDT) to correctly identify and manage pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL), which are fluid-filled growths in the pancreas that can progress to cancer. Using a randomized crossover design, clinicians reviewed 40 PCL cases — half classified as high-risk and half as low-risk — either with or without EUS findings, including cytology, CEA, and amylase results. Teams given EUS data upfront correctly identified mucinous cysts with 97% sensitivity and 70% specificity, significantly outperforming teams without EUS (91% sensitivity, 20% specificity), and also more accurately flagged high-risk lesions requiring surgery (85% sensitivity and 85% specificity versus 60% and 75% without EUS). Critically, clinicians who first evaluated cases without EUS and were then unblinded to EUS results performed significantly worse than those who received EUS data from the start, demonstrating the harmful effect of cognitive anchoring and confirmation bias. These findings confirm that EUS is a valuable tool in pancreatic cyst management, but that the order and structure of multidisciplinary review matters greatly — EUS should be presented to MDT teams before initial judgments are formed to maximize its diagnostic benefit for patients.
United European gastroenterology journal
Source →Beyond Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Detection of EBV and Polyomaviruses in Cervical and Anal Samples.
Guimarães AC, et al
A Brazilian cross-sectional study investigated the co-presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and polyomaviruses (JCPyV and BKPyV) alongside HPV in cervical and anal samples from HIV-positive women, a population known to be at heightened risk for persistent HPV infections and HPV-related cancers. Using real-time PCR for viral detection and quantification, the researchers analyzed 33 cervical and 30 anal scrapings, as well as 26 paired samples from the same individuals. EBV was detected in 33.3% of anal scrapings and 21.2% of cervical scrapings, with EBV viral loads substantially higher in cervical samples (mean 2.27 × 10⁵ copies/mL) than in anal samples, while polyomaviruses were largely absent. Crucially, EBV co-infection with high-risk HPV genotypes — particularly HPV 31 — was identified in 14.6% of paired samples, raising concern that EBV may amplify the cancer-promoting environment already created by HPV. These findings highlight the need to broaden viral surveillance beyond HPV in high-risk groups and to investigate how EBV and HPV interact synergistically to drive cervical and anogenital cancer development.
Journal of medical virology
Source →Detrimental effect of delayed or incomplete BCG protocols administration after trans-urethral tumor resection in patients with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a systematic review.
DI Trapani E, et al
This systematic review investigated the impact of delayed or incomplete BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) immunotherapy on oncological outcomes in patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), a condition in which the cancer has not yet spread into the bladder muscle wall. Researchers screened 262 publications from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science and ultimately analyzed 14 studies examining various BCG schedules and dosing regimens. The key finding is that delaying BCG initiation beyond 6 weeks after transurethral tumor resection surgery is associated with significantly worse recurrence-free survival, progression-free survival, and cancer-specific survival rates. Evidence regarding whether such delays accelerate progression to muscle-invasive or metastatic disease remains inconclusive, though some studies suggest a potential link. Even reduced-dose or shortened BCG regimens appear to offer a degree of protection against disease progression, but the authors strongly advocate for strict adherence to standard treatment timelines. When delays are unavoidable, close endoscopic surveillance and prompt treatment of any cancer relapse are essential to safeguard patient outcomes.
Minerva urology and nephrology
Source →Superior Mesenteric Artery Thrombosis as a Complication of Polycythemia Vera: A Case Report.
Milić L, et al
This case report presents a rare and potentially fatal complication of polycythemia vera (PV), a blood cancer that causes the overproduction of red blood cells and substantially elevates the risk of arterial and venous blood clots. A 25-year-old man with previously diagnosed, JAK2-negative PV was admitted with acute abdominal pain and signs of intestinal obstruction, and CT imaging confirmed complete thrombotic occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) — the primary vessel supplying the small intestine — accompanied by evidence of bowel ischemia. Emergency surgery revealed a perforation of the jejunum, which was successfully repaired with primary closure and peritoneal washout, and the patient recovered without further complications. Crucially, his anticoagulation therapy was found to be subtherapeutic at the time of the event (INR 1.2), underscoring the critical importance of maintaining adequate anticoagulation control in PV patients. This case highlights that life-threatening thrombotic events can affect even young PV patients and can occur in atypical vascular territories, and that early imaging combined with prompt surgical intervention is essential to achieving a favorable outcome.
Reports (MDPI)
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