Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Successful Haplo-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia in a Child With Underlying Thrombocytopenia-Absent Radius Syndrome: A Unique Case.
Sharidah SA, et al
Researchers report the first known case of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) occurring in a child who also had thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) syndrome, a rare congenital disorder causing limb abnormalities and low platelet counts. The male infant was genetically confirmed to have TAR syndrome and, at age two, developed JMML driven by a mutation in the NF1 gene, which is part of the RAS cell-signaling pathway. He was treated with haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) — a bone marrow transplant from a half-matched sibling — following a multi-drug conditioning regimen, and achieved full donor chimerism and complete remission. This case is believed to be the first documented successful HSCT for JMML in a TAR syndrome patient, demonstrating that curative transplantation is feasible even in children with complex underlying congenital conditions. The findings highlight the need for close hematologic monitoring in TAR syndrome patients, as they may carry an elevated risk of malignant transformation that clinicians should be prepared to address.
Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.)
Source →Circulating miR-148a-3p Correlates with Inadequate Induction Response in Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Rohde M, et al
Researchers investigated whether circulating microRNAs — small molecules found in the blood — could predict how well children with Hodgkin lymphoma respond to initial chemotherapy, known as induction therapy. The study analyzed blood serum samples from 35 pediatric patients using small RNA sequencing and identified 24 microRNAs associated with treatment response. A key finding was that elevated levels of a specific microRNA, miR-148a-3p, at the time of diagnosis were significantly higher in patients who responded poorly to induction therapy compared to those who responded well. These results suggest that measuring miR-148a-3p in the blood could serve as a non-invasive biomarker to identify high-risk children before treatment begins, complementing existing tools such as PET imaging. This advance is clinically meaningful because it could help doctors tailor therapy more precisely, sparing good responders from unnecessarily intensive treatment and its long-term side effects.
ImmunoTargets and therapy
Source →Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Adults With Hematological Malignancies: A Population-Based Cohort Study Using Linked Databases.
Geels J, et al
A large population-based cohort study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology examined cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in adults diagnosed with hematological malignancies (blood cancers) in the Netherlands between 1995 and 2023. Researchers matched nearly 175,000 cancer patients with over 855,000 general population controls and tracked 11 cardiovascular outcomes using national hospitalization and mortality registries. The study found that heart failure rates were significantly elevated across all 12 blood cancer subtypes, with the highest excess rates seen in myelodysplastic syndrome and multiple myeloma, while venous thromboembolism (dangerous blood clots) risk peaked dramatically within the first year of diagnosis and remained elevated for up to five years. Patients with Hodgkin lymphoma faced the starkest early clotting risk, with a 34-fold increased rate of deep vein thrombosis compared to the general population in the first year. These findings underscore that blood cancer survivors carry a substantially higher burden of cardiovascular complications than the general public, with risks varying considerably by cancer type, highlighting the urgent need for tailored cardiovascular monitoring and prevention strategies in this growing patient population.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Source →Tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 7 drives leukaemogenesis through the TWIST1-P2RX1-Ca2+ axis in a mouse model of acute myeloid leukaemia.
Shi C, et al
Researchers investigated the role of TRAF7 (tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 7) in the development of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), a fast-progressing blood cancer with limited treatment options. Using a mouse model, the study identified a molecular chain of events in which TRAF7 activates the transcription factor TWIST1, which in turn regulates the purinergic receptor P2RX1, leading to altered calcium ion signalling inside leukaemic cells. This cascade promotes the uncontrolled growth and survival of cancerous blood cells, effectively driving leukaemia progression. The findings establish TRAF7 as a key molecular driver of AML and suggest that targeting the TWIST1-P2RX1-calcium pathway could represent a new therapeutic strategy for patients with this aggressive disease.
Journal of translational medicine
Source →Shear wave elastography can improve the preoperative diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma or atypical parathyroid tumor: initial experience.
Lu R, et al
Researchers investigated whether shear wave elastography (SWE), an ultrasound-based technique that measures tissue stiffness, could improve the preoperative identification of parathyroid carcinoma (PC) and atypical parathyroid tumors (APT) — rare and aggressive conditions that are notoriously difficult to diagnose before surgery. In a retrospective case-control study, 21 patients with PC or APT were compared to 84 patients with benign parathyroid adenomas (PA), with all lesions assessed using grayscale ultrasound combined with SWE. The study found that two features — the presence of intra-nodal fibrous bands on ultrasound and a ratio of mean shear wave velocity in the tumor to that in the thyroid parenchyma (SWVmean/SWVth) above 1.25 — were strong independent predictors of malignancy, with the combined approach achieving a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 88.9%. These findings suggest that adding SWE to standard ultrasound examination could substantially enhance clinicians' ability to distinguish malignant from benign parathyroid lesions before surgery, potentially guiding more appropriate surgical planning and reducing diagnostic uncertainty in this challenging patient group.
BMC medical imaging
Source →