Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Machine learning analysis of Drosophila testis transcriptomic data reveals potential regulatory sequences.
Vedelek V, et al
Researchers developed a computational method to analyze gene expression data from the fruit fly (Drosophila) testis by integrating transcriptomic datasets from five different sources, including single-cell and single-cyst sequencing technologies. The team applied supervised machine learning (XGBoost) and demonstrated that genes specifically active in testis tissue display a characteristic, predictable expression profile. By combining unsupervised machine learning dimensionality reduction (t-SNE) with density-based clustering (DBSCAN), the researchers identified shared regulatory DNA sequences among groups of co-expressed genes. This integrative approach merges the statistical robustness of bulk tissue data with the fine resolution of single-cell techniques, compensating for the limitations of each method individually. While focused on a model organism, the framework holds broad potential for uncovering gene regulatory logic and annotating previously uncharacterized transcripts, with long-term implications for understanding tissue-specific gene regulation relevant to reproductive biology and cancer research.
BioData mining
Source →Histomorphological features and ezrin expression in testicular seminomas in dogs: an association with potential prognostic value.
Pereira de Souza SC, et al
Researchers investigated the histological and molecular characteristics of testicular seminomas — a common type of testicular cancer — in dogs, focusing on two growth patterns: diffuse and intratubular. The study applied Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining and immunohistochemical analysis of ezrin, a protein linked to tumor invasiveness, to 23 canine seminoma samples. Key findings revealed that intratubular seminomas were PAS positive while diffuse seminomas were PAS negative, and that 87% of all samples showed ezrin expression, with higher levels of ezrin immunolabelling correlating strongly with the diffuse pattern. Diffuse seminomas also displayed features of local invasiveness, suggesting that ezrin may play a role in driving more aggressive tumor behavior in dogs. These results establish PAS staining as a reliable tool for classifying canine seminoma subtypes and identify ezrin as a promising biological marker for predicting local invasive potential in canine testicular tumors. The findings may help veterinary clinicians better assess prognosis and guide treatment decisions for dogs diagnosed with this condition.
Journal of comparative pathology
Source →Mohs Micrographic Surgery for Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review.
Greenzaid JD, et al
A new systematic review published in Dermatologic Surgery examined the effectiveness and safety of Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) as a penis-sparing alternative to partial or total penectomy for treating penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Researchers analyzed 19 clinical studies involving 329 penile SCC cases treated with MMS, pooling data on recurrence, metastasis, and surgical complications. The findings were encouraging: local recurrence occurred in only 5% of cases, nodal metastasis in 3%, distant metastasis in 0.3%, and disease-specific death in just 1%, with overall surgical complications reported in 9% of patients. Patients with advanced-stage tumors (T2/T3) had higher local recurrence rates (8%) compared to those with early-stage disease (1%), highlighting the importance of tumor staging when selecting candidates for MMS. The review supports MMS as a viable, tissue-preserving option particularly for low-stage penile cancer, while recommending multidisciplinary collaboration with urology for cases involving advanced disease, urethral involvement, or complex reconstruction. These results are clinically significant because penectomy, while effective, frequently causes severe psychosocial distress and disfigurement, and MMS offers comparable oncologic control with meaningful quality-of-life benefits.
Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.]
Source →The Vaginal Microbiota in Pig-Tailed Macaques and Colonization with Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Srinivasan S, et al
Researchers investigated whether pig-tailed macaques (Macaca nemestrina) could serve as an animal model for studying Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC), the bacterium responsible for gonorrhea, a major sexually transmitted infection worldwide. The study characterized the vaginal microbiota of six female macaques over 96 days using advanced genetic sequencing, finding it to be diverse and heterogeneous, containing several anaerobic bacteria also found in the human vagina, such as Fannyhessea vaginae and Parvimonas micra. Antibiotic treatment with streptomycin was tested as a strategy to disrupt the existing microbiota and facilitate GC colonization, but despite two rounds of bacterial challenge, sustained gonorrhea infection could not be established in any of the animals. These findings suggest that pig-tailed macaques do not readily support prolonged GC colonization under the conditions tested, highlighting the need for alternative approaches to develop a reliable animal model for gonorrhea research. A dependable animal model would be invaluable for testing new vaccines and treatments against gonorrhea, which is increasingly resistant to antibiotics and affects hundreds of millions of people each year.
Sexually transmitted diseases
Source →PRAME Immunohistochemical Expression as a Diagnostic Tool to Distinguish Between Endocervical and Endometrial Adenocarcinomas.
Bahmad HF, et al
Researchers investigated whether a protein called PRAME, detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), could reliably distinguish between two types of gynecologic cancers that are often difficult to tell apart: endocervical adenocarcinoma (originating in the cervix) and endometrial adenocarcinoma (originating in the uterine lining). The study analyzed 158 gynecologic tissue samples and cross-referenced findings with gene expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Results showed that PRAME was positive in 100% of endometrial lesions and 82% of tubo-ovarian carcinomas, while 94% of endocervical adenocarcinomas tested negative, giving the marker a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 94% for identifying endometrial origin. These findings mean that pathologists can use PRAME staining as a highly reliable, single-marker tool to differentiate cervical from uterine cancers in challenging diagnostic cases. Accurate distinction between these cancer types is clinically critical, as treatment strategies differ significantly, and misclassification can lead to inappropriate therapy.
International journal of gynecological pathology : official journal of the International Society of Gynecological Pathologists
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