Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Exploring the role of PARP9 expression in AML: prognostic implications and transcriptomic insights.
Alshammari A, et al
Researchers investigated the expression and clinical significance of PARP9, a protein belonging to the PARP enzyme family, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive blood cancer with limited treatment options. Using large public transcriptomic datasets including TCGA-LAML, GTEx, and the Human Protein Atlas, they found that PARP9 is expressed approximately 2.4-fold higher in AML cells compared to normal tissues, and is elevated compared to most solid tumors. High PARP9 expression was linked to specific AML subtypes (FAB classifications M0, M1, M2, M4, and M5), intermediate and adverse cytogenetic risk profiles, and significantly worse overall survival, with patients in the high-expression group facing a 49% greater risk of death. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that high PARP9 expression is associated with altered activity in immune pathways such as PD-1/PD-L1 signaling and cytokine receptor interactions, suggesting it may influence the tumor immune microenvironment. Although PARP9 was not independently prognostic after accounting for age and cytogenetic risk, these findings highlight its potential as a biomarker for identifying high-risk AML patients and as a candidate therapeutic target deserving further investigation.
3 Biotech
Source →True Positive 18F-FDG PET/CT and Negative 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT in a Pediatric Patient With Bladder Malignant Paraganglioma.
Zhang B, et al
Researchers report a rare case of bladder malignant paraganglioma in a 10-year-old child who experienced episodic headaches, sweating, and dizziness triggered by urination, classic symptoms that raised suspicion for this uncommon tumor. When the patient underwent 123I-MIBG SPECT/CT, a nuclear imaging technique commonly used to detect paragangliomas, the scan showed no abnormal uptake in the bladder mass or enlarged lymph nodes. However, 18F-FDG PET/CT, a different metabolic imaging method, clearly detected increased activity in the same regions, and surgical removal followed by tissue analysis confirmed malignant paraganglioma with multiple metastases. This case demonstrates that bladder paragangliomas can be missed by MIBG imaging alone and highlights the critical importance of using 18F-FDG PET/CT as a complementary tool in the diagnostic workup of these tumors. The findings carry significant clinical implications, urging physicians to consider both imaging modalities when evaluating suspected bladder paraganglioma, particularly in pediatric patients where early and accurate diagnosis is essential for treatment planning.
Clinical nuclear medicine
Source →Reference intervals of urinary metanephrines: creatinine ratios in dogs: comparison of acidified and non-acidified samples collected by cystocentesis.
Niederlender S, et al
Researchers at a veterinary hospital investigated reference intervals (RIs) for urinary metanephrines — biomarkers used to detect pheochromocytoma, a rare adrenal tumor — in healthy dogs, addressing a significant gap in veterinary diagnostic guidelines. The study enrolled 40 client-owned and staff-owned dogs deemed healthy based on normal blood work and ultrasound findings, with urine collected via cystocentesis and analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The established reference intervals were 17–117 nmol/mmol for the metanephrine-to-creatinine ratio and 37–223 nmol/mmol for the normetanephrine-to-creatinine ratio. A key practical finding was that acidifying urine samples prior to analysis is not necessary, simplifying sample handling in clinical practice. These results confirm that cystocentesis-collected urine is suitable for metanephrine testing, making this diagnostic tool more accessible to general practice veterinarians when pheochromocytoma is suspected in dogs.
Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
Source →YIA26-002: Automated Segmentation and Radiogenomic Analysis of Primary CNS Lymphoma.
Rauschecker A, et al
Researchers presented a study on automated segmentation and radiogenomic analysis applied to primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, a rare and aggressive brain cancer. The work focused on using computational methods to automatically delineate tumor boundaries on medical images and then link imaging features to underlying genetic characteristics of the tumors. By combining radiomics with genomic data, the study aimed to identify imaging biomarkers that reflect the molecular makeup of these lymphomas without requiring invasive tissue sampling. Such an approach could help clinicians better characterize tumors, predict treatment response, and tailor therapy for individual patients. The findings represent a step toward non-invasive precision oncology for a disease that remains difficult to diagnose and treat effectively.
Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN
Source →Clinical outcomes and MRI-based neurotoxicity assessment of elderly primary CNS lymphoma.
Nagashima H, et al
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Neuroscience examined the best treatment approach for elderly patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), a rare and aggressive brain cancer, focusing on both survival outcomes and brain damage caused by treatment. Researchers retrospectively analyzed 65 patients aged 65 and older treated between 2008 and 2024, comparing those who received high-dose methotrexate followed by whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) against those treated with the R-MPV chemotherapy regimen with or without WBRT. Patients who received R-MPV without WBRT lived significantly longer without disease progression (53.2 vs. 27.2 months) and had superior overall survival compared to those who underwent WBRT, which was independently linked to worse outcomes. MRI scans revealed that the WBRT group experienced far greater brain shrinkage and ventricular enlargement—a marker of neurotoxicity—at a rate of 14.6% per year compared to only 2.9% per year in the non-WBRT group. Additionally, a cerebrospinal fluid protein called IL-10, when elevated above 100 pg/mL, was associated with accelerated brain structural changes in WBRT-treated patients, suggesting it could serve as a biomarker to identify patients most vulnerable to radiation-related brain damage. These findings support moving away from routine whole-brain radiotherapy in elderly PCNSL patients in favor of R-MPV chemotherapy alone, offering both better survival and reduced risk of long-term cognitive and structural brain harm.
Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia
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