Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
F-18-DOPA-accumulating Meningioma Suspicious for an Intracranial Metastasis of Medullary Thyroid Cancer.
Viohl N, et al
A 57-year-old woman who had previously undergone surgery for medullary thyroid cancer was referred for a whole-body F-18-DOPA PET/CT scan to investigate persistently elevated calcitonin levels, a marker that can indicate residual or metastatic thyroid cancer. The PET/CT scan detected an area of abnormally increased tracer uptake in the right frontal skull, raising clinical concern for an intracranial metastasis. A subsequent MRI of the brain revealed that the lesion was in fact a meningioma, a typically benign tumor of the membranes surrounding the brain, and not a metastasis from the thyroid cancer. This case highlights an important diagnostic pitfall: meningiomas can accumulate F-18-DOPA, a radiotracer commonly used to detect neuroendocrine tumors and their metastases, potentially leading to false-positive findings. Clinicians using F-18-DOPA PET/CT in post-surgical cancer surveillance should be aware that meningiomas may mimic metastatic lesions, and confirmatory imaging such as MRI is essential before concluding a diagnosis.
Clinical nuclear medicine
Source →Ultrasmall Gauge Biopsy of Small Choroidal Melanomas with a Subretinal Cannula.
Miano DI, et al
Researchers have developed a novel minimally invasive biopsy technique for small choroidal melanomas — a type of eye cancer arising beneath the retina — using an ultrasmall 38-gauge subretinal cannula. The procedure involves inserting the cannula through the eye to reach the tumor, performing manual aspiration in areas free of blood vessels, and collecting tissue for molecular analysis to help predict patient prognosis. In a series of 16 patients with tumors averaging just 1.5 mm in thickness, the technique achieved sufficient diagnostic tissue yield in 88% of cases, with no complications observed. Two cases failed to yield adequate samples due to a processing error and a challenging tumor location, not due to the technique itself. This approach is particularly promising for small tumors located near the fovea and other sensitive anatomical structures, where traditional biopsy methods carry higher risks of vision loss. The development of safer biopsy methods for small choroidal melanomas is clinically important because molecular profiling of these tumors guides decisions about surveillance and treatment intensity.
Retinal cases & brief reports
Source →The "Azzopardi phenomenon" in high-grade astrocytoma with a PNET-like component.
Shintaku M, et al
Researchers in Japan have documented a rare pathological finding called the "Azzopardi phenomenon" in a brain tumor for the very first time. This phenomenon involves the deposition of deeply staining, smeared material — derived from the DNA and nuclear proteins of dying cancer cells — onto the walls of blood vessels within the tumor. The case involved a 44-year-old man diagnosed with a high-grade astrocytoma containing a primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET)-like component located in the frontal lobe of the brain. Laboratory analysis confirmed the deposited material contained DNA and histone H3 protein, marking the first time histone proteins have been shown to be co-deposited in vessel walls during this phenomenon. Previously, the Azzopardi phenomenon was known mainly in small cell lung carcinoma and retinoblastoma, making its appearance in an astrocytic brain tumor a significant and novel observation. Recognizing this feature in brain tumors may help pathologists more accurately characterize aggressive tumor subtypes and improve diagnostic precision in clinical neuropathology.
Clinical neuropathology
Source →Provider and caregiver perspectives on vision services for childhood cancer survivors: a qualitative study.
Parvathaneni A, et al
This qualitative study examined the perspectives of healthcare providers and caregivers regarding vision monitoring and care services for childhood cancer survivors. Researchers conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups to understand barriers, gaps, and best practices in delivering vision-related follow-up care to this vulnerable population. Findings revealed challenges including limited coordination between oncology and ophthalmology teams, insufficient awareness among caregivers about the risk of vision complications following cancer treatment, and inconsistent referral pathways. The study highlights the need for clearer clinical guidelines, improved interdisciplinary communication, and better caregiver education to ensure that survivors receive timely and appropriate eye care. These insights are particularly important given that many cancer treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy, can cause lasting damage to vision, making proactive surveillance a critical component of survivorship care.
BMC health services research
Source →AXL inhibitor SGI-7079 suppresses the growth of retinoblastoma via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
Chen T, et al
Researchers investigated the role of the protein AXL and the effects of its inhibitor, SGI-7079, in retinoblastoma, the most common primary eye tumor in children. The study found that AXL protein levels were significantly elevated in retinoblastoma tumor tissue compared to normal retinal tissue, a finding confirmed using publicly available gene expression databases. Laboratory experiments showed that SGI-7079 reduced the growth of retinoblastoma cell lines in a time- and dose-dependent manner, caused cancer cells to arrest in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, triggered programmed cell death, and suppressed activity of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which is known to drive tumor growth. In animal models, SGI-7079 also reduced the growth of retinoblastoma tumors implanted in mice. These findings suggest that SGI-7079, an already-developed AXL inhibitor, may represent a promising new therapeutic strategy for children diagnosed with retinoblastoma, particularly in cases where current treatments are insufficient.
Experimental eye research
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