Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
The Role of Geography in United States Retinoblastoma Care.
Shah J, et al
A new study published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology examined how geographic location influences the care received by children diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, in the United States between 2000 and 2021. Using data from the National Cancer Institute's SEER program covering 1,375 pediatric patients, researchers found that children living in metropolitan areas were significantly less likely to undergo enucleation (surgical eye removal) and less likely to receive chemotherapy compared to those in non-metropolitan regions. The study also revealed that race and ethnicity played a meaningful role, with non-Hispanic White children having lower odds of enucleation and higher odds of presenting with localized (earlier-stage) disease, while children from lower-income households were more likely to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage. Importantly, geography was found to modify the relationship between race/ethnicity and treatment type, as well as between household income and disease stage at diagnosis. Notably, the time between diagnosis and treatment initiation did not differ across geographic groups, suggesting that disparities likely emerge earlier in the care pathway — during disease recognition and referral — rather than after diagnosis. These findings highlight the need for targeted public health efforts to improve early detection and equitable access to specialized retinoblastoma care across all regions and communities in the United States.
American journal of ophthalmology
Source →Final phase 2 study results of acalabrutinib in treatment-naive and relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Furman RR, et al
Researchers have published final long-term results from a phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating acalabrutinib, a targeted therapy that blocks Bruton tyrosine kinase, in 233 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma, including both previously untreated and relapsed or treatment-resistant cases. After more than six years of follow-up, the overall response rate was approximately 97% in treatment-naive patients and nearly 95% in those with relapsed or refractory disease, with benefits observed regardless of whether patients carried high-risk genetic features. In treatment-naive patients, 86.7% remained free of disease progression at 72 months, while patients with relapsed or refractory disease had a median progression-free survival of over five and a half years. The safety profile remained stable over time, with no new concerning side effects emerging with longer use, and the most common adverse events actually became less frequent as treatment continued. These findings confirm that acalabrutinib monotherapy provides durable disease control with a manageable and consistent safety profile, supporting its role as a long-term treatment option for patients with this type of blood cancer.
Blood advances
Source →[Adult Middle Mediastinal Cystic Lymphangioma: Two Case Reports and Review of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges].
Benabdallah N, et al
Researchers from Germany present two case reports of cystic lymphangioma located in the middle mediastinum, a rare condition accounting for only 1% of all lymphangiomas and 0.7% of mediastinal tumors. These benign fluid-filled growths most commonly arise in the anterior mediastinum, making middle mediastinal involvement an uncommon diagnostic challenge. Both cases were histologically confirmed, with one patient managed through endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and the other through surgical resection. The report highlights that EBUS-TBNA offers a minimally invasive option for both diagnosis and occasional symptom relief, while surgery remains the only curative treatment, though incomplete removal carries a risk of recurrence. This publication serves as a valuable clinical reference for pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons who may encounter these rare tumors, emphasizing the importance of tailoring the treatment approach to each individual patient.
Pneumologie (Stuttgart, Germany)
Source →The surgical approach strategies in the treatment of anterior mediastinal tumors.
Xie J, et al
A new narrative review published in Annals of Medicine examines the full spectrum of surgical strategies used to treat anterior mediastinal tumors, which are growths near the thymus and lymph nodes that can cause serious symptoms as they enlarge. Researchers systematically reviewed clinical studies, case series, and reviews published between 2000 and 2025, comparing traditional open surgeries such as median sternotomy with minimally invasive options including video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and robot-assisted surgery. The review found that while open surgery provides excellent anatomical exposure, it carries greater trauma and longer recovery times compared to minimally invasive approaches, which offer smaller incisions and faster healing but demand advanced surgical skills. Robot-assisted surgery emerged as a promising option combining precision and enhanced visualization with minimal invasiveness, though its high cost currently limits widespread adoption. The authors conclude that surgical approach selection must be individualized, taking into account tumor size, location, type, and the surgeon's expertise, to optimize patient outcomes. These findings provide clinicians with a practical, evidence-based framework for decision-making in a field where no single technique fits all cases.
Annals of medicine
Source →Extracranial Metastases From FET-CREB Fusion-positive Intracranial Mesenchymal Tumor on FDG PET/CT.
Wang J, et al
Researchers report a rare case involving a newly recognized brain tumor type called FET-CREB fusion-positive intracranial mesenchymal tumor, examining how FDG PET/CT imaging can assist in its management. In this patient, the tumor did not stay confined to the brain but spread over time to distant sites outside the skull, including the mediastinum (chest), mesentery (abdomen), and left leg — a pattern known as metachronous extracranial metastasis. FDG PET/CT scans revealed mild to moderate uptake of the radioactive tracer in the metastatic lesions, demonstrating the scan's ability to detect these spread sites. This case is clinically significant because it confirms that FET-CREB fusion-positive intracranial mesenchymal tumors can metastasize beyond the brain, which has direct implications for patient monitoring and treatment planning. Clinicians managing patients with this rare tumor type should consider whole-body FDG PET/CT imaging as a useful tool for identifying extracranial spread.
Clinical nuclear medicine
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