Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Preoperative embolization in intracranial meningioma surgery: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.
Riaz I, et al
A new systematic review and meta-analysis published in Surgical Neurology International examined whether preoperative embolization (POE) — a procedure that blocks blood vessels feeding a brain tumor before surgery — improves outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for intracranial meningiomas, which are common and highly vascular brain tumors. Researchers analyzed 13 non-randomized studies published between 2017 and 2025, looking at blood loss, operative time, extent of tumor removal, complications, and recurrence. The meta-analysis found that POE significantly reduced postoperative complications and meaningfully increased the likelihood of achieving gross total resection, meaning the complete surgical removal of the tumor. However, the evidence on whether POE reduces intraoperative blood loss or shortens operative time was highly inconsistent across studies, limiting firm conclusions in those areas. Data on long-term tumor recurrence were too scarce to analyze, highlighting a critical gap in the evidence base. The authors conclude that neurosurgeons should consider POE particularly when complete tumor removal is the primary goal, while calling for randomized controlled trials to definitively clarify the procedure's full role.
Surgical neurology international
Source →Conventional MRI/CT for differentiation of IDH-mutant adult-type diffuse gliomas: revisited with a new imaging feature "scFLAIR-D".
Ohizumi Y, et al
Researchers at a single center investigated whether refined MRI imaging criteria could better distinguish two types of brain tumors sharing the IDH mutation: astrocytoma (AST) and oligodendroglioma (ODG), which require different treatments and carry different prognoses. The study introduced a redefined T2-FLAIR mismatch sign and a newly described feature called subcortical FLAIR signal drop (scFLAIR-D), evaluated alongside calcification on CT and other conventional imaging findings in 41 adult patients. The redefined T2-FLAIR mismatch sign identified astrocytoma with 87.5% sensitivity and 80.0% specificity, while scFLAIR-D was highly specific for oligodendroglioma at 93.8% specificity. Combining two or more oligodendroglioma-favoring features achieved 100% specificity for that diagnosis, and the T2-FLAIR mismatch sign alone without oligodendroglioma features identified astrocytoma with 96.0% specificity. These findings are clinically important because accurate presurgical tumor classification using standard MRI and CT — without waiting for surgical biopsy results — can guide earlier treatment planning and patient counseling.
Japanese journal of radiology
Source →The SCD1 inhibitor aramchol interacts with regorafenib and metformin to kill tumor cells.
Booth MR, et al
Researchers investigated whether combining the SCD1 inhibitor aramchol with the anti-cancer drug regorafenib and the diabetes medication metformin could enhance the killing of uveal melanoma (UM) tumor cells, particularly those that have spread to the liver. The study found that while aramchol and metformin together modestly increased cancer cell death, the triple combination of aramchol, regorafenib, and metformin produced significantly greater tumor cell killing than any two-drug pairing alone. The mechanism behind this enhanced killing was identified as increased autophagic flux — a cellular self-digestion process — with key autophagy proteins such as Beclin1, ATG5, and LAMP2 shown to be essential for the effect. Because aramchol naturally concentrates in the liver, which is the primary site of uveal melanoma metastasis, this triple drug combination holds particular promise for treating patients whose cancer has spread to the liver. These findings suggest that repurposing metformin alongside existing oncology drugs could offer a new, potentially accessible treatment strategy for a cancer type with very limited options after metastasis.
Oncotarget
Source →Superior eyelid endoscopic transorbital approach for spheno-orbital tumor: First reported case in Brazil.
Vieira EV, et al
Researchers in Brazil report the first use of a minimally invasive endoscopic transorbital approach (ETOA) through the upper eyelid crease to treat a spheno-orbital meningioma (SOM) in a Brazilian public hospital. The patient, a 41-year-old woman, presented with complete vision loss in her left eye and progressive eye movement dysfunction caused by a large benign tumor invading the orbit, cavernous sinus, and skull base. Surgeons successfully performed orbital decompression and tumor biopsy through a small incision in the upper eyelid, confirming a World Health Organization Grade I meningothelial meningioma with minimal brain manipulation. Postoperative imaging showed adequate decompression and the patient had a favorable outcome on follow-up. This case demonstrates that ETOA is a safe and feasible alternative to traditional open skull-base surgery for complex orbital tumors, offering patients reduced surgical trauma and better cosmetic outcomes. The report expands the documented use of this advanced technique to Latin America and highlights its potential for wider adoption in neurosurgical centers worldwide.
Surgical neurology international
Source →Comparative study of clinical features, pathology, and immunophenotype between HIV-related cutaneous and visceral Kaposi's sarcoma.
Xu J, et al
Researchers conducted a comparative study examining the differences in clinical features, pathological characteristics, and immune cell profiles between two forms of HIV-related Kaposi's sarcoma: the cutaneous (skin) form and the visceral (internal organ) form. Kaposi's sarcoma is a cancer caused by human herpesvirus 8 that disproportionately affects people living with HIV/AIDS, and understanding how its presentations differ across body sites is clinically important. The study analyzed immunophenotypic markers, meaning the specific proteins expressed on cancer and immune cells, to identify distinguishing biological signatures between the two disease locations. Findings from this research may help clinicians better diagnose, stage, and tailor treatment strategies for HIV-positive patients presenting with either form of Kaposi's sarcoma. By clarifying the biological and clinical distinctions between cutaneous and visceral disease, this work contributes to improving outcomes for a vulnerable patient population that continues to face significant morbidity from this malignancy.
BMC cancer
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