Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Case report: Metastatic pancreatic cancer to bilateral testes and spermatic cords.
Phillipi M, et al
Researchers report the first documented case in the English-language medical literature of pancreatic cancer spreading to both testicles and spermatic cords simultaneously. A 65-year-old man who had previously been treated for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma returned three years after initial treatment complaining of groin pain and a retracted right testicle, with blood tests showing rising levels of the tumor marker CA19-9. Imaging and pathology confirmed that the cancer had metastasized bilaterally to the testes and spermatic cords, an extraordinarily rare occurrence given the anatomical and physiological barriers that typically protect these organs from metastatic spread. The patient underwent palliative bilateral radical orchiectomy, meaning both testicles were surgically removed to relieve symptoms and manage disease progression. This case serves as an important reminder for clinicians that any new testicular or spermatic cord mass in a man over 40 with a known cancer history should prompt urgent evaluation for metastatic disease, rather than assuming a primary testicular tumor.
Urology case reports
Source →Cellular angiofibroma of labia minora in pregnancy.
Singh N, et al
A rare case of cellular angiofibroma (CAF), a benign soft-tissue tumor of the vulvovaginal region, was reported in a pregnant woman in her early 30s during her first pregnancy. The tumor, measuring approximately 10 centimeters and arising from the labia minora, grew large enough to cause significant discomfort and difficulty walking as the patient approached full term. The patient underwent a caesarean section for delivery, after which the mass was surgically removed and confirmed as CAF by histopathological examination. Cellular angiofibromas are typically small and asymptomatic, making this case unusual both in its size and its occurrence during pregnancy, which may have contributed to accelerated tumor growth. This report underscores the importance of including CAF in the differential diagnosis of vulvar masses in pregnant patients, as timely recognition allows for appropriate surgical planning and avoids unnecessary aggressive intervention. Clinicians should be aware that benign tumors can present dramatically during pregnancy, yet carry a favorable prognosis when correctly identified and treated.
BMJ case reports
Source →Rapid establishment of KRAS-driven bladder cancer initiation and immune escape models using genetically engineered mice and organoid approaches.
Yang G, et al
Researchers developed a new integrated platform to better study bladder cancer, combining a genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) driven by the KRAS oncogene with advanced organoid technology and single-cell sequencing. Bladder cancer is the tenth most common cancer globally and the sixth most common in men, yet representative laboratory models have been lacking, which has slowed progress in understanding the disease and developing new treatments. The new system was monitored over time using single-cell sequencing, allowing scientists to track how tumors evolve and how cancer cells communicate with the immune system. The model closely mirrors the molecular and cellular features seen in human bladder cancer, including mechanisms by which tumors evade immune detection. By providing a scalable and physiologically relevant platform, this approach is expected to accelerate preclinical drug screening and help identify new therapeutic targets. These advances could ultimately translate into better treatment options for bladder cancer patients.
Frontiers in immunology
Source →Partial Nephrectomy of Renal Cell Carcinoma in Horseshoe Kidney with Assistance of Intraoperative Retrograde Pyelogram: A Case Report and Literature Review.
Tsui OW, et al
Researchers report a case of a 74-year-old man with a horseshoe kidney — a rare congenital anomaly in which the two kidneys are fused into a U-shape — who developed renal cell carcinoma (RCC), one of the most common kidney cancers. The surgical team successfully performed a partial nephrectomy, removing only the tumor while preserving the remaining kidney tissue, aided by intraoperative retrograde pyelogram (RP), a real-time imaging technique that illuminates the inner drainage structures of the kidney. The RP provided live visualization of the renal pelvis anatomy, allowing surgeons to navigate the unusually complex anatomy and avoid accidentally blocking urinary drainage during reconstruction. A literature review accompanying the case highlights the growing role of laparoscopic and robotic surgical techniques, as well as preoperative 3D imaging and angiography, in planning operations for RCC in horseshoe kidneys. The authors conclude that intraoperative RP fills an important gap left by conventional static imaging methods, offering dynamic guidance that enhances surgical precision in anatomically challenging cases. This report is clinically significant because it draws attention to an underutilized intraoperative tool that could improve outcomes for patients with rare kidney anomalies and concurrent cancer.
Journal of kidney cancer and VHL
Source →Symptom severity clusters in myeloproliferative neoplasms are unrelated to disease phenotype: results from a multicenter survey of the East German study group for hematology and oncology (OSHO #97).
Felser S, et al
A multicenter cross-sectional survey conducted by the East German Study Group for Hematology and Oncology examined symptom burden in 644 patients diagnosed with various myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including chronic myeloid leukemia, polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia, and myelofibrosis. Using cluster analysis of 14 symptoms rated by patients themselves, researchers identified four distinct symptom severity clusters: very high, high, middle, and low. Crucially, membership in these clusters was not associated with the specific MPN diagnosis, meaning patients across all disease subtypes experienced comparable patterns of symptom burden regardless of their particular condition. Instead, higher symptom severity was linked to younger age, female sex, higher body mass index, and lower educational level. These findings challenge the assumption that symptom management should be tailored primarily to disease subtype, and instead support a shift toward symptom-focused, multimodal supportive care strategies — such as exercise programs and psychological support — that can benefit MPN patients broadly. For clinicians, this suggests that standardized supportive care frameworks addressing quality of life may be applicable across the full spectrum of MPN diagnoses.
Frontiers in oncology
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