Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Pathological Subtrochanteric Femoral Fracture as the Initial Presentation of Metastatic Thyroid Carcinoma in a Young Adult: A Diagnostic Challenge.
Singh AK, et al
This case report describes a 39-year-old woman who sustained a subtrochanteric femoral fracture after minimal trauma — simply stepping out of a car — which ultimately proved to be the first sign of metastatic thyroid carcinoma. Imaging revealed multiple lytic bone lesions in the femur and pelvis, as well as pulmonary nodules suspicious for distant metastases, while blood tests demonstrated biochemical hyperthyroidism. Surgical stabilisation using an intramedullary nail was performed following multidisciplinary oncology team review, and tissue obtained during the procedure confirmed follicular-type thyroid cancer that had spread to the skeleton. Strikingly, thyroid ultrasound identified no suspicious nodules, highlighting a critical discordance between imaging and histopathological findings that reinforces the indispensable role of tissue biopsy in ambiguous cases. The case carries an important clinical message: pathological fracture must be considered whenever a young adult suffers a bone fracture disproportionate to the applied force, and a thorough oncologic work-up including tissue diagnosis should precede definitive surgical management.
Cureus
Source →Incidence, Prevalence, and Ocular Comorbidities of Primary Vitreoretinal Lymphoma in the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network.
Zhang A, et al
Researchers conducted a large-scale retrospective study to characterize the epidemiology of primary vitreoretinal lymphoma (PVRL), a rare eye cancer closely associated with primary central nervous system lymphoma that presents with inflammation inside the eye and infiltration of the retinal layers. Using the TriNetX Global Collaborative Network database, which encompasses over 152 million patients worldwide, investigators identified 175 probable PVRL cases and calculated a 10-year cumulative prevalence of 0.076 per 100,000 persons, consistent with but refining previous estimates. The mean age at diagnosis was 59.4 years, and nearly 60% of patients were Caucasian, reflecting the demographics of the database rather than necessarily of the global disease burden. Following diagnosis, patients frequently developed serious ocular complications, including glaucoma in 15% of cases, cystoid macular edema in 13.6%, and significant low vision in 13.2%. These findings represent the most comprehensive population-based prevalence estimate of PVRL to date and underscore the importance of monitoring patients for vision-threatening ocular comorbidities after diagnosis of this rare malignancy.
Journal of current ophthalmology
Source →Association between vaginal washing and group B Streptococcus colonization from periconception through the first trimester of pregnancy in a cohort of Kenyan women.
Jisuvei CS, et al
A study published in PLOS ONE examined whether vaginal washing practices are associated with an increased risk of group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in Kenyan women during early pregnancy. Researchers followed 189 women planning pregnancies, collecting vaginal fluid samples monthly and analyzing bacterial content using advanced DNA sequencing technology. The key finding was that washing with water alone showed no significant increase in GBS prevalence, but washing with soap and water was associated with nearly five times higher odds of GBS detection compared to no washing. GBS is a bacterium that, while often harmless in adults, can cause serious infections in newborns, including sepsis and meningitis, making colonization during pregnancy a significant clinical concern. These results suggest that the type of vaginal washing practice matters, and that discouraging soap use during intravaginal washing could be a practical public health strategy to reduce GBS colonization and its associated risks for newborns.
PloS one
Source →Dosimetric predictors of sexual toxicity in cervical cancer patients treated with definitive chemoradiation and MRI-guided brachytherapy.
Gulstene S, et al
A prospective study investigated whether radiation dose measurements to the vagina could predict sexual dysfunction and distress in cervical cancer patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy and MRI-guided brachytherapy. Seventy-three patients with stage IB-IVA cervical cancer completed validated sexual health questionnaires (FSFI and FSDS-R) at a median of 19 months after completing treatment. The findings revealed high rates of sexual morbidity: 73% of participants met criteria for sexual dysfunction and 55% reported significant sexual distress. Crucially, two dosimetric parameters were independently associated with greater sexual distress: a cumulative dose at the rectovaginal reference point exceeding 65 Gy (more than five times the odds of distress) and higher vaginal Total Reference Air Kerma (vTRAK), which reflects the overall dose load delivered within the vagina. These results suggest that optimizing brachytherapy planning to reduce specific vaginal dose hotspots may be a modifiable strategy to improve long-term sexual health outcomes for cervical cancer survivors. Clinicians are encouraged to monitor vaginal dosimetry more carefully and integrate patient-reported sexual health assessments into routine follow-up care.
International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
Source →Characterization of Monomeric and Dimeric Forms of the Lectin TFF1 in the Human Vagina: Possible Role for the Innate Immune Defence.
Laskou A, et al
Researchers investigated the trefoil factor family protein TFF1, originally discovered as an estrogen-responsive gene in breast cancer cell lines, to determine how it exists and functions in human vaginal tissue. For the first time, the study characterized distinct low-molecular-mass forms of TFF1 — both monomeric and dimeric — in post-menopausal vaginal specimens, while finding that larger protein complexes typical of the stomach were absent in this location. TFF1 is known to have anti-inflammatory properties and, as a lectin, has the ability to bind to sugars on the surface of microorganisms, suggesting it may interact with the bacteria and fungi that inhabit or infect the vagina. The findings point to a previously unrecognized role for TFF1 in the innate immune defense of the vagina, where it may help maintain the healthy balance of Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota. This research is particularly relevant for post-menopausal women, in whom falling estrogen levels can disrupt vaginal microbiota and lead to conditions such as bacterial vaginosis or vulvovaginal candidiasis, raising the prospect that TFF1 could one day serve as a therapeutic target for these common and burdensome infections.
International journal of molecular sciences
Source →