Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Case Report: Coexistence of a giant borderline phyllodes tumor of the breast and a contralateral fibroadenoma: a challenging case with clinical manifestations and PET-CT imaging mimicking advanced cancer.
Wang X, et al
Researchers from a hospital oncology team report a rare and diagnostically challenging case involving a 44-year-old woman who presented with a massive, rapidly growing left breast tumor accompanied by skin ulceration, redness, and swelling. Preoperative imaging, including PET-CT, showed highly elevated metabolic activity in the left breast mass and adjacent lymph nodes, strongly suggesting advanced or metastatic breast cancer. However, following surgery — which included total mastectomy, axillary lymph node dissection, and removal of a small right breast nodule — comprehensive pathological analysis revealed that the left breast mass was a giant borderline phyllodes tumor (BPT), not a malignant carcinoma, and all 21 dissected lymph nodes showed only benign reactive changes; the right breast nodule proved to be a harmless fibroadenoma. The case underscores a critical clinical pitfall: borderline phyllodes tumors can convincingly mimic locally advanced breast cancer on both physical examination and advanced imaging, leading to potential misdiagnosis. Importantly, pre-surgical core needle biopsy was insufficient to determine the tumor grade, highlighting that definitive diagnosis of phyllodes tumors requires full histopathological examination of the completely resected specimen. This report serves as a valuable reminder for clinicians to consider rare fibroepithelial tumors in the differential diagnosis even when all signs point toward malignancy.
Frontiers in oncology
Source →Plasma Cell Granuloma Mimicking Plasmacytoma Illustrated by 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography.
Imataki O, et al
Researchers report a rare case of plasma cell granuloma — a non-cancerous, infection-driven tissue reaction — that closely mimicked a malignant plasma cell tumor (plasmacytoma) in a 79-year-old man with an unexplained fever and a growing chest wall mass. Advanced imaging with 18F-FDG PET scanning revealed multiple high-activity lesions in the sternum, spine, and aorta, which initially raised strong suspicion for multiple plasmacytoma. Tissue biopsy showed dense plasma cell proliferation, and the clinical picture was further complicated by the presence of monoclonal protein patterns that are typically associated with blood cancers. The key to the correct diagnosis was a positive culture of Staphylococcus aureus from the vertebral mass, confirming an infectious cause, and the patient responded well to antibiotic treatment alone. This case underscores the diagnostic challenge posed by plasma cell granuloma and demonstrates that infectious diseases, particularly bacterial aortitis, can produce imaging and laboratory findings that closely resemble malignancy. Clinicians are urged to pursue thorough pathological and microbiological evaluation before concluding a diagnosis of plasma cell neoplasm, as misdiagnosis can lead to unnecessary and harmful cancer treatments.
Hematology reports
Source →Discovery of chirally dependent protein modifications by D- and L-2-hydroxyglutarates.
Zhang Z, et al
Researchers studying cancer-driving mutations in the enzymes IDH1 and IDH2 have uncovered a previously unknown chemical modification of proteins called O-2-hydroxyglutarylation, triggered by the oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate (D2HG) that accumulates in cancers such as gliomas and acute myeloid leukaemia. Using chemical proteomics, the team demonstrated that D2HG and its mirror-image molecule L-2-hydroxyglutarate (L2HG) each modify distinct sets of proteins in a chirality-dependent manner, with D2HG modifications rising in IDH-mutant cancer cells and L2HG modifications increasing under low-oxygen conditions. Two key signalling enzymes, the kinases MRCKA and SLK, were specifically modified by D2HG and L2HG respectively, and phosphoproteomic analysis showed that these modifications reduce the activity of both kinases, revealing a novel crosstalk between oncometabolite accumulation and the cell's phosphorylation signalling network. These findings illuminate a new molecular mechanism by which IDH mutations fuel cancer progression and open potential therapeutic avenues targeting oncometabolite-induced protein modifications to slow or reverse tumour growth.
Nature chemistry
Source →Immunodeficiency-associated primary CNS lymphomas: An International Primary CNS Lymphoma Collaborative Group (IPCG) Study.
Kaulen LD, et al
Researchers from the International Primary CNS Lymphoma Collaborative Group conducted the largest study to date on immunodeficiency-associated primary central nervous system lymphoma (ID-PCNSL), a rare brain cancer occurring in patients with weakened immune systems. The international retrospective study analyzed clinical, radiological, and pathological data from 308 patients diagnosed across 23 centers in 7 countries, where immunodeficiency stemmed from transplant-related immunosuppression, autoimmune disease treatment, or HIV infection. All tumors were classified as diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, and 79% tested positive for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), a finding with significant prognostic implications. The study found that combining immune reconstitution with rituximab-methotrexate-based chemotherapy yielded the best treatment responses and longest progression-free survival regardless of immunodeficiency type or EBV status. Three key factors—age over 60, poor functional status (Karnofsky Performance Status below 70), and EBV positivity—were identified as independent predictors of worse survival, enabling the development of a new prognostic scoring system that stratified median survival times ranging from 3 months to 135 months. This new scoring model outperformed existing tools designed for immunocompetent patients and offers clinicians a practical, easy-to-use tool to guide treatment decisions for this vulnerable patient population.
Blood
Source →A nonpigmented retinal pigment epithelium adenoma with retinitis pigmentosa:A case report.
Zhu X, et al
Researchers at Shanghai General Hospital reported a rare case of a nonpigmented retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) adenoma — a benign tumor arising from the layer of cells supporting the retina — occurring simultaneously with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), an inherited condition that progressively destroys vision. A 77-year-old man presented with two months of worsening vision in his right eye, where imaging revealed a yellowish-white retinal mass accompanied by retinal detachment extending to the central retina. The patient underwent combined cataract surgery and vitrectomy, and diagnosis was confirmed through clinical, imaging, and tissue analysis including immunohistochemical markers. Over three months of follow-up, his vision remained stable and the retina stayed attached following silicone oil removal. This case is significant because nonpigmented RPE adenoma closely resembles choroidal melanoma — a dangerous eye cancer — making accurate diagnosis critical to avoid unnecessary or harmful treatment. The authors emphasize that patients with hereditary retinal diseases like RP who develop unusual retinal masses should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team combining clinical, imaging, and pathological expertise to prevent misdiagnosis.
American journal of ophthalmology case reports
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