Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Diplopia and bilateral optic disc swelling as the initial presentation of B-lymphoblastic lymphoma: a case report.
Chang C, et al
Researchers report a rare case of B-lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LBL), an aggressive blood cancer, in a 21-year-old man whose disease initially mimicked a primary brain tumor. The patient had a year-long history of headaches treated as migraines before developing double vision, prompting an ophthalmological evaluation that revealed swelling of both optic discs, eye protrusion, and bleeding around the optic nerves. Brain imaging uncovered a large 9-centimeter mass near the skull base and orbit causing dangerous pressure on the brain, while further workup including bone marrow biopsy, PET scan, and genetic testing confirmed B-LBL with the Philadelphia chromosome and widespread disease involving the spine and shoulder blade. Treatment was promptly initiated with dasatinib combined with the HyperCVAD chemotherapy regimen. This case highlights that unexplained chronic headaches accompanied by double vision should trigger a thorough eye examination and neuroimaging, as these seemingly neurological symptoms may be the first sign of a systemic blood cancer requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment.
Frontiers in oncology
Source →Nasal Reconstruction After Skin Cancer Excision: Clinical and Patient-Reported Outcomes from a Retrospective Study.
Battaglia F, et al
A retrospective study from the University Hospital in Messina, Italy, examined clinical and patient-reported outcomes in 60 patients who underwent nasal reconstruction following non-melanoma skin cancer removal between 2019 and 2022. Basal cell carcinoma was the most common diagnosis, and local flaps were the predominant reconstructive technique, used in 42% of cases. The study found no confirmed cancer recurrences in the flap-reconstructed subgroup, while recurrences occurred in patients treated with other methods; postoperative complications were generally rare, though one fatal infectious event was recorded in a high-risk patient. A specially adapted patient questionnaire showed strong internal consistency, revealing that the vast majority of patients experienced no functional issues such as nasal obstruction, and 63% reported satisfactory or very satisfactory aesthetic results. Notably, 38% of patients believed their cancer had returned, far exceeding the confirmed recurrence rate of 15%, highlighting a significant burden of cancer-related anxiety. These findings support flap-based reconstruction as a favorable approach for nasal skin cancer and underscore the importance of addressing patient psychological concerns through better oncologic counseling.
Journal of clinical medicine
Source →HAT1 Regulates Intestinal Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation.
Nagarajan P, et al
Researchers investigated the role of HAT1, a histone acetyltransferase enzyme, in regulating intestinal stem cells (ISCs) — the specialized cells responsible for continuously renewing the lining of the intestine. By generating mice with an inducible deletion of the HAT1 gene in intestinal epithelial cells, scientists discovered that loss of HAT1 causes significant structural and functional abnormalities, including elongated intestinal crypts, excessive stem cell proliferation, increased goblet cell numbers, and misplacement of Paneth cells. At the molecular level, HAT1 was found to control the acetylation of histone H4 at lysine 5 (H4K5ac), particularly within lamina-associated domains (LADs) of the genome, and its absence leads to increased repressive chromatin marks that alter gene regulation in stem cells. Studies using laboratory-grown intestinal organoids confirmed that HAT1 is essential for proper differentiation and for maintaining Lgr5-positive stem cell populations. These findings are significant because dysregulation of intestinal stem cell behavior is closely linked to conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer, suggesting that HAT1 could be a potential therapeutic target in these diseases.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Source →Insights Into Rectal Cancer Immunology.
Manenti A, et al
A new publication in the journal Diseases of the Colon and Rectum explores the immunological landscape of rectal cancer, examining how the immune system interacts with tumor cells in this common gastrointestinal malignancy. The study provides a comprehensive overview of the key immune cell populations, signaling pathways, and mechanisms that shape the tumor microenvironment in rectal cancer. Understanding these immunological dynamics is increasingly important as immunotherapy options, such as checkpoint inhibitors, become part of the treatment landscape for select rectal cancer patients. These insights may help clinicians better identify which patients are most likely to respond to immune-based therapies and guide the development of novel treatment strategies aimed at improving outcomes for those diagnosed with rectal cancer.
Diseases of the colon and rectum
Source →Can knowledge-based autoplanning keep up with advances in radiotherapy optimization for oropharyngeal cancer?
Panettieri V, et al
Researchers investigated whether an existing knowledge-based automated treatment planning model (RapidPlan, trained on standard VMAT radiotherapy plans) could be reliably applied to a novel radiotherapy delivery technique called RapidArc Dynamic (RAD) for patients with oropharyngeal cancer. The study involved 48 oropharyngeal cancer patients for whom four different treatment plan combinations were generated, comparing standard VMAT and the new RAD technique each optimized with either a VMAT-based or a RAD-specific automated planning model. Results showed that even when RAD plans were optimized using the older VMAT-based model, they performed at least as well as standard VMAT plans, confirming it is safe to introduce the new technique before RAD-specific models are available. When the RAD-specific model was used, significant improvements in sparing healthy tissues were observed, including reductions in average radiation dose to the larynx and constrictor muscle by 4.8 Gy and 3.5 Gy respectively, along with meaningful reductions in the estimated risk of swallowing difficulties and acute mucositis. These findings suggest that RAD offers a promising advance in radiation treatment for throat cancers by better protecting critical structures involved in swallowing and speech, which directly impacts patient quality of life.
Frontiers in oncology
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