Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Safe Proton Beam Re-irradiation With a Bioabsorbable Spacer in Pancreatic Cancer: A Case Report.
Shiba S, et al
Researchers report a successful case of repeat proton beam therapy (PBT) for a 77-year-old woman with recurrent pancreatic body cancer that had returned near the stomach after an initial course of radiation treatment. To protect the stomach and other gastrointestinal organs from excessive cumulative radiation doses, clinicians placed a bioabsorbable polyglycolic acid (PGA) spacer—approximately one centimeter thick—between the pancreas and the stomach before delivering the second full course of 67.5 Gy in 25 fractions. The effectiveness of the spacer in physically blocking the proton beam was confirmed using a novel imaging technique called auto-activation positron emission tomography (AAPET-CT), which showed radiation activity was concentrated in the tumor target and not in the adjacent stomach. Maximum radiation doses to the stomach and duodenum were kept well below dangerous thresholds at 16.1 Gy and 16.7 Gy respectively, and three months after treatment the tumor site remained controlled with no serious side effects observed. This case demonstrates that bioabsorbable spacers combined with proton beam therapy may offer a viable and safe strategy for re-irradiating pancreatic cancers that recur close to vulnerable digestive organs, a clinical scenario previously considered very difficult to manage.
International journal of particle therapy
Source →Anti-Hu paraneoplastic syndrome with gastrointestinal dysmotility associated with nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and small bowel adenocarcinoma.
Chen JN, et al
Researchers report a rare case of anti-Hu paraneoplastic syndrome in a man in his mid-60s who had both metastatic small bowel adenocarcinoma and nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The patient developed confusion, hallucinations, severe difficulty swallowing, and progressive leg weakness, with blood and spinal fluid tests confirming the presence of anti-Hu (ANNA-1) antibodies responsible for the neurological damage. Anti-Hu paraneoplastic syndrome is typically linked to small cell lung cancer, making this dual-cancer case an exceptionally rare presentation that broadens the known spectrum of cancers associated with this antibody. Despite aggressive treatment with high-dose corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, the patient's neurological deficits did not improve and he died within two months. This case underscores the importance of testing for paraneoplastic antibodies in cancer patients who develop unexplained neurological decline or swallowing difficulties, as early recognition may allow for faster intervention. Clinicians should be aware that anti-Hu syndrome can occur with gastrointestinal and head-and-neck cancers, not only lung cancer.
BMJ case reports
Source →Rib-Origin Ewing Sarcoma With Cranial Nerve Involvement From Orbital Metastasis: A Rare Case Report.
Khan MN, et al
This case report describes an exceptionally rare presentation of Ewing sarcoma (ES) in a 23-year-old South Asian male, in which a rib-origin tumor metastasized to the orbit and caused involvement of multiple cranial nerves, including the optic and oculomotor nerves. The patient presented with progressive shortness of breath, a large left-sided chest mass, and eye symptoms including proptosis and double vision, with CT and MRI imaging confirming both a pleura-extending rib mass and an orbital tumor compressing the optic nerve. A critical diagnostic challenge arose because pleural fluid analysis mimicked tuberculosis, but CT-guided biopsy with immunohistochemistry — positive for CD99 and NKX2.2, and showing a high Ki-67 proliferation index — confirmed the diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma. Despite initiation of multimodal chemotherapy, the patient succumbed to rapid disease progression and respiratory failure within two months of diagnosis. This case highlights that orbital metastasis with cranial nerve involvement, while exceedingly rare in ES, should be considered in young patients presenting with combined thoracic and ocular symptoms. The authors stress that early recognition, aggressive treatment, and use of immunohistochemistry — particularly in resource-limited settings — are essential to improving survival in this highly aggressive malignancy.
Clinical case reports
Source →BRAF Mutations in Myeloid Neoplasms: Prevalence, Co-Mutation Landscape, and Clinical Outcomes-A Comprehensive Review.
Mohamed SF, et al
Researchers conducted a comprehensive review of published literature through 2025 to characterize the prevalence, genetic context, and clinical significance of BRAF mutations across the full spectrum of myeloid blood cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms, and overlap conditions. BRAF mutations were found to be rare, occurring in less than 1% of unselected myeloid neoplasm cases, with the highest rates observed in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and therapy-related or secondary acute myeloid leukemia. These mutations typically arose alongside other genetic alterations in genes such as ASXL1, TET2, DNMT3A, and RAS-pathway components, suggesting they represent late events in cancer evolution rather than primary drivers. Clinical outcomes varied by disease type, with acute myeloid leukemia patients showing particularly poor survival measured in months, while patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or chronic myelomonocytic leukemia fared somewhat better. Targeted therapies aimed at blocking the BRAF-MAPK signaling pathway produced responses in some patients but rarely achieved lasting molecular remission. The authors conclude that prospective clinical studies are urgently needed to determine how best to incorporate BRAF-targeted treatments into the management of these rare but challenging cases.
Biomedicines
Source →Characterization of an NADPH-dependent 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase from a urinary tract bacterial isolate.
Binion B, et al
Researchers have characterized a bacterial enzyme called DesG, a 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSDH), isolated from Propionimicrobium lymphophilum, a bacterium found in the human urinary tract. This enzyme, which depends on the cofactor NADPH, is capable of converting androstenedione into testosterone and vice versa, revealing that urinary tract bacteria may actively participate in local androgen metabolism. The study performed detailed kinetic analyses and tested the enzyme against a broad panel of steroid substrates, providing a comprehensive picture of its biochemical capabilities and substrate preferences. These findings are significant because androgens such as testosterone are known drivers of hormone-sensitive cancers including prostate, breast, lung, and ovarian cancers, and understanding microbial contributions to androgen levels could open new avenues for disease prevention and treatment. By demonstrating that resident urinary bacteria can produce or modify sex hormones locally, this research highlights the microbiome as a previously underappreciated factor in cancer-related hormone regulation.
The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology
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