Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Primary Vaginal Melanoma.
Persy H, et al
This publication focuses on primary vaginal melanoma, an exceptionally rare and aggressive gynecological malignancy that arises from melanocytes in the vaginal mucosa. Because the abstract was not provided, the summary is based on the known clinical context of this disease, which accounts for less than 3% of all vaginal cancers and carries a markedly poor prognosis. Primary vaginal melanoma typically presents at an advanced stage due to the absence of specific early symptoms, making timely diagnosis challenging for clinicians. Treatment has historically relied on surgery, but emerging data suggest that targeted therapies and immunotherapy may offer new hope for affected patients. Awareness of this rare entity is critical for gynecologic oncologists and pathologists to ensure accurate diagnosis and optimal management.
International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society
Source →The Cell Surface Proteome of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors Reveals Therapeutic Targets.
Stehn CM, et al
Researchers used cell-surface capture technology combined with mass spectrometry to comprehensively map the proteins present on the outer surface of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) cells, a rare and deadly cancer that is the leading cause of death in patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). The study focused on understanding how loss of a gene-silencing complex called PRC2 — a hallmark of MPNST development — reshapes the cell surface proteome, revealing which proteins become abnormally activated and potentially targetable by drugs. Scientists compiled an MPNST cell-surface protein compendium and prioritized targets that are highly expressed in these tumors and already have FDA-approved therapies available. Pre-clinical testing of antibody-drug conjugates — precision weapons that deliver toxic payloads directly to cancer cells — identified PTK7 as a novel and promising therapeutic target capable of reducing MPNST cell viability. These findings address a critical knowledge gap in MPNST biology and offer new avenues for targeted treatment of a cancer that currently lacks effective therapies. The dataset also serves as a public resource for researchers working to develop new molecular therapies for this devastating disease.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Source →Advanced models of lobular breast cancer metastasis capture clinical organ tropism, endocrine response, and bone remodeling.
Sottnik JL, et al
Researchers developed new laboratory models to study how invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), a distinct and particularly dangerous form of breast cancer, spreads to distant organs. By supplementing mice with low-dose estradiol in a specialized mammary implantation model, the team achieved spontaneous cancer spread to multiple organs — including sites uniquely affected in ILC patients, such as the abdomen, brain lining, and bones — without requiring surgical removal of the primary tumor. The scientists isolated 13 derivative cancer cell lines from seven metastatic sites, finding shared changes in metabolism and cell signaling genes across all variants, with bone-derived lines retaining the ability to colonize multiple organs and showing the characteristic mixed bone-destroying and bone-forming lesions seen in ILC patients. Importantly, both primary and metastatic tumors remained responsive to hormone-blocking therapies throughout, enabling researchers to test new treatment combinations in a realistic, disseminated-disease setting. These models represent a significant advance for the field, as very few preclinical tools previously existed to capture the unique biology of metastatic lobular breast cancer and its distinctive patterns of spread and bone involvement.
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
Source →A multimodal neoadjuvant strategy incorporating PDT, RFA, and ICIs results in a notable pathological response and preservation of the sphincter in microsatellite stable low rectal cancer: A highly distinctive case report and literature review.
Li Y, et al
Researchers report a remarkable case of locally advanced low rectal cancer that is microsatellite stable (MSS), a subtype known to respond poorly to immunotherapy due to its suppressed immune environment and low number of tumor mutations. The patient was treated with a novel combination regimen that sequentially integrated photodynamic therapy (PDT) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) — two techniques that destroy tumor tissue and stimulate immune recognition — alongside immune checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. This multimodal neoadjuvant approach, given before surgery, achieved a near-complete pathological response classified as Tumor Regression Grade 1, meaning almost all cancer cells were eliminated. Crucially, despite the tumor being located less than 5 centimeters from the anal opening, surgeons were able to perform sphincter-preserving surgery, sparing the patient from a permanent colostomy and protecting quality of life. The treatment was well tolerated with no severe side effects. This case suggests that locally ablative therapies like PDT and RFA may sensitize MSS rectal cancers to immunotherapy by releasing tumor antigens, opening a promising new avenue for organ-preserving treatment in this difficult-to-treat patient group.
Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy
Source →Pd-L1 Expression in Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinomas.
Nalwa A, et al
Researchers in India investigated the expression of PD-L1, a protein that helps cancer cells evade the immune system, in 188 patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma, while also examining its relationship with the human papillomavirus (HPV) marker p16. Using immunohistochemistry on surgically removed tumor specimens, they found that PD-L1 was expressed in 86.1% of all cases, with strong expression (Combined Positive Score ≥ 20) detected in 67% of patients. A statistically significant association was identified between high PD-L1 expression and advanced tumor stages (T2–T4), while no meaningful link was found between PD-L1 expression and HPV status, lymph node involvement, or tumor grade. Notably, high PD-L1 expression was observed in more than 80% of cases regardless of HPV status, a finding that distinguishes this Indian cohort from Western populations where HPV-driven tumors dominate oral cancer profiles. These results suggest that PD-L1 inhibitor-based immunotherapy could be a broadly applicable and effective treatment strategy for oral cancer patients in India, particularly those presenting with advanced-stage disease.
Indian journal of surgical oncology
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