Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Prognostic, chemotherapy and immunotherapy roles of GPR37/GPR37L1 in pan-cancer.
Zhu G, et al
Researchers conducted the first systematic pan-cancer study examining two closely related G protein-coupled receptors, GPR37 and GPR37L1, to determine their value as biomarkers across a wide range of cancer types. Using transcriptomic, genomic, pharmacogenomic, and clinical datasets, the team found that both receptors show genetic alterations in roughly 10% of cases and that their abnormal expression levels are linked to patient survival outcomes in cancers including breast cancer, lower-grade gliomas, and lung adenocarcinoma. Importantly, the study revealed that higher expression of either receptor was associated with reduced sensitivity to 21 common chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin and gemcitabine in lung adenocarcinoma, suggesting these receptors could help predict which patients may respond poorly to standard treatments. Analysis of melanoma patients receiving immunotherapy showed that high GPR37 or GPR37L1 expression correlated with worse overall survival, supported by immune cell infiltration and chemokine data. Additionally, laboratory experiments demonstrated that the proposed activating molecule TX14A does not appear to trigger these receptors through known signaling pathways, highlighting the need for further research into their biology. These findings position GPR37 and GPR37L1 as promising candidate biomarkers for risk stratification and for guiding personalized chemotherapy and immunotherapy decisions in oncology.
Medicine
Source →Regulatory BC200 RNA promotes breast carcinogenesis by repressing BRCA1 gene expression.
Berardi V, et al
Researchers investigated how BC200 RNA, a regulatory molecule normally found only in nerve cells, contributes to breast cancer development. The study found that when BC200 RNA is abnormally expressed in breast epithelial cells, it suppresses the production of the BRCA1 protein—a key tumor suppressor—by blocking the translation of BRCA1 messenger RNA. This reduction in BRCA1 protein leads to increased DNA damage and triggers malignant transformation of breast cells. Importantly, tumor innervation, meaning nerve fibers growing into tumors, was shown to stimulate BC200 RNA expression, revealing an unexpected role of the nervous system in promoting cancer. When BC200 RNA was silenced using RNA interference technology, the cells reverted to a normal, non-malignant state, suggesting that targeting BC200 RNA could be a promising new strategy for breast cancer therapy.
iScience
Source →Unfused Crossed Renal Ectopia With Aberrant Vasculature: A Case Report.
Ferguson AJ, et al
A new case report published in Case Reports in Urology describes an 80-year-old man with bladder cancer who was found to have a rare congenital kidney abnormality called unfused crossed renal ectopia, previously misidentified as an absent left kidney. The patient initially presented with visible blood in his urine and was diagnosed with muscle-invasive bladder cancer; a CT-urogram performed after cystoscopy revealed that his left kidney had actually migrated to the right side of the body during fetal development and remained unfused, with its ureter crossing the midline to connect normally to the bladder. Unfused crossed renal ectopia results from abnormal migration of embryonic kidney tissue and is extremely rare, usually causing no symptoms and most often discovered by chance. The case highlights a critical clinical warning: the blood supply to such ectopic kidneys follows an unpredictable, aberrant pattern, meaning surgeons and radiation oncologists must carefully map the vasculature before performing surgery or radiotherapy to avoid life-threatening complications. This report serves as an important reminder that congenital anatomical variants can be misdiagnosed on routine imaging, and thorough pre-treatment evaluation is essential for patient safety.
Case reports in urology
Source →Augmented-reality-assisted minimally invasive quad-rod spinopelvic fixation for spinopelvic dissociation caused by pathological fracture due to extramedullary plasmacytoma: an evaluation of technique and its benefits.
Kumar R, et al
Researchers report a novel surgical case in which augmented reality (AR) navigation was used to guide a complex minimally invasive spinal stabilization procedure in a patient whose pelvis and lower spine were destabilized by a pathological fracture caused by extramedullary plasmacytoma, a rare plasma cell tumor. The AR system provided real-time three-dimensional visualization to assist in the precise placement of pedicle screws at the L4 and L5 vertebrae as well as bilateral iliac screws, forming a four-rod construct to restore spinopelvic stability. The procedure was completed without complications, and the fixation remained stable at the patient's most recent follow-up visit. This is the first reported use of AR guidance for a dual-iliac quad-rod spinopelvic construct in the setting of spinopelvic dissociation. The findings suggest that AR navigation can enhance the accuracy and efficiency of technically demanding minimally invasive spinal surgery, potentially reducing risks for patients with complex spinal pathology caused by tumors or other destructive lesions.
Acta neurochirurgica
Source →Pituitary dysfunction in childhood after [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE therapy.
van Wessel K, et al
Researchers report the first documented case of pituitary dysfunction in a child following treatment with [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE, a targeted radioactive therapy used for refractory neuroblastoma. The patient developed growth hormone deficiency and central hypothyroidism after receiving the treatment, conditions that impair normal growth and thyroid function. Scientists hypothesize that the radioactive drug binds to somatostatin receptors present in the pituitary gland, causing radiation damage to this critical hormone-regulating structure. Until now, no endocrine side effects had been reported from [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE in pediatric patients, making this finding an important new safety signal. The authors urge that children who receive this therapy should be routinely screened for pituitary dysfunction, especially if [177Lu]Lu-DOTATATE moves toward earlier use in treatment protocols for neuroblastoma.
Journal of pediatric endocrinology & metabolism : JPEM
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