Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Mortality Trends in Cancer of Unknown Primary Site in Serbia, 1990-2024: A Joinpoint Regression and Age-Period-Cohort Analysis.
Ilic I, et al
A new population-based study published in Epidemiologia examined mortality trends from cancer of unknown primary site (CUP) in Serbia over a 35-year period from 1990 to 2024. Researchers analyzed data from 26,597 registered CUP deaths using joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort methods to identify how mortality rates changed across different age groups, time periods, and birth cohorts. Overall age-standardized mortality rates remained relatively stable for both men and women, but a concerning divergence was found between age groups: mortality declined in people under 55 years of age while it increased among those aged 55 and older. The age-period-cohort analysis revealed significant period and cohort effects influencing mortality patterns, particularly in men. These findings highlight that CUP remains an unresolved public health challenge in Serbia, especially for elderly patients, and underscore the need for improved diagnostic tools and healthcare strategies targeting older populations.
Epidemiologia (Basel, Switzerland)
Source →Atypical, Clinically Silent, Locally Advanced Pheochromocytoma Revealing Von Hippel-Lindau Type 2C Phenotype: A Case Report.
Eddebbarh Z, et al
Researchers report a rare case of a clinically silent, locally advanced pheochromocytoma — a tumor of the adrenal gland — in a 60-year-old man who initially sought care for persistent lower back pain. Unlike typical pheochromocytomas, which cause high blood pressure and hormonal symptoms, this large 80×76 mm tumor showed no classical signs, with normal urinary hormone markers, making it especially difficult to diagnose. Advanced imaging, biopsy, and genetic testing ultimately confirmed the diagnosis and revealed a pathogenic mutation in the VHL gene, identifying the patient as having Von Hippel-Lindau type 2C syndrome, a hereditary condition that predisposes individuals to certain tumors. Importantly, screening for other VHL-associated lesions was negative, suggesting this was an isolated manifestation of the syndrome. This case underscores that pheochromocytomas can be biochemically silent and that genetic testing is essential in atypical adrenal tumors, as identifying a hereditary cause has significant implications for patient management and family screening.
Cureus
Source →Real-world comparison of BTK inhibitors and lenalidomide as first-line maintenance in primary CNS lymphoma: a multi-center retrospective study.
Chang X, et al
A new multi-center retrospective study published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology compared two maintenance therapy approaches for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), a rare and aggressive brain cancer, in 71 patients who had achieved remission after initial treatment. Researchers found that patients receiving BTK inhibitors (BTKi) as maintenance therapy had dramatically better progression-free survival compared to those receiving lenalidomide, with a 6-year progression-free survival rate of 91.3% versus 41.5%, respectively. BTKi maintenance was confirmed as an independent protective factor in statistical modeling, reducing the risk of disease progression by approximately 78% compared to lenalidomide. Notably, even patients who relapsed on lenalidomide and subsequently switched to BTKi-based regimens achieved a meaningful median second-line progression-free survival of 20.5 months, highlighting the versatility of this drug class. Although overall survival was similar between groups—likely due to successful salvage with BTKi after lenalidomide failure—these findings suggest that BTKi should be considered the preferred first-line maintenance strategy for PCNSL patients in remission, pending confirmation through prospective clinical trials.
Journal of neuro-oncology
Source →Time-Dependent Diffusion MRI for Prediction of Molecular Subtypes in Adult-Type Diffuse Gliomas.
Zhang X, et al
Researchers prospectively studied 174 adult patients with diffuse glioma to determine whether a specialized MRI technique called time-dependent diffusion MRI (Td-dMRI) could non-invasively predict two key molecular markers — IDH mutation status and 1p/19q codeletion — that are critical for diagnosing and classifying brain tumors. The study found that Td-dMRI parameters reflecting tumor cell size (Diameter), intracellular volume fraction (Vin), and cellularity clearly differed between IDH wild-type and IDH mutant gliomas, with Vin achieving an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.851, outperforming conventional diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). When combining Diameter, Vin, and Cellularity to distinguish 1p/19q codeleted from non-codeleted tumors among IDH-mutant gliomas, the model reached an impressive AUC of 0.908, whereas standard DWI failed entirely to differentiate these subtypes. The Td-dMRI-derived measurements also correlated strongly with actual pathological tissue measurements (r = 0.78–0.79), validating their biological accuracy. These findings are clinically significant because IDH and 1p/19q status currently require invasive surgical biopsy to determine, and Td-dMRI offers a promising non-invasive pre-surgical alternative that could guide treatment planning and improve patient outcomes.
Academic radiology
Source →Multifactorial Approach for Depression in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2A (MEN2A): A Case Report.
Sharma V, et al
Researchers published the first known case report explicitly linking Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia 2A (MEN2A) — a rare hereditary condition involving medullary thyroid cancer, parathyroid tumors, and adrenaline-secreting adrenal tumors — to depression with intergenerational psychosocial dimensions. A 21-year-old male with a family history of both MEN2A and depression presented with depression, psychosis, and suicidal ideation, prompting a systematic evaluation of potential hormonal versus psychiatric causes. After clinicians methodically ruled out endocrine contributors such as thyroid hormone imbalance, hypercalcemia from parathyroid disease, and excess catecholamines from pheochromocytoma, the depression was attributed to a psychiatric etiology and successfully treated with sertraline, risperidone, and psychotherapy. The case illustrates how MEN2A can predispose patients to depression through multiple simultaneous biological pathways — including hormonal dysregulation following prophylactic thyroidectomy — as well as through inherited psychosocial stress and possible genetic anticipation across generations. The authors stress that clinicians treating MEN2A patients who present with psychiatric symptoms must conduct a thorough multidisciplinary workup before initiating psychiatric treatment, ensuring that treatable endocrine causes are not overlooked. This report advocates for holistic, team-based management strategies and calls for future research into genetic and psychosocial risk factors for depression in MEN2A families.
Innovations in clinical neuroscience
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