Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Atypical placental site nodules: A retrospective case series.
Parker VL, et al
Researchers at the Sheffield Trophoblastic Disease Centre conducted a retrospective review of 22 cases of atypical placental site nodule (APSN) diagnosed between 2000 and 2023, a rare condition involving remnants of trophoblast tissue from a previous pregnancy that may progress to a form of uterine cancer. The study examined how patients were managed, either through surgical removal of the uterus or conservative monitoring, and whether any developed gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), a rare but serious malignancy. Importantly, none of the 22 patients developed cancer during the study period, a finding that contrasts with previously published data suggesting an 11 to 14 percent risk of malignant transformation associated with APSN. Among patients initially managed conservatively, the majority indicated willingness to undergo hysterectomy based on current evidence or clinical advice, highlighting the difficult decisions faced by often young, fertility-conscious women. The authors conclude that the true risk of malignant progression remains uncertain and call for international consensus guidelines on how best to advise, treat, and monitor patients with this diagnosis.
Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica
Source →Penile involvement associated with renal pelvic squamous cell carcinoma: a case report and mechanistic considerations.
Masaki K, et al
Researchers report the first known case of penile metastasis originating from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the renal pelvis, an already rare cancer accounting for less than 1% of upper urinary tract tumors. A 74-year-old man developed a firm nodule on his penis, and imaging revealed a large left renal pelvic tumor along with spread to the liver and lymph nodes near the kidney. Tissue samples from both the renal and penile lesions showed identical keratinizing SCC, and specialized protein staining confirmed the penile tumor was not a primary cancer but rather a metastasis from the renal pelvis. Notably, the spread occurred without involvement of nearby pelvic or groin lymph nodes, suggesting the cancer traveled through the bloodstream via a retrograde venous route rather than through the lymphatic system. This case highlights the importance of considering metastatic disease when patients with known upper urinary tract cancers develop new penile lesions, potentially preventing misdiagnosis as a primary penile cancer. Clinicians should be aware of this rare but possible dissemination pattern when managing advanced renal pelvic malignancies.
Frontiers in oncology
Source →Underrated, Unvaccinated, Untreated: A Multinational Registry Analysis of Human Metapneumovirus in Hematological Malignancy, Insights From EPICOVIDEHA/EPIRESEHA Registry.
Salmanton-García J, et al
Researchers conducted a multinational retrospective study using the EPICOVIDEHA/EPIRESEHA registry to evaluate the clinical impact of human metapneumovirus (hMPV) in 130 patients with hematological malignancies diagnosed between January 2023 and December 2024. The findings revealed that hMPV caused serious disease in this vulnerable population, with 64% requiring hospitalization, 19% admitted to the intensive care unit, and an 8% mortality rate within 30 days, while 73% of patients received only supportive care due to the absence of approved antiviral treatments or vaccines. When compared to matched cohorts of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 patients, hMPV produced comparable severity and mortality outcomes, yet patients with hMPV received significantly fewer targeted medical interventions, highlighting a critical treatment gap. Chronic kidney disease was identified as a major risk factor, increasing mortality risk more than twentyfold, and secondary infections occurred in nearly one in four patients. The study concludes that hMPV is a seriously underrecognized and undertreated respiratory pathogen in blood cancer patients, and calls for greater clinical awareness, improved diagnostic tools, and urgent investment in vaccines and antiviral therapies.
Open forum infectious diseases
Source →[¹¹C]Methionine PET uptake kinetics in corticotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumors.
Flaus A, et al
Researchers investigated the uptake kinetics of [¹¹C]Methionine PET imaging in patients with corticotroph pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs), the type of tumor responsible for Cushing's disease, a serious hormonal disorder. Current PET imaging protocols capture images 20–40 minutes after tracer injection, but this study analyzed how the tracer is absorbed over time in both tumors and normal pituitary tissue in 15 confirmed cases. The study found that tumors showed significantly higher early uptake slope and peak uptake compared to normal pituitary gland, with strong discriminative performance indicated by area-under-the-curve values of 0.78 and 0.86 respectively. Importantly, these kinetic parameters were able to distinguish tumor from normal tissue even in cases where standard static imaging may be inconclusive. These findings suggest that analyzing the dynamic, time-resolved pattern of tracer uptake—rather than relying solely on a single late image—could improve diagnostic accuracy for corticotroph PitNETs. For clinicians, incorporating early kinetic analysis into routine PET protocols may help resolve ambiguous cases and ultimately guide more timely and accurate surgical planning for Cushing's disease patients.
Scientific reports
Source →Metastatic Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma in Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B (MEN 2B) With RET M918T Mutation: Challenges in Long-Term Management and Targeted Therapy.
Rahman Z, et al
This case report from Cureus describes the long-term management of a 25-year-old woman with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2B (MEN2B), a rare hereditary syndrome driven by the RET M918T genetic mutation, who presented with metastatic medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) spreading to lymph nodes, lungs, and adrenal glands. After total thyroidectomy and neck dissection, she later developed bilateral pheochromocytomas — adrenal tumors also linked to MEN2B — which were managed with adrenal-sparing surgery. The targeted therapy selpercatinib, a selective RET inhibitor, was initiated for progressive metastatic disease but was complicated by gastrointestinal side effects, dose adjustments, and critical treatment interruptions caused by funding gaps and follow-up difficulties, ultimately leading to disease recurrence in multiple organs. Upon restarting selpercatinib at a reduced dose, the patient achieved disease stabilization and continues on therapy with close monitoring. This case highlights that the RET M918T mutation drives an unusually aggressive cancer course, and that maintaining uninterrupted access to targeted therapy is essential, as treatment gaps can directly result in disease progression and new metastases.
Cureus
Source →