Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Early Safety of Ultra-Hypofractionated Whole Breast Irradiation and Sequential Tumor Bed Boost for Early Breast Cancer (SHIFT): A Multicenter, Phase 2 Trial.
Zheng S, et al
A multicenter phase 2 clinical trial called SHIFT evaluated an ultra-hypofractionated radiation therapy regimen for early-stage breast cancer patients following breast-conserving surgery, delivering the entire course of whole breast irradiation plus a tumor bed boost in just 1.5 weeks across four hospitals in China. The study enrolled 217 patients who received 26 Gy in 5 fractions over 5 days, with 209 also receiving a sequential tumor bed boost of 10.4 Gy in 2 additional fractions. Results showed an excellent safety profile: 72.4% of patients experienced only mild (grade 1) acute side effects, just 7.4% had moderate (grade 2) toxicity, no severe reactions were observed, and over 20% of patients reported no toxicity at all during the 6-month follow-up period. Crucially, at a median follow-up of 28.3 months, there were no cases of cancer recurrence, distant metastasis, or death among any of the participants. These findings suggest that compressing the entire radiation treatment course into approximately one and a half weeks is both safe and well-tolerated, potentially offering a more convenient and efficient treatment option for breast cancer patients worldwide.
International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
Source →The Mucosal Cytokine Landscape of Acute Gonorrhea Using a Controlled Human Infection Model.
Motley MP, et al
Researchers used a controlled human infection model to study the immune response in the urinary tract of healthy male volunteers deliberately infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterium responsible for gonorrhea. All 11 participants developed urethritis within two to five days, and urine samples revealed elevated levels of several immune signaling molecules, including IL-1RA, G-CSF, and multiple chemokines such as CXCL10, CCL4, and IL-8, with IL-1RA and CCL4 levels correlating with the severity of white blood cell accumulation in the urine. Notably, the findings differed from a previous challenge study using a different bacterial strain, as this study did not show increases in IL-6, TNF-α, or IL-1β in urine, suggesting that bacterial strain differences or how a clinical case is defined may significantly influence the observed immune response. Blood cytokine levels remained unchanged throughout infection, indicating that the infection stayed localized to the urethra without triggering a broader systemic response. These insights into the local mucosal immune landscape of gonorrhea are valuable for guiding the development of vaccines against this increasingly antibiotic-resistant infection.
medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences
Source →Cushing's disease and negative MRI: a single-center series, systematic literature review, and meta-analysis.
Ghidoni F, et al
Researchers from the University of Brescia conducted a systematic review, meta-analysis, and single-center study examining surgical outcomes in patients with Cushing's disease (CD) whose pituitary MRI scans show no visible tumor. Cushing's disease, caused by excess ACTH hormone secretion from the pituitary gland, is notoriously difficult to treat when standard imaging fails to locate the source. The meta-analysis of 35 studies found that MRI-negative CD patients achieve surgical remission in only about 70% of cases, compared to 82% in patients with MRI-visible tumors, highlighting a significant gap in treatment success. In the institutional series of 21 patients, nearly half of surgical specimens showed ACTH-producing cell hyperplasia rather than a discrete tumor, suggesting this condition may explain why many patients fail to achieve remission. These findings underscore that endoscopic pituitary exploration remains valuable not only as a treatment but also as a diagnostic tool for collecting critical tissue data. The authors advocate for a multicenter prospective study to better understand and manage this challenging subgroup of Cushing's disease patients.
Neurosurgical review
Source →Granular cell tumors of the neurohypophysis with atypical imaging features: a case report and literature review.
Li A, et al
Researchers from China report a rare case of a granular cell tumor (GCT) originating from the neurohypophysis—the posterior pituitary gland—in a 62-year-old woman who presented with visual field defects and dizziness. Brain imaging initially suggested a craniopharyngioma due to the tumor's atypical mixed-signal appearance in the suprasellar region, highlighting the diagnostic challenge these tumors pose. During surgery, the tumor was found compressing the optic chiasm from below and behind, and it was completely resected; postoperative pathology confirmed the diagnosis of neurohypophyseal GCT. The patient recovered without major complications such as diabetes insipidus or electrolyte imbalances, and her vision improved, with no recurrence detected on three-month follow-up MRI. This case underscores the importance of including GCTs in the differential diagnosis of suprasellar masses, as their imaging features can mimic more common tumors, and complete surgical resection remains the most effective treatment approach.
BMC neurology
Source →Atypical Parathyroid Tumor: A Case Report on the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach.
Theofilopoulou S, et al
Researchers present a case report examining the diagnosis and management of an atypical parathyroid tumor, a rare condition that sits between benign parathyroid adenoma and malignant carcinoma on the disease spectrum. A 60-year-old man with a prior history of gastrointestinal stromal tumor was found to have elevated calcium and parathyroid hormone levels during routine follow-up, leading to the discovery of a left inferior parathyroid mass measuring 16 mm. Following surgical removal, histological analysis revealed atypical features including nuclear atypia and increased mitotic activity, but without definitive signs of malignancy such as vascular invasion, confirming the diagnosis of atypical parathyroid adenoma. The patient has shown no signs of recurrence over two and a half years of post-operative surveillance. This case underscores the diagnostic challenge posed by atypical parathyroid tumors and the critical importance of thorough histopathological evaluation combined with long-term follow-up to detect potential recurrence early.
Cureus
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