Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Female Reproductive Tract Organ-on-Chips: Modeling Barrier Function and Drug Transport.
Zhou S, et al
Researchers conducted a comprehensive review examining organ-on-chip (OoC) microfluidic technology as a next-generation platform for studying drug transport and barrier function across the female reproductive tract (FRT), including the vagina, cervix, endometrium, and placenta. The review highlights that traditional laboratory cell cultures and animal models are inadequate for capturing the full physiological complexity of the FRT, which involves layered mucosal tissues, mucus barriers, hormonal cycles, and microbiome interactions. Advanced OoC platforms integrate living human cells with precisely controlled fluid flow to recreate these dynamic biological environments, enabling more realistic modeling of infection, drug permeation, hormonal responses, and the maternal-fetal interface. The authors identify key design principles for building FRT-on-chip models and outline future directions including immune system integration, vascularization, and multi-organ systems that simulate communication between reproductive organs. These advances are particularly significant for gynecological cancer research and maternal health, areas historically underfunded and underrepresented in drug development. Ultimately, FRT-on-chip platforms hold promise as powerful preclinical tools for drug screening, safety testing, and the development of personalized therapies for women's reproductive health conditions.
Pharmaceutics
Source →Stratified Mucin-Producing Lesions of the Anal Canal: Expanding the Spectrum of a Newly Recognized Entity.
Chen F, et al
Researchers from a multi-year study (2013–2024) investigated a rare and newly recognized type of precancerous and cancerous lesion called stratified mucin-producing intraepithelial lesion (SMILE) and invasive stratified mucin-producing carcinoma (ISMC) occurring in the anorectal canal, a site where these entities have only recently been described. The study identified four cases in which SMILE or ISMC was found alongside other cancers of the anal canal, including conventional adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenosquamous carcinoma. Under the microscope, these lesions showed characteristic features such as mucin within cells, abnormal cell layering, and inflammation, and the majority tested positive for p16, a marker strongly linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, with two cases confirmed positive for HPV 16/18. All four patients were alive at follow-up, but one developed a separate HPV-driven invasive cancer nearby just four months after initial treatment, highlighting a potential risk of additional disease. The findings suggest that SMILE in the anorectal canal may serve as a warning sign of more aggressive cancer, much like its counterpart in the uterine cervix, and that pathologists must carefully examine these lesions for accurate diagnosis and that closer patient follow-up may be warranted.
Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
Source →Case Report: Primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra-imaging features and literature review.
Yang L, et al
Researchers report a rare case of primary clear cell adenocarcinoma of the urethra (PCCAU) in a 58-year-old woman who presented with voiding dysfunction and blood in the urine, highlighting the diagnostic challenges posed by this extremely uncommon malignancy. Prior to surgery, the tumor was evaluated using ultrasound, CT, and MRI, with multimodal MRI proving most informative by revealing a periurethral mass with restricted water diffusion, heterogeneous contrast enhancement, and a low-signal capsule on T2-weighted imaging. After surgical removal, pathological and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the diagnosis of PCCAU, with markers including PAX8, P504S, and AE1/AE3 positivity helping to characterize the tumor's origin and behavior. Seven months after surgery, the patient developed lymph node and abdominal wall metastases and was treated with the immunotherapy drug toripalimab, remaining alive at the one-year follow-up. This case underscores that early surgical intervention is critical for better outcomes, and that immunotherapy may offer a viable option for patients with advanced or recurrent disease. For clinicians, the findings emphasize the indispensable role of multimodal MRI combined with histopathology in achieving accurate preoperative diagnosis of this rare urethral cancer.
Frontiers in oncology
Source →Right ureterovesical junction cyst associated with ipsilateral renal agenesis: a case report of a possible Wolffian duct maldevelopment.
Liu J, et al
Researchers report an extremely rare case of a right ureterovesical junction cyst occurring together with the complete absence of the right kidney (renal agenesis) in a 35-year-old man who presented with a one-year history of worsening difficulty urinating. Advanced CT imaging revealed a cystic swelling at the point where the right ureter meets the bladder, along with a twisted and partially closed proximal ureter, while the left kidney and ureter were entirely normal. The patient was successfully treated with a minimally invasive laparoscopic removal of the right ureter combined with a bladder examination through the urethra and placement of a protective stent in the left ureter. Tissue analysis confirmed the cyst was lined by chronically inflamed tissue consistent with a developmental origin. This anomaly is believed to stem from faulty development of the Wolffian duct — the embryonic structure that gives rise to parts of the male urinary and reproductive tracts — and is distinct from the better-known Zinner syndrome, which involves similar duct defects alongside seminal vesicle cysts. Clinicians are urged to recognize such atypical presentations to avoid misdiagnosis and to choose the most appropriate surgical strategy.
Frontiers in medicine
Source →Keratin-Positive Giant Cell-Rich Tumor in Early Infancy: Metastatic Presentation and Imatinib Response.
Çanakçi C, et al
Researchers report the case of a 1.5-month-old male infant diagnosed with keratin-positive giant cell-rich tumor (KPGCT), an exceptionally rare bone and soft tissue cancer, presenting with widespread metastatic disease affecting the skull, adrenal glands, vertebrae, mandible, soft tissue, and long bones. KPGCT is so uncommon in pediatric patients and at a metastatic stage that this case represents a significant expansion of the known clinical spectrum of the disease. Molecular testing did not detect the HMGA2::NCOR2 gene fusion typically associated with KPGCT, raising questions about whether this fusion is strictly required for the tumor's development. Despite the absence of this canonical genetic marker, treatment with imatinib, a targeted therapy drug, led to marked regression of tumors and clear clinical improvement with no notable toxicity. This case suggests that imatinib may be a viable and safe treatment option for infants with advanced KPGCT, even when the characteristic genetic fusion is absent, offering important guidance for clinicians managing this rare diagnosis.
Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology
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