Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Gene Expression Profiling of SARS-CoV-2 Host Entry Factors in Nasal and Oral Cavities: Evidence from Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.
Al Nemer F, et al
Researchers investigated how SARS-CoV-2 enters the human body by measuring the expression of four key viral entry proteins — ACE2, TMPRSS2, FURIN, and CTSL — across multiple sites in the upper respiratory and oral tracts of 21 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Samples were collected from the nasopharynx, tongue, sublingual area, and saliva, and analyzed using real-time PCR to detect both viral genes and host entry factors. The nasopharynx emerged as the dominant site, showing 100% viral detection, the lowest cycle threshold values (indicating highest viral load), and the highest expression of all four host entry proteins. Saliva demonstrated intermediate sensitivity at roughly 66–71%, while lingual and sublingual samples showed the weakest viral presence and lowest gene expression levels. Strong positive correlations were found between ACE2, TMPRSS2, FURIN, and viral gene levels in nasopharyngeal samples, confirming the central role of these proteins in viral entry and replication at this site. These findings reinforce the diagnostic superiority of nasopharyngeal swabs, clarify the biology of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and point to ACE2, TMPRSS2, and FURIN as promising therapeutic targets for future antiviral strategies.
Current microbiology
Source →REFCOR guidelines for sinus and nasal cavity cancer.
Hassan C, et al
French experts from the REFCOR network (Rare ENT Cancers Expertise Network) have published updated clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of nasal cavity and sinus cancers, incorporating a decade of new research published between 2009 and 2020. Using the PRISMA systematic review methodology, the team analyzed 1,696 studies and selected 250 for inclusion, ultimately producing 87 evidence-based recommendations covering six major cancer types: adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, mucosal melanoma, neuroblastoma, and undifferentiated carcinoma. The first ten guidelines, common to all sinonasal cancers, emphasize that management must involve multidisciplinary teams with specialized training and tumor board meetings, and that emerging new anatomopathological entities require thorough histological and immunophenotypic workup. These updated guidelines are significant for clinicians because sinonasal cancers are rare and heterogeneous malignancies, meaning standardized, expert-consensus-driven protocols are essential to ensure patients receive optimal, consistent care across treatment centers.
European annals of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck diseases
Source →Identifying preferences for prostate cancer screening among American Indian men (Project AIMEPCCo): Protocol for a discrete choice experiment.
Gillette C, et al
This study protocol describes a research project called AIMEPCCo, which aims to understand prostate cancer screening preferences among American Indian (AI) men, specifically members of the Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina. American Indian men suffer disproportionately from prostate cancer and have the worst outcomes of any racial or ethnic group in the United States, making this research critically important. The investigators will use a discrete choice experiment (DCE), a rigorous survey-based method, to identify what factors matter most to Lumbee men when making decisions about prostate cancer screening. The study is the first to apply a culturally responsive approach to DCE development in an indigenous population, incorporating qualitative community input to ensure the survey reflects the values and perspectives of AI men. Data collection is expected to run from April to June 2026, with 100 Lumbee men aged 40 to 69 participating. Findings from this research could help clinicians design culturally appropriate screening programs and reduce the significant cancer disparities faced by American Indian communities.
JMIR research protocols
Source →Multimodal treatment approach for giant condylomata acuminata complicated by lichen sclerosus: A case report.
Chang L, et al
A case report published in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy describes the successful treatment of a rare and challenging combination of giant condylomata acuminata (large genital warts) and lichen sclerosus in a 65-year-old male patient. The patient presented with extensive cauliflower-like growths covering the penis, accompanied by skin thinning and redness associated with lichen sclerosus, a chronic inflammatory skin condition. Clinicians treated the patient using a multimodal approach combining 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (a light-activated treatment), Holmium laser ablation, and curettage (mechanical scraping of lesions). This combination strategy resulted in significant clearance of the lesions, and the patient remained recurrence-free over a four-year follow-up period. The case highlights that when two complex conditions co-exist in the same area, a single treatment modality may be insufficient, and combining complementary therapies can achieve durable results where standard approaches might fail.
Photodiagnosis and photodynamic therapy
Source →Pregnancy outcomes among women with and without HIV infections who underwent excisional treatment for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: a retrospective cohort study in low-resource settings.
Amubuomombe PP, et al
A retrospective cohort study published in BMJ Open examined pregnancy outcomes in 488 women in western Kenya who had been treated or monitored for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) between 2009 and 2022, with a focus on comparing women living with and without HIV. Researchers found that excisional treatment of the cervix — particularly cold knife conisation — was associated with significantly higher odds of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery and pregnancy loss, with an adjusted odds ratio of 13.1. A prior history of adverse pregnancy outcomes was an even stronger predictor of subsequent complications after treatment. Notably, HIV infection itself was not independently associated with worse pregnancy outcomes after accounting for other factors. These findings suggest that clinicians should carefully weigh the reproductive risks of cervical excision procedures, especially cold knife conisation, when counselling women of childbearing age in low-resource settings about treatment options for high-grade cervical lesions.
BMJ open
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