Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Clinical outcomes of a new modified tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy following radical cystectomy.
Huang H, et al
Researchers at a single institution evaluated a novel modified cutaneous ureterostomy (CU) technique in 19 bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy between 2020 and 2023, focusing on reducing stomal complications and the need for permanent ureteral stents. The modified approach minimizes how much of the contralateral ureter must be brought to the skin surface, thereby reducing tension-related ischemia and the risk of stomal narrowing. The technique achieved a catheter-free rate of 92.1% across 38 ureters, and no stomal stenosis was observed over a median follow-up of 25 months. Kidney function, measured by serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate, remained stable throughout the follow-up period, and no serious complications above Clavien-Dindo grade III were recorded except in one patient requiring kidney stone treatment. These results suggest that the modified CU is a safe, straightforward urinary diversion option that outperforms previously reported CU methods in terms of stent-free outcomes and may be applicable to virtually all patients requiring this type of surgery after bladder removal.
Translational andrology and urology
Source →Role of Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System in Evaluation of Recurrent/Residual Lesions of Head and Neck Cancers by Contrast-Enhanced Computed Tomography (CECT) With Pathological Correlation.
Yeerasam V, et al
A new study published in Cureus evaluated the effectiveness of the Neck Imaging Reporting and Data System (NI-RADS) in detecting residual or recurrent disease in head and neck cancer patients following treatment. Researchers analyzed contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scans from 64 post-treatment patients, assigning each case a NI-RADS category and correlating results with histopathological findings. The overall recurrence rate at the primary site was 21.88%, and a strong correlation was found between NI-RADS categories and actual recurrence rates — notably, NI-RADS category 1 achieved a 100% negative predictive value, meaning no recurrences were missed among patients classified in this lowest-risk group. NI-RADS category 3 demonstrated a positive predictive value of 61%, confirming its utility in flagging high-risk cases warranting further investigation. These findings support the routine adoption of NI-RADS as a standardized reporting tool that improves consistency, reduces ambiguity, and helps clinicians make better-informed decisions about surveillance and management of head and neck cancer survivors.
Cureus
Source →DRD2 Deficiency Underlies Pituitary Adenoma Dependent on Escherichia coli Translocation from the Gut.
Su X, et al
Researchers investigated the role of gut-derived bacteria in the development of pituitary adenomas — benign brain tumors that disrupt hormone regulation — focusing on the dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) and Escherichia coli. Using mouse models with DRD2 deficiency or estradiol-induced tumors, alongside human surgical samples from pituitary adenoma patients, the team discovered that live E. coli bacteria are present within pituitary tumor tissue in both species. The study found that loss of DRD2 simultaneously weakens the gut barrier and the blood-pituitary barrier, allowing E. coli to translocate from the intestines into the pituitary gland, where resident microglial immune cells engulf the bacteria and trigger an inflammatory cascade involving GSDMD protein and HMGB1, which ultimately activates the tumor-promoting MAPK signaling pathway. Crucially, treating mice with systemic antibiotics, depleting microglial cells, or blocking HMGB1 with the compound ethyl pyruvate all successfully reversed or reduced prolactinoma growth. These findings reveal a previously unrecognized gut-to-brain bacterial translocation mechanism in pituitary tumorigenesis and open a novel therapeutic avenue, suggesting that antimicrobial agents, microglial-targeting strategies, or HMGB1 inhibitors could complement existing treatments for pituitary adenoma patients.
Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
Source →Robotic Adrenalectomy: A Portuguese National Health Service Experience.
Mourao M, et al
Researchers at a Portuguese tertiary public hospital evaluated the safety and feasibility of robotic-assisted adrenalectomy — a minimally invasive surgical approach for removing adrenal gland tumors — in a consecutive series of 32 procedures performed between April 2024 and December 2025. The study found that the technique achieved a mean operative time of 110 minutes, a very short average hospital stay of just 1.2 days, and only a 3% conversion rate to open surgery, with no patient deaths. Overall complication rate was low at 9.4%, including one pancreatic fistula and one incisional hernia requiring reoperation. These outcomes are comparable to international benchmarks reported in the literature, demonstrating that a robotic endocrine surgery program can be successfully implemented within a public health system. The findings suggest that robotic adrenalectomy may also have a future role in more complex cases involving large or potentially malignant tumors that were traditionally managed with open surgery, though further research is needed to clarify indications and cost-effectiveness.
Cureus
Source →Navigating the Challenges of Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator (DIEAP) Flap Harvest in a Scarred Abdomen.
Srinivasan S, et al
Researchers at a tertiary care plastic surgery center conducted a prospective study evaluating the outcomes of deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEAP) flap breast reconstruction in 20 women who had prior abdominal surgeries leaving visible scars. The DIEAP flap, considered the gold standard for autologous breast reconstruction using the patient's own abdominal tissue, poses unique surgical challenges when previous scars have altered blood vessel pathways and caused fibrosis. All patients underwent CT angiography before surgery to map blood vessels, and surgeons adapted their techniques intraoperatively, including performing venous supercharging in one complex case to rescue a compromised flap. Notably, all 20 flaps survived with no total flap loss, recipient-site complications occurred in only 10% of patients, and patient satisfaction scores were high for psychosocial wellbeing (mean 81.5 out of 100), though abdominal donor-site satisfaction was somewhat lower at 64.8. These findings demonstrate that DIEAP flap reconstruction remains a safe and effective option even in patients with scarred abdomens, provided that thorough preoperative imaging and surgical adaptability are employed. This study offers reassurance to breast cancer patients with prior abdominal surgeries that they may still be strong candidates for this high-quality reconstructive approach.
Cureus
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