Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Persistently Higher Ratio of Gallbladder Cancer Incidence in Native American People than in Non-Hispanic Whites: Selected United States Regions, 1962-2021.
Kosuru SR, et al
This study analyzed long-term trends in gallbladder cancer incidence rates among Native American populations compared to Non-Hispanic White populations across selected regions of the United States, covering nearly six decades from 1962 to 2021. Gallbladder cancer is a relatively rare but highly aggressive malignancy, and Native American communities have historically been identified as a high-risk group due to elevated rates of gallstone disease and other contributing risk factors. The research found that Native American people have maintained persistently and substantially higher gallbladder cancer incidence ratios relative to Non-Hispanic White individuals throughout the entire study period, indicating that this racial and ethnic health disparity has not narrowed over time despite broader advances in cancer care. These findings underscore a critical and enduring public health inequity and highlight the urgent need for targeted cancer screening programs, earlier detection initiatives, and culturally responsive clinical care within Native American communities.
Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
Source →Conventional vs. tunnelized facial artery myomucosal flaps in oral cavity reconstruction: a comparative analysis of outcomes and quality of life.
Reinholdt KB, et al
This study compared two surgical approaches — conventional and tunnelized facial artery myomucosal (FAMM) flaps — for reconstructing the oral cavity in patients who underwent surgery for oral cancer. The FAMM flap is an established local reconstructive technique that harvests tissue from the inner cheek, supplied by the facial artery, to repair defects left after tumor removal. The tunnelized variant represents a modified approach intended to reduce external scarring and limit morbidity at the donor site. The comparative analysis evaluated functional outcomes, complication rates, and patient-reported quality of life following each procedure. Results from this work provide practical guidance for head and neck surgeons in selecting the most appropriate reconstructive strategy, with implications for improving both cosmetic and functional recovery after oral cavity cancer surgery.
European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Source →A targeted circulating tumor DNA landscape of copy number aberrations in large B-cell lymphomas.
Arffman M, et al
Researchers studied the use of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) — cancer-derived DNA fragments detectable in a blood sample — to map copy number aberrations (CNAs, meaning abnormal gains or losses of genetic material) in 123 patients with high-risk large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), one of the most aggressive blood cancers. Using targeted panel and duplex sequencing, the team detected CNAs in 76% of patients above the assay's detection threshold and confirmed a strong correlation with whole-genome sequencing results (R = 0.81), establishing the reliability of the targeted approach. A standout finding was that ctDNA-based detection of TP53 gene loss outperformed the conventional FISH laboratory test in predicting patient survival outcomes, remaining an independent prognostic factor even after accounting for clinical risk scores and ctDNA levels. The researchers also showed that tracking shifts in lymphoma clone populations through ctDNA at the time of disease progression can reveal the evolving genetic landscape of the tumor in a minimally invasive manner. Key prognostic findings, including tumor fraction and TP53 loss, were validated in an independent patient cohort, strengthening confidence in clinical applicability. Overall, the study demonstrates that a simple blood test analyzing ctDNA can provide clinically actionable insights into lymphoma biology, potentially improving risk stratification and treatment decisions for patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma.
Leukemia
Source →The malignant potential of a canine incidental adrenal mass cannot be predicted by lesion size, but outcomes following laparoscopic adrenalectomy are excellent.
Cook AK, et al
A retrospective study of 214 dogs undergoing laparoscopic adrenalectomy investigated whether the size and imaging characteristics of incidentally discovered adrenal masses could predict their malignant potential and compared them to clinically apparent adrenal masses. Researchers found that 28.5% of dogs harbored incidental adrenal masses, and these were significantly more likely to be pheochromocytomas — tumors of the adrenal medulla — compared to clinically detected masses (32.8% vs. 8.5%). Critically, tumor size proved to be an unreliable indicator of malignancy: among small, noninvasive masses measuring 2 cm or less, 6 out of 11 were either malignant or carried malignant and invasive potential, directly undermining the widely used size-based monitoring approach. Vascular invasion emerged as a strong preoperative indicator of pheochromocytoma rather than a cortical lesion, offering clinicians a useful diagnostic clue. Short-term surgical outcomes were excellent, with perioperative mortality of only 3.3%, supporting the safety of elective laparoscopic adrenalectomy. The authors conclude that previous recommendations to simply observe small, noninvasive adrenal incidentalomas should be reconsidered, and that perioperative planning must account for the high likelihood of pheochromocytoma regardless of lesion size.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Source →Phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas harbour tumour-initiating SOX2+ stem cells.
Kemkem Y, et al
Researchers investigated whether SOX2-positive stem cells, previously identified in the healthy adrenal gland, also drive tumour formation in phaeochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs), rare neuroendocrine cancers with limited treatment options and a median survival of only seven years once metastatic disease develops. The study found that SOX2-expressing cells are consistently present across a broad spectrum of PCC and PGL tumours, regardless of tumour aggressiveness, anatomical location, or the underlying genetic mutation responsible for the cancer. Computational transcriptomic analyses revealed that these SOX2+ cells simultaneously express markers characteristic of chromaffin cells — the principal tumour cell type — and that this double-positive population is actively proliferating within the tumours. When these cells were isolated and grown in stem cell-promoting laboratory conditions, and subsequently transplanted onto chicken embryo chorioallantoic membranes, they demonstrated the ability to expand and metastasise, confirming their capacity to initiate and propagate tumours. These findings identify SOX2+ cells as likely tumour-initiating stem cells at the root of PCCs and PGLs, providing a new biological framework for understanding how these cancers arise and are maintained. For patients, this discovery opens a promising avenue for developing therapies that specifically target the stem cell population driving tumour growth, potentially improving outcomes in a disease where effective treatments remain scarce.
Endocrine-related cancer
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