Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Radiological and Histopathological Predictors of Survival in Neuroendocrine Differentiated Breast Cancer: A Comparative Analysis with NS-IDC.
Çetin Tunçez H, et al
Researchers conducted a retrospective study comparing neuroendocrine differentiated breast cancer (NEBC) with the more common non-specific invasive ductal carcinoma (NS-IDC), focusing on imaging characteristics and molecular markers that might predict patient survival. The study analyzed 85 patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2022, examining mammography, ultrasound, and MRI findings alongside tissue-based immunohistochemical profiles. NEBC tumors showed distinctive MRI patterns, including faster initial contrast enhancement and a washout pattern, as well as higher progesterone receptor expression compared to NS-IDC, yet five-year overall survival rates were statistically similar between the two cancer types. Crucially, multivariate analysis identified T2 hyperintensity on MRI, tumor stage, and the presence of ductal carcinoma in situ as independent predictors of worse survival, with T2 hyperintensity emerging as the strongest imaging-based prognostic marker. These findings suggest that while NEBC has a distinct radiological and molecular fingerprint, its prognosis mirrors that of conventional invasive breast cancer, and that specific MRI features could help clinicians better stratify patient risk in the future.
Breast cancer (Dove Medical Press)
Source →Molecular markers of pediatric cholesteatoma: A gene expression comparison with adult tissue.
Tempero MJ, et al
Researchers compared gene expression patterns between pediatric and adult cholesteatoma — a destructive skin growth in the middle ear — using bulk RNA sequencing of tissue samples from a tertiary medical center. Analysis of over 20,000 genes revealed 14 differentially expressed genes, with 8 upregulated and 6 downregulated in pediatric compared to adult cholesteatoma tissue. Gene set enrichment analysis further identified three key biological pathways more active in children: TNF-alpha (inflammation), TGF-beta (fibrosis), and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, which are all known to drive aggressive tissue remodeling. These findings help explain why cholesteatoma in children tends to be more aggressive and recurrent than in adults. The identified molecular markers may serve as potential therapeutic targets, opening the door to more tailored treatments for pediatric patients in the future.
International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology
Source →Exceedingly Hyper-Secreting Parathyroid Adenoma: A Literature Review and Case Series.
Clark DE, et al
Researchers at a medical center conducted a retrospective case series and literature review examining patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who presented with exceptionally high parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, a scenario that typically raises concern for parathyroid cancer. Three female patients with PTH levels ranging from 755 to 3547.4 pg/mL — far above normal — and symptomatic high calcium were studied, as such extreme values are classically associated with malignant tumors rather than benign growths. In all three cases, surgical removal of the parathyroid gland revealed only a benign adenoma with no signs of cancer on pathological examination, and calcium levels returned to normal after the operation. The study highlights that extremely elevated PTH and calcium levels do not always signal malignancy, and that benign parathyroid adenomas can occasionally mimic the laboratory profile of carcinomas. This finding is clinically important because it may help prevent unnecessarily aggressive surgical treatment in patients who have a benign condition. Clinicians are reminded to consider the full clinical picture rather than relying solely on laboratory values when planning treatment for hyperparathyroidism.
Head & neck
Source →Postoperative spindle cell nodule of the urethra and bladder in a 90-year-old male: A diagnostic challenge.
Frajewicki A, et al
Researchers from Central Europe report a rare diagnostic case involving a 90-year-old man who developed recurrent masses in the urethra and urinary bladder over four years following repeated medical procedures for urethral strictures. The growths, ranging from 2 to 5 centimeters, were detected during multiple cystoscopic examinations and initially could not be diagnosed through standard biopsy. Final pathological analysis revealed a benign reactive condition known as postoperative spindle cell nodule, characterized by atypical spindle-shaped cells, fibrosis, and inflammation, but without the hallmarks of malignancy such as mitosis or necrosis. Immunohistochemical testing was positive only for Vimentin and p53, with all cancer lineage markers negative, supporting the benign diagnosis. This case highlights the critical importance of distinguishing rare benign pseudosarcomatous lesions from true sarcoma or other malignancies, particularly in elderly patients who have undergone repeated urological instrumentation. Clinicians are reminded that aggressive-appearing lesions in the genitourinary tract are not always cancerous, and accurate diagnosis is essential to avoid unnecessary radical treatment in vulnerable patients.
Central European journal of urology
Source →The outcomes of elderly patients with localized squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal treated with chemoradiation.
Camandaroba MP, et al
Squamous-cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCCA) is a rare gastrointestinal cancer whose incidence is rising among older adults, yet evidence on the safety and efficacy of chemoradiation in elderly patients has remained scarce. A retrospective study published in ESMO Gastrointestinal Oncology examined clinical outcomes in 269 patients with localized SCCA, comparing those aged 70 and older with younger patients treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone. Despite carrying a higher burden of comorbidities, elderly patients achieved a median disease-free survival of 103 months and a five-year cancer-specific survival rate of 83%, closely comparable to the 128-month disease-free survival and 85% cancer-specific survival seen in younger patients. No significant differences in treatment type or rates of severe grade 3 or 4 toxicity were observed between the two groups. Multivariate analysis identified cancer stage and completion of planned treatment as the most significant predictors of both overall and disease-free survival. These findings support the use of standard chemoradiation in older anal cancer patients and highlight the importance of individualized management that carefully addresses comorbidities to optimize treatment outcomes.
ESMO gastrointestinal oncology
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