Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Acromegaly and genetics.
de Lapiscina IM, et al
A new review published in Vitamins and Hormones examines the genetic landscape underlying acromegaly, a rare but serious endocrine disorder caused by excess growth hormone production in adults. In approximately 95 percent of cases, the condition stems from a benign pituitary tumor, with GNAS gene variants being the most common genetic driver in sporadic cases. However, around 5 percent of cases are hereditary, arising from mutations in genes such as AIP or GPR101, or as part of broader genetic syndromes including multiple endocrine neoplasia types 1 and 4, McCune-Albright syndrome, and Carney complex. The review highlights that identifying the underlying genetic cause enables earlier diagnosis, timely treatment, and the opportunity to screen at-risk family members before symptoms appear. This genetic awareness is critical for preventing the long-term complications of acromegaly, which include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and joint problems, and for improving overall patient outcomes.
Vitamins and hormones
Source →The utility of a pleural carcinomatosis score for assessing resectability.
Drevet G, et al
Researchers evaluated a new scoring system called the pleural carcinomatosis score (PCS) to help surgeons determine whether patients with recurrent pleural effusion—fluid buildup around the lungs—might be candidates for curative surgery. The study prospectively enrolled 122 patients referred for surgical exploration of the pleura, with findings recorded during videothoracoscopy and compiled into the score. Of the 80 patients diagnosed with malignant pleural spread, only 16.2% were considered resectable, with a median score of 11, while patients with benign disease scored a median of 2 and 69% were deemed resectable. A threshold score of 6 or below was identified as the cutoff suggesting potential surgical candidacy. This tool could help multidisciplinary tumor boards make more consistent and informed decisions about pursuing curative-intent surgery in a setting where no validated surgical cure currently exists.
Pleura and peritoneum
Source →Recurrent Papillary Apocrine Carcinoma of the Vulva.
Swaminathan S, et al
Researchers from the United States report a rare case of recurrent papillary apocrine carcinoma of the vulva in a woman in her mid-50s, contributing to a body of literature that includes fewer than 20 documented cases of vulvar apocrine carcinoma overall. The patient was treated with wide local excision, a surgical procedure that removes the tumor along with a margin of surrounding healthy tissue. Because so few cases have been recorded, standardized treatment protocols and prognostic guidelines for this condition do not yet exist, making clinical decision-making particularly challenging. The case highlights that rarer subtypes of vulvar cancer, including the tubulo-papillary form, should be considered when evaluating any unusual vulvar lesion. This is especially important given that the incidence of vulvar cancer is rising among younger women and may initially present with subtle, easily overlooked symptoms. Clinicians are urged to maintain a broad differential diagnosis for atypical vulvar lesions to ensure timely and appropriate management.
The American Journal of dermatopathology
Source →The value of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (18F-FDG PET/MRI) in characterising pleural effusion and detecting pleural metastasis for staging lung cancer.
Zhang A, et al
Researchers investigated whether combined fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (18F-FDG PET/MRI) could reliably distinguish between inflammatory and cancer-related pleural effusions in patients with suspected lung cancer, a distinction critical for accurate staging and treatment planning. The study enrolled 29 patients between 2021 and 2023, evaluating multiple imaging parameters including maximum standardised uptake value (SUVmax), T2 fat-suppressed signal, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) signal. The results showed that DWI signal and SUVmax achieved the highest diagnostic accuracy at 89.66% and 86.21% respectively, with DWI and SUVmax both reaching 100% specificity in identifying malignant pleural involvement. Notably, PET/MRI outperformed the more commonly used PET/CT in detecting pleural metastases in lung cancer patients presenting with pleural effusion. These findings suggest that 18F-FDG PET/MRI offers a valuable, high-performance imaging approach for clinicians who need to determine whether a lung cancer patient's pleural effusion is benign or malignant, directly influencing the choice of therapy.
Clinical radiology
Source →High prevalence of KRAS and GNAS mutations in pseudomyxoma peritonei underscores opportunities for targeted therapeutic strategies.
Torgunrud A, et al
Researchers studied pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a rare and slow-growing abdominal cancer, to determine how frequently patients carry mutations in the KRAS and GNAS genes, which are known to drive tumor growth. Using highly sensitive DNA sequencing and digital PCR techniques on tumor samples from 167 patients, the team found that mutations in cancer-related genes were detectable in 98% of cases, with KRAS mutations present in 89% and GNAS mutations in 83% of patients. Importantly, when peritoneal tumor samples lacked sufficient tumor cells for analysis, primary tumor samples served as a reliable alternative source of genetic material. These findings confirm that KRAS and GNAS are key driver mutations in PMP and highlight them as promising targets for emerging therapies. For patients with unresectable PMP who currently have very limited treatment options, this work opens the door to selecting candidates for novel targeted treatments based on their tumor's genetic profile.
Pleura and peritoneum
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