Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Preoperative chemotherapy in colorectal peritoneal metastatic disease - a real-world observational cohort study.
Cashin PH, et al
Researchers at Uppsala University Hospital conducted a real-world observational study examining the role of preoperative chemotherapy in patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the peritoneum, a condition known as peritoneal metastases. The study followed 179 consecutive patients evaluated between 2019 and 2023, comparing outcomes for those who received doublet chemotherapy alone versus doublet chemotherapy combined with targeted antibody therapies. Patients receiving targeted therapy achieved a higher overall response rate and were more frequently selected for the potentially curative surgical procedure combining cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy, known as CRS and HIPEC. Crucially, the addition of targeted therapy significantly improved median overall survival to 21 months compared to 17 months for doublet chemotherapy alone, and among targeted agents, the VEGF-inhibitor bevacizumab outperformed EGFR-targeted treatments with a median survival of 32 months versus 15 months. These findings provide clinicians with important real-world evidence that adding targeted antibodies, particularly bevacizumab, to preoperative chemotherapy regimens can meaningfully extend the lives of patients with peritoneal metastatic colorectal cancer who are not initially eligible for surgery.
Pleura and peritoneum
Source →A Rare Case of Parathyroid Carcinoma Initially Misdiagnosed as a Parathyroid Adenoma.
Khan JA, et al
Researchers from the United Kingdom report a rare case of parathyroid carcinoma in a 38-year-old woman who was initially diagnosed with a benign parathyroid adenoma before surgery. The patient presented with recurrent high calcium levels, body aches, fatigue, excessive thirst, and voice changes, and imaging suggested a small non-cancerous growth near the parathyroid gland. Following surgical removal of the lesion, detailed tissue examination—supported by a specialized protein stain called parafibromin immunohistochemistry and confirmed by a second pathologist—revealed the tumor to be malignant. Post-surgery scans showed no spread of cancer, and the patient has remained healthy with normal blood values during follow-up. This case underscores how parathyroid carcinoma can be virtually indistinguishable from a benign adenoma before and during surgery, making thorough laboratory analysis of removed tissue essential. Clinicians are reminded of the critical role of multidisciplinary teamwork and rigorous histopathological review in ensuring accurate diagnosis and appropriate management of parathyroid tumors.
Cureus
Source →Extraskeletal Chondroma in the Middle Ear: A Case Report.
Hyakusoku H, et al
Researchers from Japan report the first documented case of extraskeletal chondroma — a rare benign cartilaginous tumor — arising in the middle ear. A 68-year-old woman presented with left-sided hearing loss, and imaging revealed a soft tissue mass filling the middle ear cavity and extending into the external ear canal without damaging surrounding bone. The tumor, along with several smaller satellite lesions found deeper in the tympanic cavity, was successfully removed using minimally invasive transcanal endoscopic ear surgery under general anesthesia. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of extraskeletal chondroma, a tumor type previously reported only in the external auditory canal and never before in the middle ear. This case is clinically significant because, while malignant transformation of this tumor type is rare, it has been observed at other anatomical sites, making long-term follow-up essential for patients after surgical removal. Otolaryngologists should consider extraskeletal chondroma in the differential diagnosis when evaluating middle ear masses, even in the absence of bony erosion on imaging.
Cureus
Source →Encapsulated Papillary Carcinoma of the Male Breast With a Mixed Invasive Component: A Report of a Rare Case.
Ntalakos N, et al
Researchers from Cureus journal report a rare case of encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) of the male breast combined with a mixed invasive component, a presentation virtually undocumented in men. A 69-year-old patient underwent left mastectomy after imaging revealed a partially cystic breast mass, and pathological examination confirmed a 23 mm tumor composed of EPC alongside both invasive carcinoma of no special type and invasive papillary carcinoma. The tumor tested positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors, showed low HER2 expression, and had a Ki-67 proliferation index of 25%, with all six sampled lymph nodes free of metastasis. Accurate diagnosis required a combination of histological analysis, myoepithelial markers, and immunohistochemistry to distinguish this malignancy from benign conditions such as gynecomastia and from metastatic cancers originating in the prostate, thyroid, or gastrointestinal tract. Treatment followed principles established for female breast cancer, including mastectomy, tamoxifen-based endocrine therapy, and a recommendation for genetic counseling given the elevated rate of germline mutations in male breast cancer patients. This case underscores the importance of thorough morphological and immunophenotypic evaluation in rare male breast malignancies and calls for increased reporting to improve clinical understanding and management.
Cureus
Source →Choriocarcinoma: an overview of morphology, immunohistochemistry, and ancillary testing.
Nguyen AT, et al
A new overview publication in the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer examines choriocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive malignant tumor arising from trophoblastic cells, most often occurring after pregnancy or in association with other germ cell tumors. The review focuses on the characteristic microscopic appearance of choriocarcinoma, detailing the biphasic or triphasic cellular patterns of cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, and intermediate trophoblasts that pathologists use to identify the disease. The article also explores the role of immunohistochemical markers—proteins detected by special staining techniques on tissue samples—that help distinguish choriocarcinoma from other tumors with similar appearances. Ancillary diagnostic tools, including molecular and serological tests such as serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) measurement, are discussed as essential complements to histological analysis. This comprehensive reference is particularly valuable for pathologists and gynecologic oncologists, as accurate and timely diagnosis of choriocarcinoma is critical given the tumor's high sensitivity to chemotherapy and the potential for cure even in advanced disease.
International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society
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