Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Isolated β-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Elevation-From Pregnancy to Fragile X-associated Premature Ovarian Insufficiency.
Sharma PP
This case report describes a 31-year-old woman whose elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-HCG) levels — a marker typically associated with pregnancy — led to a misdiagnosis of ectopic pregnancy and unnecessary treatment with methotrexate before the true cause was identified. After pregnancy and heterophile antibody interference were ruled out, extensive hormonal testing revealed Fragile X-associated premature ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI), a genetic condition in which the ovaries stop functioning normally before age 40. The key mechanism was that her severely depleted estrogen and progesterone levels, caused by premature ovarian failure, triggered the pituitary gland to produce low levels of β-HCG — mimicking a pregnancy signal. Clinicians are reminded that in young women with unexplained β-HCG elevation and no confirmed pregnancy, rare but important causes such as premature ovarian insufficiency, gestational trophoblastic disease, germ cell tumors, and laboratory interference must be systematically evaluated. Fragile X premutation is the most common genetic cause of premature ovarian insufficiency in women with a normal karyotype, making genetic testing an essential step. Early recognition of FXPOI allows timely initiation of hormone replacement therapy and prevents potentially harmful misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments.
AACE endocrinology and diabetes
Source →Impact of age on outcomes after CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for large B-cell lymphomas.
Mirza A, et al
A large real-world study examined how patient age affects outcomes following CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapy in adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, using data from nearly 1,916 patients treated between 2018 and 2020. Researchers found that older age — even among patients aged 75 and above — did not worsen overall survival or progression-free survival, with 12-month overall survival reaching 62% across all age groups. Notably, patients aged 65 to 74 years actually showed a lower relapse risk compared to younger patients, suggesting the therapy can be highly effective in older adults. However, older age was associated with a significantly higher risk of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), a serious neurological side effect, with the risk rising meaningfully after age 64. These findings are clinically important because they support offering CAR T-cell therapy to older patients while emphasizing the need for careful neurological monitoring and individualized patient selection based on ICANS risk.
Blood neoplasia
Source →Aging reimagined: Bridging clinical modulation and scientific breakthroughs.
Mhamdi S, et al
A comprehensive literature review published in Biology of Sport examines the rapidly expanding evidence that biological aging is a modifiable process open to scientific and clinical intervention. The review highlights key molecular mechanisms of aging, including telomerase activity and cellular senescence, epigenetic reprogramming of adult cells into pluripotent states, autophagy, and critical signaling pathways such as mTOR/rapamycin, AMPK, and FOXO transcription factors. Clinical trials involving growth hormone, metformin, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) have demonstrated measurable reductions in biological age markers, including thymic regeneration and immune restoration, suggesting that pharmacological modulation of aging is feasible. Lifestyle strategies—exercise, dietary optimization, stress management, and circadian rhythm alignment—are identified as broadly accessible tools for extending healthy lifespan, while chronic sleep disruption, poor nutrition, and psychological stress accelerate aging through the mechanisms of inflammaging and metaflammation. Emerging targeted therapies such as senotherapeutics and sirtuin activators, combined with precision medicine tools including polygenic risk scores and multi-cancer early detection tests, signal a paradigm shift from reactive to preventive medicine. The authors urge researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to prioritize aging research and integrate evidence-based interventions into public health frameworks, while acknowledging unresolved ethical and regulatory challenges around equitable access and long-term safety.
Biology of sport
Source →Cancer burden and the contributions of risk factors in China: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.
Wu Z, et al
A comprehensive systematic analysis using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 examined cancer incidence, mortality, and risk factor contributions across China from 1990 to 2021. In 2021, China recorded approximately 13.66 million new cancer cases and 2.82 million cancer deaths, with lung, bronchus, and tracheal cancers ranking as the most common and lethal cancer type, especially among men. While the age-standardized incidence rate rose over the study period, the age-standardized death rate declined by nearly 30% in males and 42% in females over the past four decades, reflecting improvements in treatment and early detection. Digestive cancers accounted for nearly one-third of all cancer deaths, and behavioral risk factors — such as smoking, diet, and alcohol — were linked to almost 74% of all cancer deaths. These findings highlight that despite meaningful progress in reducing cancer mortality, the growing burden of new cases poses a critical ongoing public health challenge in China. Clinicians and policymakers are urged to prioritize behavioral risk reduction strategies and targeted screening programs for the most prevalent cancer types.
Chinese medical journal
Source →Risk and prognosis of HCC in patients with thyroid disease: A nationwide cohort study.
Kornerup LS, et al
A large Danish nationwide cohort study investigated the relationship between thyroid disease, thyroid hormone levels, and the risk and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer. Researchers followed 529,330 patients with thyroid disease for up to 42 years, comparing them to a matched population without thyroid disease. The study found that patients with hypothyroidism and elevated TSH levels had roughly double the risk of developing HCC, while patients with hyperthyroidism and suppressed TSH levels showed a trend toward lower HCC incidence and, in those with nontoxic goitre, approximately six months longer survival after an HCC diagnosis. These findings suggest that thyroid hormones may play a protective role against liver cancer, with a hormonal deficit increasing risk and an excess potentially offering protection. While the therapeutic implications remain uncertain, the results open new avenues for understanding how hormonal balance influences liver cancer development and may eventually guide clinical monitoring strategies for at-risk patients.
Hepatology communications
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