Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Unveiling Cryptic BCR-ABL1 Rearrangements: Diagnostic Challenges and Clinical Impact in Myeloid Malignancies.
Ferrari A, et al
Researchers at an international institution investigated two clinical cases of myeloid blood cancers in which the BCR-ABL1 gene fusion — a key molecular driver treatable with targeted drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) — was initially missed by standard diagnostic methods. Using an integrated approach combining high-depth RNA sequencing and cytogenetics, the team successfully identified so-called cryptic BCR-ABL1 rearrangements that evaded conventional chromosome analysis. In the first case, a patient previously diagnosed with a borderline myeloid disorder was reclassified as chronic myeloid leukemia and responded well to TKI therapy once the hidden fusion was detected. In the second case, an undetected BCR-ABL1 fusion was uncovered in a relapsed acute myeloid leukemia patient alongside other aggressive molecular changes, highlighting the complexity of the disease. These findings demonstrate that standard cytogenetic testing alone is insufficient for all patients with atypical presentations, and the authors recommend systematic multimodal screening to ensure no actionable genetic target is overlooked. The study provides a practical framework for clinicians to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic decision-making in myeloid malignancies.
International journal of molecular sciences
Source →Global burden of cancer attributable to HIV: a worldwide incidence analysis.
Huang Y, et al
A new global analysis published in The Lancet Global Health estimated the worldwide burden of cancers caused by HIV infection in 2022, examining nine cancer types causally linked to HIV-driven immune suppression. Researchers calculated population attributable fractions using meta-analyses of relative risks combined with UNAIDS HIV prevalence data, then applied these to cancer incidence figures from GLOBOCAN 2022 across 185 countries. The study found that approximately 81,300 cancer cases in 2022 — about 0.4% of all global cancers — were attributable to HIV, with cervical cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma accounting for the majority of cases. The burden was strikingly concentrated in Africa, particularly eastern and southern Africa, where HIV caused more than 10% of all cancers and age-standardised incidence rates reached 27.6 per 100,000 compared to just 0.2 per 100,000 in Asia. The findings highlight stark geographic disparities: while cervical cancer dominates the HIV-attributable cancer burden in Africa, anal cancer and lymphomas are more prominent in North America and Europe. These data provide a critical foundation for designing region-specific HIV control strategies and targeted cancer interventions such as HPV vaccination and cancer screening programs to reduce the disproportionate cancer burden borne by people living with HIV.
The Lancet. Global health
Source →Conjunctival Melanoma Arising From Nevus in a Young Woman.
Walsh SR, et al
This case report describes a rare and serious case of conjunctival melanoma — a malignant tumor of the eye's surface tissue — that developed from a pre-existing nevus (a benign pigmented lesion) in a young woman. Conjunctival melanoma is an uncommon malignancy, and its occurrence in young patients transforming from a known nevus underscores the importance of regular ophthalmic monitoring of pigmented conjunctival lesions. The case highlights clinical warning signs that may indicate malignant transformation, including changes in size, color, or vascularity of a previously stable lesion. Early detection and prompt surgical intervention are critical to preventing local recurrence and potential metastatic spread, which can be life-threatening. This report serves as an important reminder for both patients and clinicians that even benign-appearing eye lesions in young individuals require vigilant long-term follow-up.
Journal of pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus
Source →Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia Masqueraders.
Mercado C, et al
Researchers reviewed a wide range of ocular surface lesions that can be mistakenly confused with ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN), a potentially serious cancer of the eye's surface. The study categorized conditions such as pterygium, conjunctival papilloma, herpes simplex keratitis, melanoma, lymphoma, Kaposi sarcoma, and more than a dozen other diagnoses that share similar clinical appearances with OSSN. Using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), a non-invasive imaging technique, the researchers identified distinct patterns for each condition, noting that OSSN uniquely displays a hyperreflective thickened epithelium with a sharp boundary between healthy and affected tissue. This differentiation is critical because misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment or delayed care for patients with true malignancy. The study concludes that AS-OCT is an invaluable tool for clinicians to confidently distinguish OSSN from its many mimics, helping to guide timely and accurate management decisions and reduce unnecessary biopsies.
Seminars in ophthalmology
Source →Solitary Splenic Metastasis from Gastric Adenocarcinoma Treated with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy using Deep Inspiratory Breath Hold.
Gupta M, et al
Researchers from India report a rare case of a solitary splenic metastasis originating from gastric adenocarcinoma, treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) combined with deep inspiratory breath hold (DIBH) technique. The patient, a woman in her fifties, had previously undergone subtotal gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced stomach cancer, and presented two years later with a single metastatic lesion in the spleen detected by PET scan. Instead of surgery — the traditional treatment of choice — a multidisciplinary team opted for SBRT delivering 50 Gray in 5 fractions, using DIBH to minimize organ movement during treatment and daily imaging to ensure precision. The patient tolerated the treatment well, achieving stable disease without any blood-related side effects. This case adds to the very limited published evidence supporting SBRT as a safe and non-invasive alternative to splenectomy for isolated splenic metastases from gastric cancer, which account for only about 6.9% of all splenic metastases from solid tumors. The findings are clinically relevant for patients who are poor surgical candidates or wish to avoid the risks associated with spleen removal.
Indian journal of palliative care
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