Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Phytochemicals with epigenetic properties and their role in melanoma therapy.
Anestopoulos I, et al
Researchers conducted a comprehensive review examining how phytochemicals — bioactive compounds found in plants — can target the altered epigenetic landscape that drives malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The review outlines how abnormal DNA methylation patterns, faulty histone modifications, and dysregulated non-coding RNAs contribute to melanoma development and progression beyond simple genetic mutations. Despite advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy, long-term survival remains limited largely because tumors frequently develop drug resistance, highlighting the urgent need for alternative treatment strategies. The authors identify specific plant-derived compounds, including resveratrol, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, and others, that have demonstrated the ability to restore normal epigenetic regulation in preclinical melanoma models. These findings suggest that phytochemicals could serve as complementary or alternative therapeutic agents by reprogramming cancer cells back toward a more normal cellular state. This work provides a scientific rationale for further clinical investigation of plant-based epigenetic modulators in melanoma treatment.
International review of cell and molecular biology
Source →Apocrine Breast Cancer With Psammoma Bodies in a Male Patient.
Bashinskaya A, et al
Researchers report a rare case of apocrine breast carcinoma in an 80-year-old male patient who had previously undergone a mastectomy nine years earlier for breast cancer. Upon examination, a new nodular lesion was discovered on his right breast, and biopsy confirmed a relapsing apocrine cell carcinoma featuring an unusual pathological finding: the presence of psammoma bodies, calcified structures rarely seen in breast tissue. Notably, this case is distinguished by the cancer's metastasis to the skin, whereas prior reported cases had originated directly in the subcutaneous breast tissue. Diagnosis was confirmed through immunohistochemical markers, particularly positive expression of GCDFP-15 and androgen receptor, which are characteristic of apocrine carcinomas. This case highlights the importance of careful histological and immunohistochemical evaluation in diagnosing rare breast cancer variants in male patients, a population in which breast cancer incidence is reportedly increasing. Ongoing research into anti-androgen therapies may offer future treatment options for this uncommon and poorly understood malignancy.
HCA healthcare journal of medicine
Source →BRAF V600E mutation and high expression of PD-L1 in Rosai-Dorfman disease: case report and review of the literature.
Moen FM, et al
Researchers report a rare case of Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD), an unusual immune system disorder involving abnormal histiocyte accumulation, in which the tumor cells harbored a BRAF V600E mutation and expressed the immune checkpoint protein PD-L1. RDD is increasingly recognized as a neoplasm driven by alterations in the MAPK signaling pathway, yet BRAF mutations and PD-L1 expression have rarely been documented in this condition. The patient presented with widespread lymph node enlargement, and careful pathological and immunophenotypic analysis was required to distinguish RDD from related but distinct conditions such as Erdheim-Chester disease and Langerhans cell histiocytosis. The finding of a BRAF V600E mutation is clinically significant because targeted BRAF inhibitors, already used in melanoma and other cancers, could potentially be applied to treat refractory RDD cases. Additionally, PD-L1 expression raises the possibility that immune checkpoint blockade therapies may also offer a treatment avenue for this rare disease. These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive molecular profiling in RDD to guide personalized treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes.
Journal of hematopathology
Source →Nodal T-Cell Lymphoma Transdifferentiated from Mantle Cell Lymphoma with Epstein-Barr Virus Infection.
Barone PD, et al
Researchers report an exceptionally rare case of a 55-year-old man whose mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a type of B-cell cancer, underwent a complete lineage switch and transformed into an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive T-cell lymphoma over the course of just two months. Genetic testing across three sequential biopsy samples confirmed that the T-cell lymphoma was clonally related to the original MCL, sharing key mutations and the hallmark CCND1::IGH chromosomal fusion, proving the two cancers arose from the same cell of origin rather than representing two independent tumors. Notably, while the T-cell lymphoma lost expression of the BCL1 protein, the underlying genetic fusion was still present, suggesting that the shift in cell identity silenced the gene's expression without erasing the genetic abnormality itself. This case is significant because lineage switching from a mature B-cell lymphoma to a mature T-cell lymphoma is considered exceedingly rare and poorly understood, unlike the better-characterized switches seen in acute leukemias. The possible role of EBV infection in driving or enabling this dramatic transformation remains an open and important question for future research. Clinicians should be aware that apparent disease progression in lymphoma patients may occasionally represent a true biological lineage switch, which could have profound implications for diagnosis and treatment selection.
Pathobiology : journal of immunopathology, molecular and cellular biology
Source →Clinical Insights Into Ductal Carcinoma In Situ in Males: A Report of Two Cases From the Sultanate of Oman.
Eshaqi MJ, et al
Researchers from the Sultanate of Oman have reported two rare cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) occurring in male patients, a condition that is exceptionally uncommon given that breast cancer predominantly affects women. The cases highlight high-grade DCIS in males, a presentation so rare that the existing medical literature provides little guidance on its risk factors, clinical course, or optimal treatment. Importantly, the prognosis for male DCIS appears comparable to that of female patients at the same disease stage, underscoring the value of early detection and timely diagnosis. This report aims to fill a significant gap in knowledge, as the scarcity of male breast cancer case studies has historically hindered clinicians' ability to recognize and manage the disease effectively. By documenting these cases, the authors hope to raise awareness among healthcare providers and encourage further research into the etiology and clinical management of male breast cancer.
Cureus
Source →