Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Asynchronous bilateral male breast cancer. A rare case report.
Aleksiev T, et al
Physicians from the Department of Dermatology and Venereology report an exceptionally rare case of asynchronous bilateral breast cancer occurring in a 66-year-old man, a condition so uncommon that it demands heightened clinical awareness. The first tumor, a 3×2-cm invasive ductal carcinoma discovered incidentally during a dermatology visit, was treated with mastectomy, lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormone therapy. Three years later, the patient developed a second, independent invasive ductal carcinoma in the opposite breast, this time with markedly different receptor characteristics including HER2 overexpression and a high Ki67 proliferation index of 80%, requiring renewed surgical and oncological treatment. Five years after the second diagnosis, the patient remains in good general health, underscoring that timely intervention can yield favorable outcomes even in advanced or bilateral male breast cancer. The case highlights the critical importance of including men in breast cancer screening discussions, as risk factor assessment and routine breast examination in male patients could enable earlier detection and significantly improve prognosis.
Folia medica
Source →High-grade fetal adenocarcinoma of the lung misdiagnosed as male breast carcinoma: a case report and literature review.
Zhuo Y, et al
Researchers from China report a rare and diagnostically challenging case of high-grade fetal adenocarcinoma of the lung (HG-FLAC), an uncommon and aggressive subtype of lung cancer with a poor prognosis. The patient, a male, initially presented with a persistent cough, and imaging revealed a lung mass, chest wall involvement, enlarged lymph nodes, and suspected metastases in the brain and adrenal glands. A biopsy of the chest wall lesion led pathologists to incorrectly diagnose the condition as male breast cancer based on microscopic and immunohistochemical findings. Only after a subsequent CT-guided lung biopsy was the correct diagnosis of HG-FLAC established, highlighting how this rare tumor can closely mimic other cancers at the tissue level. This case underscores the importance of correlating pathological results with clinical context and pursuing additional biopsies when initial diagnoses conflict with the patient's overall presentation. For clinicians, this report serves as a critical reminder that HG-FLAC can be misidentified, and awareness of its characteristics is essential to ensure timely and appropriate treatment.
Frontiers in oncology
Source →Pathological perspectives in pilocytic astrocytomas: Extent of resection as the sole critical factor for recurrence-free survival, and the challenge of evaluating conclusions derived from limited data.
Kulac I, et al
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco conducted a large-scale, 30-year retrospective study of 499 patients diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma (PA), one of the most common brain tumors in children, to resolve longstanding controversies about what factors drive tumor recurrence. The study confirmed diagnoses using the latest WHO 2021 criteria and examined a wide range of potential risk factors including patient age, NF1 genetic status, tumor location, and molecular alterations. The key finding was that the extent of surgical resection was the only statistically significant factor influencing recurrence-free survival: patients who underwent complete tumor removal survived recurrence-free for an estimated 321 months, compared to 160.9 months for those with partial removal. Notably, factors such as patient age, tumor genetics, and location did not significantly affect outcomes in this large cohort, suggesting that many prior smaller studies may have produced misleading results due to insufficient sample sizes and reliance on less rigorous statistical methods. The study reinforces that pilocytic astrocytoma remains primarily a surgical disease, and that achieving complete tumor removal should be the central goal of treatment whenever safely possible. These findings provide clinicians with stronger, evidence-based guidance for surgical decision-making and caution against over-interpreting conclusions from small datasets.
Free neuropathology
Source →Residential proximity to vines and risk of childhood embryonal tumours in France - GEOCAP case-control study, 2006-2013.
Awounou D, et al
A large French case-control study examined whether children living near vineyards face a higher risk of developing embryonal tumours, a group of childhood cancers that includes neuroblastoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumour, and rhabdomyosarcoma. Researchers used the GEOCAP national registry program, analyzing data from 2,761 childhood cancer cases diagnosed between 2006 and 2013 and over 40,000 age-matched controls, assessing residential proximity to viticultural land within a 1,000-meter radius. The study found a modest 5% increase in neuroblastoma risk for every 10% increase in vineyard density near a child's home, though this association showed regional variation and did not reach conventional statistical significance. No significant associations were found between vineyard proximity and the other embryonal tumour types studied. These findings suggest that residential exposure to agricultural pesticides commonly used in viticulture may play a role in the development of neuroblastoma in children, adding to growing evidence linking environmental pesticide exposure to childhood cancer risk. The results call for further investigation into specific pesticide compounds used in wine-growing regions and their potential effects on child health.
Environmental research
Source →Cytogenetics in the management of acute myeloid leukemia and histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms: Guidelines from the Groupe Francophone de Cytogénétique Hématologique (GFCH).
Bidet A, et al
A French cytogenetics working group (GFCH) has published updated clinical guidelines on the role of chromosomal analysis in diagnosing and managing acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and related rare blood cancers called histiocytic and dendritic cell neoplasms. The review focuses on the most recent 2022 international classification systems, which increasingly rely on genetic data to define and distinguish these cancers from closely related conditions such as myelodysplastic neoplasms. The guidelines detail common chromosomal abnormalities found in AML, while also addressing hidden or difficult-to-detect genetic changes that can pose diagnostic challenges for laboratory specialists. Importantly, the authors clarify where traditional cytogenetic techniques fit alongside newer molecular technologies available in 2023, helping clinicians choose the most appropriate diagnostic tools. These guidelines are directly relevant to patient care, as accurate cytogenetic classification in AML guides treatment decisions, prognosis, and eligibility for targeted therapies.
Current research in translational medicine
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