Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Association between Clinical Factors and Postoperative Hypoglycemia in Pheochromocytoma and Paraganglioma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Li Y, et al
Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study investigating which clinical factors predispose patients with pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL)—rare hormone-secreting tumors—to dangerous drops in blood sugar after surgery. Among 346 adult patients who underwent PPGL surgery, 45 individuals (13%) developed postoperative hypoglycemia, with more than four in five cases occurring within the critical first 24 hours following the procedure. Multivariate logistic regression identified five independent risk factors: age under 30 years, a history of chronic kidney disease, the presence of classic preoperative symptoms such as headaches, palpitations, or sweating, preoperative positive semi-quantitative urine glucose, and adrenal tumor location. Using these five factors, the team built and validated a predictive nomogram—a straightforward visual scoring tool—that achieved an area under the ROC curve of 0.734, indicating reasonable discriminatory ability and good calibration. These findings give surgeons and endocrinologists a practical, evidence-based instrument for flagging high-risk PPGL patients before surgery, allowing for more intensive postoperative glucose monitoring and timely intervention to prevent life-threatening hypoglycemic episodes.
Endocrine practice : official journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
Source →Long-term OCTA-based evaluation of macular microvascular density following intravenous chemotherapy for retinoblastoma.
Mohamed NS, et al
A new study published in Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology investigated whether intravenous chemotherapy (IVC) used to treat retinoblastoma — a rare childhood eye cancer — causes lasting damage to the tiny blood vessels of the macula, the central region of the retina responsible for sharp vision. Researchers used optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), an advanced non-invasive imaging technique, to compare macular vessel density and structural parameters in 16 treated eyes, 20 fellow eyes of children with unilateral retinoblastoma, and 22 healthy control eyes, at a mean of 10 years after treatment. The study found no statistically significant differences in macular thickness, foveal avascular zone area, or vessel density in either the superficial or deep retinal capillary layers among all three groups. A modest but statistically significant difference in visual acuity was noted in treated eyes compared to healthy controls, though this may relate to the disease itself rather than chemotherapy-induced vascular toxicity. These findings are reassuring for clinicians and families, suggesting that IVC for retinoblastoma does not cause detectable long-term damage to the macular microvasculature over a decade of follow-up. The results support the continued use of IVC as a vision-sparing treatment strategy for children with retinoblastoma.
Cutaneous and ocular toxicology
Source →Hereditary Bilateral Retinoblastoma Detected on Screening in a Two-Month-Old Infant With a Strong Family History.
Bhola DE, et al
Researchers published a case report describing the early detection of hereditary bilateral retinoblastoma—the most common primary eye cancer in children—in a two-month-old asymptomatic female infant identified through routine ophthalmic screening prompted by a strong maternal family history of the disease. The infant was found to harbor a Group B tumor in the right eye and three Group A tumors in the left eye, classified according to the International Classification of Retinoblastoma. Following multidisciplinary evaluation, she received globe-sparing focal therapy—cryotherapy for the left eye and argon laser photocoagulation for the right eye—combined with four 21-day cycles of systemic chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin, etoposide, and vincristine. Treatment was well tolerated with minimal adverse effects, illustrating that proactive early screening in at-risk infants can enable vision-preserving interventions rather than more aggressive surgical options such as enucleation. This case highlights the critical importance of thorough family history documentation, timely ophthalmic surveillance, and coordinated multidisciplinary care in managing infants with suspected heritable retinoblastoma.
Cureus
Source →Icaritin inhibits castration-resistant prostate cancer via RhoB-mediated Akt signaling.
Hui C, et al
Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) remains one of the most difficult-to-treat malignancies, with existing therapies offering limited long-term benefit. Researchers investigated whether icaritin, a natural flavonoid compound derived from the medicinal plant Epimedium, could suppress CRPC and sought to clarify its molecular mechanism of action. Laboratory experiments showed that icaritin significantly reduced cancer cell survival, proliferation, and colony formation, while animal xenograft studies confirmed inhibition of tumor growth alongside decreased serum levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone. Through RNA sequencing combined with analysis of the TCGA-PRAD cancer genomics dataset, the team identified the protein RhoB as a key molecular target, demonstrating that icaritin acts by modulating RhoB-mediated Akt signaling. These findings provide a solid pharmacological rationale for developing icaritin into a novel therapeutic agent for CRPC patients, addressing an urgent unmet clinical need in advanced prostate cancer treatment.
Pathology, research and practice
Source →Apocrine Hidrocystoma of Foreskin: A Rare Benign Cystic Lesion.
Han LA, et al
Apocrine hidrocystoma is a rare benign cystic tumor originating from apocrine sweat glands, most commonly found in the head and neck region, but virtually never reported on the penile foreskin. Clinicians at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital describe the case of a 50-year-old man who presented with a slowly enlarging, multiloculated cyst on the foreskin, prompting referral to the urology service. A comprehensive review of the global literature identified only approximately 13 previously published cases of apocrine hidrocystoma involving the external genitalia, underscoring the extreme rarity of genital presentation. The patient was treated with excisional biopsy and complete circumcision under local anaesthesia, and histopathological examination definitively confirmed the diagnosis. Complete surgical excision was found to be both diagnostic and curative, carrying a low risk of recurrence and offering excellent outcomes for patients. This report represents the first documented case of foreskin apocrine hidrocystoma from Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and serves as a valuable addition to the sparse worldwide literature, reminding clinicians to include this benign entity in the differential diagnosis of penile cystic lesions.
Cureus
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