Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
CRISPR-Based Gene Dependency Screens Reveal Mechanism of BRAF Inhibitor Resistance in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer.
Noronha S, et al
Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is the most aggressive and lethal form of thyroid cancer, and although drugs targeting the BRAFV600E mutation have shown clinical promise, treatment resistance continues to limit patient outcomes. To identify new ways to overcome this resistance, researchers conducted two complementary CRISPR-based genetic screens designed to uncover genes whose loss either kills or sensitizes ATC cells when combined with BRAF inhibitor treatment. They discovered that loss of the protein TAZ, encoded by the WWTR1 gene, is synthetically lethal alongside BRAF inhibition, meaning ATC cells lacking TAZ become dramatically more sensitive to these drugs. Mechanistically, the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib was found to activate a cellular stress pathway known as the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), and removal of TAZ suppresses this protective response, reverses inhibition of protein synthesis, and triggers a form of iron-dependent cell death called ferroptosis. Analysis across a large panel of cancer cell lines confirmed that this vulnerability to TAZ loss is specific to BRAFV600E-driven tumors, underscoring a precision medicine opportunity. These findings position TAZ as a compelling new therapeutic target that could be exploited to extend the effectiveness of BRAF inhibitors in patients with this devastating disease.
Molecular carcinogenesis
Source →Sprayable Dual-Network Microgel Adhesive for Robust Wet Adhesion and Prolonged Analgesia in Complex Wounds.
Zhang Q, et al
Researchers have developed a sprayable dual-network microgel adhesive, called PR, designed to overcome the key challenges of treating deep, irregular wounds such as those encountered in surgical or trauma settings. Unlike conventional dressings that cannot conform to complex wound geometries, the powder-based spray format of PR allows it to penetrate uneven wound beds and provide uniform coverage. The adhesive achieves wet tissue adhesion of approximately 40 kPa — more than four times stronger than fibrin glue — enabling reliable wound sealing even under active bleeding conditions where liquid adhesives typically fail. PR simultaneously delivers liposomal ropivacaine, a local anesthetic, sustaining pain relief for up to 240 hours and maintaining pain-free mobility for over 168 hours in rodent models. By integrating instant hemostatic adhesion with prolonged analgesia in a single sprayable platform, this innovation addresses critical unmet needs in wound management and holds strong potential for clinical translation.
Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Source →In silico discovery of natural and synthetic inhibitors targeting AKT1 in prostate cancer.
Chanda HM, et al
Prostate cancer remains one of the most prevalent and lethal malignancies among men worldwide, creating an urgent need for novel, precisely targeted therapeutic options. In this study, researchers employed computational (in silico) methods to systematically screen and evaluate both natural and synthetic compounds as potential inhibitors of AKT1, a protein kinase that plays a pivotal role in driving tumor cell survival, growth, and resistance to therapy in prostate cancer. Using virtual screening, molecular docking, and pharmacokinetic profiling, the team assessed how well candidate molecules bind to and interact with the AKT1 protein target. Several promising inhibitor candidates — including naturally derived compounds — were identified as exhibiting strong binding affinity and favorable drug-like properties suitable for further preclinical investigation. These findings offer a valuable starting point for the rational development of new AKT1-targeted drugs that may improve outcomes for prostate cancer patients in the future.
Molecular diversity
Source →Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Submandibular Gland in an Older Adult: A Rare Case and Literature Review.
Moi R, et al
Researchers present an exceptionally rare case of high-grade neuroendocrine carcinoma arising in the submandibular gland of a 78-year-old man, a malignancy with fewer than 30 cases documented in the global medical literature. The patient, who had no history of smoking or alcohol use, presented with a rapidly enlarging painless neck mass measuring six by four-and-a-half centimeters, and CT imaging confirmed a large tumor with central necrosis. He underwent complete surgical resection of the tumor and associated cervical lymph nodes, with histopathology and immunohistochemistry — including positivity for chromogranin A, CD56, and cytokeratin — confirming the neuroendocrine carcinoma diagnosis. Following surgery and adjuvant therapy, the patient remained free of recurrence over four years of radiological follow-up, an unusually favorable outcome for such an aggressive malignancy. A systematic literature review of 27 documented cases further underscores the diagnostic difficulty caused by this tumor's histopathologic overlap with other cancers and the lack of standardized treatment protocols. The authors call for multicentric studies and molecular profiling to develop personalized treatment strategies and improve survival for future patients facing this rare diagnosis.
The American journal of case reports
Source →Radionuclide-based pharmaceuticals for breast cancer imaging: state of the art.
Paraïso P, et al
A comprehensive review published in EJNMMI Radiopharmacy and Chemistry examines the current landscape of radionuclide-based imaging agents for breast cancer, a disease characterized by significant biological heterogeneity that no single imaging tool can fully capture. Researchers evaluated both PET and SPECT radiopharmaceuticals targeting key tumor biomarkers including estrogen, progesterone, and androgen receptors, HER2, GRPR, and SSTR2, as well as emerging targets such as FAP, CXCR4, NTSR1, NPY1R, and TROP-2. While standard imaging tools and [18F]FDG PET/CT remain the clinical backbone, the review highlights their limitations in specificity, sensitivity for small lesions, and reliability in bone-predominant disease or settings with high inter-lesional heterogeneity. Receptor-targeted nuclear imaging was found to enable non-invasive, whole-body tumor phenotyping that goes beyond what a single biopsy can reveal, better capturing spatial heterogeneity across disease sites. The authors conclude that multi-target imaging strategies hold strong promise for improving patient stratification and guiding treatment decisions, but emphasize that larger prospective clinical studies are essential to establish the diagnostic performance and theranostic value of these approaches in breast cancer.
EJNMMI radiopharmacy and chemistry
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