Latest Research
All publications from the Cancer3.AI database, newest first.
Mapping the evolution and research landscape of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a bibliometric analysis.
Öktem Ç, et al
This study conducted a bibliometric analysis to map the evolution and current research landscape of Retzius-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RS-RARP), a surgical technique for prostate cancer designed to better preserve urinary continence and sexual function compared to standard approaches. By systematically analyzing the body of published literature on this topic, the researchers identified key trends, influential authors, leading institutions, and emerging research themes in the field. The findings provide a comprehensive overview of how scientific interest and output in RS-RARP has grown over time, highlighting the most impactful contributions and collaborative networks shaping this area. For clinicians and patients, this analysis offers valuable guidance on where the evidence base is strongest and where future research efforts should be directed to optimize surgical outcomes in prostate cancer treatment.
Journal of robotic surgery
Source →Comprehensive comparison of Bioprotect balloon and Barrigel hydrogel rectal spacers in proton therapy for prostate cancer.
Arnold J
A new study published in BMC Urology compared two types of rectal spacers used during proton therapy for prostate cancer: the BioProtect balloon spacer and the Barrigel hydrogel spacer, with the goal of determining which device better protects the rectum from radiation damage. Researchers analyzed 50 patients split equally between the two devices, measuring how far each spacer pushed the rectum away from the prostate and how much radiation the rectum received during treatment. BioProtect created significantly greater physical separation between the prostate and rectum at the midgland (18.28 mm vs. 14.52 mm) and apex (12.8 mm vs. 8.3 mm), and delivered meaningfully lower rectal radiation doses across multiple dose thresholds in both prostate-only and whole-pelvis treatment plans. Crucially, no cases of rectal wall infiltration occurred with BioProtect, compared to three with Barrigel, and none of the BioProtect patients experienced significant gastrointestinal side effects at three months, versus 17.4% of Barrigel patients. These findings suggest that BioProtect's fixed-geometry balloon design may offer a clinically meaningful advantage over the hydrogel alternative specifically in the proton therapy setting, potentially reducing treatment-related bowel complications for prostate cancer patients.
BMC urology
Source →Efficacy and safety of albumin-bound paclitaxel combined with anlotinib and immunotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer with liver metastases: a retrospective study.
Teng H, et al
A retrospective study investigated the efficacy and safety of combining albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) with anlotinib, a multi-target antiangiogenic agent, and immunotherapy in patients diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that had spread to the liver. Liver metastases in NSCLC represent a particularly challenging clinical scenario associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options, making novel combination strategies an important area of research. The study evaluated key clinical outcomes such as objective response rate, progression-free survival, overall survival, and the incidence of treatment-related adverse events in this patient population. The findings aimed to determine whether this triple-combination regimen could offer meaningful clinical benefit while maintaining an acceptable safety profile. Results from this research could inform oncologists about a potentially effective treatment strategy for a subset of advanced NSCLC patients with liver involvement, where standard therapies often yield suboptimal outcomes.
BMC cancer
Source →B7-H3 (CD276) in exosome biogenesis and the tumor microenvironment: a new therapeutic nexus.
Omran K, et al
Researchers have published a comprehensive review examining the role of B7-H3 (CD276), an immune checkpoint protein, in the biology of tumor-derived exosomes — tiny vesicles released by cancer cells that help reshape the surrounding tumor environment. The review reveals that B7-H3 is not only present on cancer and immune cell surfaces but is also concentrated within these exosomes, where it enhances vesicle production, alters their molecular cargo, and activates pro-tumor signaling pathways including STAT3 and PI3K. By manipulating the tumor microenvironment, B7-H3-enriched exosomes actively suppress immune responses, drive cancer spread, and contribute to resistance against existing therapies. Clinically, the findings highlight the potential of B7-H3-carrying exosomes as blood-based biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring cancers such as colorectal, prostate, and non-small cell lung cancer. The authors also outline promising therapeutic strategies — including CAR-T cells, bispecific antibodies, and exosome inhibitors — that could target this pathway, potentially improving outcomes when combined with current immunotherapies.
Cell communication and signaling : CCS
Source →Thymus regeneration therapies: entering a new era.
Kreins AY, et al
A review published in Trends in Molecular Medicine examines the science and clinical promise of thymus regeneration therapies, focusing on how this small but critical organ — essential for producing functional T cells and maintaining immune self-tolerance — might be rebuilt using modern stem cell technologies. The thymus naturally shrinks and loses function with age, while genetic defects can cause its complete absence, resulting in severe immunodeficiency and susceptibility to autoimmune disease. Although allogeneic thymus transplantation has demonstrated that T cell reconstitution is achievable, the approach is severely limited by donor scarcity and immune incompatibility due to HLA mismatching. Breakthroughs in single-cell biology and stem cell engineering now make it possible to derive thymic epithelial cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), potentially enabling scalable, patient-compatible thymus replacement without donor dependency. Such iPSC-based therapies could restore the immune system's capacity to generate new T cells and enforce self-tolerance in an HLA-matched manner, addressing unmet needs across multiple diseases. The authors argue that these advances position thymus regeneration as a transformative strategy for treating immune deficiency, improving organ transplant outcomes, enhancing cancer immunotherapy, controlling autoimmune disease, and even counteracting immune aging.
Trends in molecular medicine
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