DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for alveolar soft part sarcoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 15-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleAlveolar soft part sarcoma maps to a 15-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for alveolar soft part sarcoma is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase 3 (NTRK3) — NTRK3 is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet 4-aminophenyldrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6KZD · 1.708 Å · ligand 3-[2-[6-(4-aminophenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazin-3-yl]ethynyl]-2-methyl-~{N}-[3-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-5-propan-2-yl-phenyl]benzamide (DZ6). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Alveolar soft part sarcoma is a rare sarcoma that typically occurs in young patients. A single-institution series of 23 patients treated between 1975 and 2008 reported a median age at diagnosis of 24 years, a median follow-up of 110 months, a median survival of 48 months, and an overall 5-year survival of 62%. At diagnosis, 5 of those 23 patients already had metastases; 15 patients (65%) suffered from lung metastasis, with 9 of those 15 having lung metastasis at initial diagnosis and 6 developing it later. Median survival after diagnosis of metastases was 38.5 months.
Despite a relatively indolent clinical course, the ultimate prognosis is poor and is often characterised by late metastases. The genetic translocation underlying the disease is well characterised, but as of 2012 little progress had been made in treating this uncommon but frequently fatal malignancy. A single case report from 2016 described a patient whose symptoms were markedly alleviated after surgical treatment followed by a chemotherapy regime, with no tumour recurrence observed during post-treatment follow-up, but this is a single patient and does not constitute evidence of efficacy.
No randomised controlled trials or large prospective studies are available. What is still missing is adequate funding for multi-centre trials, a trial design that can accommodate the rarity of the disease, and reliable patient stratification to distinguish those who might benefit from surgery alone from those who will inevitably progress.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Journal of Clinical Pathology · 2006 · 285 citations · open access
Alveolar soft-part sarcoma: a review and update
AbstractAlveolar soft-part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare, distinctive sarcoma, typically occurring in young patients. Although it displays a relatively indolent clinical course, the ultimate prognosis is poor and is often characterised by late metastases. Recently, our understanding of the genetic events underlying the pathogenesis of ASPS has greatly increased. The historical, histopathological, ultrastructural, immunohistochemical and genetic aspects of ASPS are reviewed in this article.
Alveolar Soft Part Sarcomas: Molecular Pathogenesis and Implications for Novel Targeted Therapies
AbstractAlveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a very rare soft tissue sarcoma which arises primarily in children and young adults. Despite its unique histology and well-characterized genetic translocation, many questions remain regarding the pathogenesis and treatment of this tumor type. Though collective clinical experience with this tumor type spans more than 60 years, there has been little progress made in treating this uncommon but frequently fatal disease. This paper focuses on the available data regarding its molecular pathogenesis and insights into targeted therapeutics as well as the results of clinical trials performed to date to hopefully improve the outcome of patients with this rare malignancy.
Oncology Letters · 2016 · 8 citations · open access
Alveolar soft part sarcoma associated with lung and brain metastases: A case report
AbstractThe present case report aimed to improve the understanding of alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) by investigating the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and therapeutic methods used to treat ASPS associated with lung and brain metastases. The clinical data of a single patient diagnosed with ASPS by postoperative pathology was studied retrospectively, and additional associated reports and previous studies of similar cases were reviewed. Clinical symptoms were markedly alleviated following surgical treatment, followed by a chemotherapy regime. During post-treatment follow-up, no tumor recurrence was observed.
AbstractAn alveolar soft part sarcoma is one of the rare malignant neoplasms. A 14 yearold female who had a tumor of her right thigh was admitted to our clinic. Histological examination of the tumor obtained by needle biopsy revealed an alveolar soft part sarcama. Wide local excision was performed and the anti-cancer agents such as VCR, ADM, ACD and EX were administered. Though she is desease free now, careful observation will be necessary for long periods, since metastases occured long time later after excision has been reported.
Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma: Clinical Experience in VGHTPE
AbstractBackground: Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is rare malignant tumor constituting 0.5-0.9% of all soft tissue sarcomas in adults and 0.8-1.85 of those in children. Published series on presentation and treatment outcome of this sarcoma are scarce. Aim and Objectives: We present our experience in treating patients with this disease. The clinical features, diagnosis, treatment and prognostic factors of patients with ASPS were studied. Materials and Methods: Between 1975 and 2008, 23 patients with alveolar soft part sarcoma were treated in our hospital. We collected the files and described their characteristics, therapy and course. Reslts: The study group consisted of 11 male and 12 female patients, the median age at diagnosis was 24 years (13-66 years). The primary site was the lower extremity (n=13), upper extremity (n=4), head and neck (n=2), abdominal wall (n=1), chest wall (n=1), back (n=1) and flank (n=1). The median follow-up was 110(2-301) months. The median survival was 48 months with an overall 5-year survival of 62%. At time of diagnosis 5 patients already had metastases. Fifteen patients (65%) suffered from lung metastasis. Among them 9 of 15 patients had lung metastasis at the initial diagnosis, 6 patients developed lung metastasis later. Median survival after diagnosis of metastases was 38.5 (1-101) months. Conclusion: Alveolar soft part sarcoma is found especially in young adults. When diagnosed it is often metastasized with a poor prognosis. However, with adequate treatment, long-term survival is possible.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
