DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for benign colon neoplasm — screening already-approved drugs against its 34-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleBenign colon neoplasm maps to a 34-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 benign colon neoplasm 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
MDM4 regulator of p53 (MDM4) — MDM4 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 3~{s}drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6Q9Y · 1.2 Å · ligand 7-methoxy-~{N}-[(3~{S})-1-(4-methylphenyl)pyrrolidin-3-yl]-1~{H}-indole-3-carboxamide (HRQ). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2023 nationwide analysis of 569,280 elective partial colectomies in the United States found that 153,435 (27.0%) were performed for benign neoplasms. The proportion of operations for benign lesions fell from 28.6% in 2012 to 23.7% in 2019. Patients with benign neoplasms were younger (median 66 vs 68 years) and had fewer comorbidities than those with malignant disease. After adjustment, the benign cohort had lower odds of in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio 0.61), stoma creation (0.46), and infectious complications (0.68). However, Black patients showed an incremental increase in colectomy for benign neoplasms over the same period, while the overall national incidence decreased.
A 2000 immunohistochemical study compared cell adhesion molecule expression in 14 low-grade dysplasias, 16 high-grade dysplasias, and 8 adenocarcinomas associated with ulcerative colitis against 17 sporadic adenomas with mild-to-moderate dysplasia, 22 adenomas with severe dysplasia, and 15 sporadic invasive adenocarcinomas. CD44 (standard form) and deleted colon carcinoma (DCC) expression was stronger in sporadic neoplasms than in colitis-associated lesions. Alpha-catenin was more expressed in sporadic adenomas with severe dysplasia and carcinomas than in their colitis-associated counterparts. Membranous beta-catenin staining was stronger in colitis-associated neoplasms, whereas sporadic lesions had greater cytoplasmic and nuclear expression. E-cadherin showed no significant difference between the two groups. The authors concluded that these differences suggest colitis-associated and sporadic colon neoplasms arise through different pathways.
A 2018 review notes that colorectal surgeons encounter rare neoplasms of the small bowel, colon, and rectum that develop from epithelial, mesenchymal, and lymphoid tissues, and that their treatments differ substantially from those for adenocarcinoma. The review does not provide quantitative outcome data or specific treatment recommendations.
No drug treatment for benign colon neoplasm is evaluated in these abstracts. The 2023 study identifies a persistent inequity in colectomy rates for Black patients but does not explain its cause. The 2000 study is purely descriptive and does not test any intervention. The 2018 review offers no new data. What is missing is prospective research into why benign polyps are still surgically removed in some populations, molecular studies that could guide non-surgical management, and clinical trials of endoscopic or chemopreventive strategies that might reduce the need for colectomy.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Cancer · 2000 · 53 citations
Decreased expression of CD44, alpha‐catenin, and deleted colon carcinoma and altered expression of beta‐catenin in ulcerative colitis‐associated dysplasia and carcinoma, as compared with sporadic colon neoplasms
AbstractBACKGROUND: To clarify the cell adhesion status in ulcerative colitis (UC)-associated colon neoplasm, expression of cell adhesion molecules were investigated and compared with that of sporadic colon neoplasm. METHODS: A total of 14 low grade dysplasias, 16 high grade dysplasias, and 8 adenocarcinomas associated with UC and 17 sporadic adenomas with mild to moderate dysplasia, 22 adenomas with severe dysplasia, and 15 invasive adenocarcinomas were immunohistochemically examined using monoclonal antibodies against CD44, E-cadherin, alpha- and beta-catenin, and deleted colon carcinoma (DCC). RESULTS: CD44, especially its standard form, and DCC expression was stronger in the sporadic colon neoplasms than in the UC-associated lesions. Although E-cadherin did not show significant differences between the two cases, alpha-catenin was more expressed in sporadic colon adenomas with severe dysplasia and carcinomas than in their UC-associated counterparts. Membranous beta-catenin staining was stronger in UC-associated neoplasms, whereas sporadic lesions had greater cytoplasmic and nuclear expression. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in cell adhesion molecule expression suggests that UC-associated and sporadic colon neoplasms arise from different pathways of tumorigenesis.
Decreasing rates of colectomy for benign neoplasms: A nationwide analysis
AbstractBACKGROUND: Despite advances in endoscopic techniques for management of benign colonic neoplasms, a rise in rates of surgical treatment has been reported. We used a nationally representative cohort to characterize temporal trends, patient characteristics, and outcomes associated with colectomy for colonic neoplasms. METHODS: All patients undergoing elective partial colectomy for benign or malignant colonic neoplasms were identified using the 2012-2019 National Inpatient Sample. Those presenting with inflammatory bowel disease, or experiencing intestinal perforation were excluded. Patients with benign neoplasms were classified as the Benign cohort (others: Malignant). Trends, characteristics, and outcomes were assessed between groups. RESULTS: Of 569,280 colectomy procedures included for analysis, 153,435 (27.0%) were performed for benign lesions. The proportion of Benign operations decreased from 28.6% in 2012 to 23.7% in 2019 (P for trend<0.001). While overall national incidence of colectomy for benign neoplasms decreased from 2012 to 2019 (IRD -1.19, 95%CI -1.20- -1.19), Black patients demonstrated an incremental increase (IRD +0.04, 95%CI +0.02-0.06). On average, Benign was younger (66 [57-72] vs 68 years [58-77], P<0.001), and demonstrated a lower Elixhauser comorbidity index (2 [1-3] vs 3 [2-4], P<0.001), relative to Malignancy. Following adjustment, Benign demonstrated lower odds of in-hospital mortality (AOR 0.61, 95%CI 0.50-0.74; P<0.001), stoma creation (AOR 0.46, 95%CI 0.43-0.50; P<0.001), and infectious complications (AOR 0.68, 95%CI 0.63-0.73; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present national study identifies a decrease in colectomy for benign polyps from 2012-2019. Future investigations should identify patients who would most benefit from surgical resection and address persistent inequities in access to screening and treatment for colonic neoplasms.
Clinics in Colon and Rectal Surgery · 2018 · 2 citations · open access
“Miscellaneous” Tumors of the Small Bowel and Colon and Rectum
AbstractColorectal surgeons frequently encounter patients presenting with rare neoplasms of the small bowel, colon, and rectum, and their treatments significantly differ from the more frequently encountered adenocarcinoma. These neoplasms may develop from epithelial, mesenchymal, and lymphoid tissues, and it is important to understand their biology to ensure that the patients receive the appropriate therapy.
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.
