DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for breast angiosarcoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleBreast angiosarcoma maps to a 1-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 breast angiosarcoma 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
matrix metallopeptidase 7 (MMP7) — MMP7 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.
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RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 2Y6D · 1.6 Å · ligand N-[(2S)-1-[4-(5-BROMOPYRIDIN-2-YL)PIPERAZIN-1-YL]SULFONYL-5-PYRIMIDIN-2-YL-PENTAN-2-YL]-N-HYDROXY-METHANAMIDE (TQJ). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Breast angiosarcoma accounts for less than 1% of all soft tissue breast tumours and can arise de novo (primary) or secondary to chronic lymphoedema or breast irradiation, the latter termed radiation-induced angiosarcoma (RIAS). A 2019 review of the current literature states that the molecular pathways involved in its development have not been clearly described, although some gene point mutations and altered protein expression levels have been detected. Management remains based above all on surgery, and the review notes that further studies starting from the few known key points may help to develop more effective strategies based on target therapies together with surgery.
A 2025 study used single-cell RNA sequencing on tumour samples from one patient with bilateral primary breast angiosarcoma and two patients with invasive breast cancer, analysing 31,771 cells after quality control. The analysis revealed significant differences in the distribution of perivascular cells, fibroblasts, T cells, endothelial cells, and myeloid cells in breast angiosarcoma compared with invasive breast cancer. Key pathways enriched in the angiosarcoma samples included growth factor binding, platelet-derived growth factor binding, and ribosome biogenesis, with abnormal expression of several ribosomal proteins. Genes such as FAT4, KDR, FN1, and KIT were highly expressed in angiosarcoma endothelial cells and correlated with poor prognosis. Cell communication analysis highlighted the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis as a crucial mediator of the tumour microenvironment.
A 2019 single-institution study focused on a small number of cases of secondary breast angiosarcoma after breast-conserving treatment, describing RIAS as a consequence of that standard therapy. No response rates, survival figures, or sample sizes beyond the qualitative description of a small number of cases are provided in that report. The 2025 study is limited to a single patient with primary breast angiosarcoma and two comparator patients, so its findings on potential targets such as FAT4, KDR, FN1, KIT, and the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis have not been validated in a larger cohort. What is still missing is prospective clinical trial data, adequate funding for multi-centre studies of this rare disease, and patient stratification strategies that could translate the identified molecular targets into tested treatments.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Translational Cancer Research · 2019 · 35 citations · open access
Angiosarcoma of the breast, the unknown—a review of the current literature
AbstractAngiosarcoma of the breast is one of the rarest malignancies. Breast angiosarcoma can be classified into primary when arising de novo and secondary to chronic lymphoedema or breast irradiation. Molecular pathways involved in angiosarcoma development have not been described clearly, yet some gene point mutations and protein altered expression levels have been detected. So far, their management is based above all on surgery. Hence, further studies starting from the few known key points may help to develop more effective strategies based both on target therapies, together with surgery.
Breast Cancer Research · 2025 · 4 citations · open access
Dissecting the tumor microenvironment in primary breast angiosarcoma: insights from single-cell RNA sequencing
AbstractAngiosarcoma, a rare and highly aggressive malignancy originating from vascular endothelial cells, is characterized by its rapid progression, high invasiveness, and poor prognosis. Due to the limited understanding of its tumor microenvironment (TME) and the absence of effective treatments, further research is essential to elucidate its pathogenic mechanisms and improve therapeutic strategies. This study aims to characterize the cellular heterogeneity and unique TME of primary breast angiosarcoma using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), to identify potential therapeutic targets and improve clinical outcomes. Tumor samples were obtained from a patient with bilateral primary breast angiosarcoma and two patients with invasive breast cancer. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was conducted to capture the transcriptomic profiles of individual cells within the tumor samples. Following stringent quality control, a total of 31,771 cells were analyzed using comprehensive bioinformatics approaches. Cell populations were identified and classified into distinct cell types, and differential gene expression analysis was performed to explore key signaling pathways. Functional enrichment analysis was used to identify pathways related to tumor progression and immune evasion. Additionally, cell-cell communication networks were mapped to understand interactions within the TME, with a focus on pathways that may serve as therapeutic targets. The scRNA-seq analysis revealed significant differences in the distribution of perivascular cells, fibroblasts, T cells, endothelial cells, and myeloid cells in breast angiosarcoma compared to invasive breast cancer. Key pathways enriched in angiosarcoma samples included growth factor binding, platelet-derived growth factor binding, and ribosome biogenesis, with abnormal expression of several ribosomal proteins. Notably, genes such as FAT4, KDR, FN1, and KIT were highly expressed in angiosarcoma endothelial cells, correlating with poor prognosis. Cell communication analysis highlighted the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis as a crucial mediator of the TME in angiosarcoma. This study provides critical insights into the TME of primary breast angiosarcoma, highlighting potential molecular targets and pathways for therapeutic intervention. These findings may inform the development of more effective treatment strategies for this rare and challenging tumor type. 1) Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals distinct cellular heterogeneity in primary breast angiosarcoma. 2) Key pathways involved in growth factor binding, platelet-derived growth factor binding, and ribosome biogenesis are enriched in angiosarcoma. 3) High expression of genes such as FAT4, KDR, FN1, and KIT in angiosarcoma endothelial cells correlates with poor prognosis. 4) Cell communication analysis identifies the CXCL12-CXCR4 axis as a crucial mediator of the tumor microenvironment in angiosarcoma. 5) Findings provide potential molecular targets and pathways for developing more effective therapies for primary breast angiosarcoma.
International Journal of Cancer and Clinical Research · 2019 · 3 citations · open access
A Single Institution Study Experience of Secondary Breast Angiosarcoma after Breast Conserving Treatment: Multidisciplinary Management
AbstractThe aim of this study, focusing on a small number of cases, is to deal with the angiosarcoma of the breast, representing less than 1% of all soft tissue breast tumors, and finally share our experience. As a consequence of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) that is the standard treatment nowadays, a new type of angiosarcoma has been highlighted: Radiation-Induced Angiosarcoma (RIAS).
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.
