DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for bronchoalveolar adenocarcinoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 46-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleBronchoalveolar adenocarcinoma maps to a 46-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 bronchoalveolar adenocarcinoma 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
kelch like ECH associated protein 1 (KEAP1) — KEAP1 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 2r,3sdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 8IXS · 1.48 Å · ligand (2R,3S)-3-[[(2S)-2-fluoranyl-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)ethanoyl]amino]-2-methyl-3-(4-methylphenyl)propanoic acid (T6I). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2010 retrospective study of peripheral small-sized adenocarcinoma (tumours ≤20 mm) compared lobectomy (n=114) with limited resection (n=35) using strict criteria: tumours ≤10 mm, or 11–20 mm with ≥50% ground-glass opacity and no pleural indentation, plus intraoperative frozen-section diagnosis of Noguchi type A or B. The 5-year survival rates were 89.2% for lobectomy and 100% for limited resection, with no recurrence in the limited-resection group. These results support limited resection under those specific selection criteria, but the study is retrospective, single-centre, and the limited-resection group is small.
A 1994 case report describes a nonsecretory bronchioloalveolar carcinoma presenting with the air bronchogram sign and pulmonary consolidation, challenging the assumption that the sign requires mucus production. A 1995 review notes that bronchioloalveolar carcinoma is increasingly common, has nonspecific clinical and radiographic presentations, and that localised disease is amenable to surgical cure while diffuse involvement is devastating; it calls for more information on cellular origins and predispositions. A 2005 review discusses carcinogenetic theories, including congenital pulmonary airway malformation and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia as premalignant lesions for mucinous and nonmucinous types respectively, but states that the therapeutic impact of molecular advances remains uncertain.
A 2011 review of bronchial carcinoids, a distinct neuroendocrine tumour group, notes that these are generally indolent but can metastasise, and that pathogenesis is poorly understood. It identifies several intracellular signalling pathways under investigation as potential drug targets, and mentions already known but promising drug options, without naming them or providing efficacy data. A 2013 high-throughput sequencing study compared blood microRNA profiles from lung adenocarcinoma patients with and without bone metastasis, finding 7 down-regulated and 21 up-regulated microRNAs, with 797 predicted target genes; functional annotation implicated MAPK, Wnt, and NF-kappaB signalling, matrix metalloproteinase, cytoskeletal, and angiogenesis pathways. This is descriptive and offers no therapeutic intervention.
A 2020 review of minimally invasive therapies for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer, including stereotactic radiation, percutaneous ablation, and bronchial intervention, describes their principles and prospects but provides no outcome data. A 2005 paper questions the proposed reclassification of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma into adenocarcinoma in situ or minimally invasive adenocarcinoma, arguing that the terminology implies benign behaviour and could lead to suboptimal treatment; it stresses the need to evaluate actual cases against the new definitions for patient outcome. What remains missing across these studies is prospective validation of limited resection criteria in larger cohorts, any drug efficacy data for bronchioloalveolar carcinoma specifically, and a molecular or imaging biomarker that reliably stratifies patients for conservative versus aggressive management.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
International Journal of Surgery · 2010 · 31 citations
Limited pulmonary resection for peripheral small-sized adenocarcinoma of the lung
AbstractBACKGROUND: It was recently reported that a limited pulmonary resection (segmentectomy or wedge resection) was not inferior to a lobectomy in the management of peripheral small-sized adenocarcinoma (tumor ≦ 20 mm) of the lung. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing a lobectomy (n = 114) and a limited resection (n = 35) for peripheral small-sized adenocarcinoma of the lung during a 7-year period from April 2001 to March 2008. Our criteria for the limited resection of lung cancer were as follows: (1) adenocarcinoma of 10 mm or less in diameter and (2) adenocarcinoma of 11-20 mm in diameter, in which the ratio of the ground glass opacity is 50% or more, without pleural indentation on computed tomography. Additionally, the frozen sections of the tumors were intraoperatively diagnosed as Noguchi type A or B. The survival and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: The 5-year survival rates of the lobectomy group and limited resection groups were 89.2% and 100%, respectively. No recurrence was seen in the limited resection group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that our criteria for limited resection were adequate for the management of small-sized adenocarcinoma of the lung.
Genome-Wide Identification of Bone Metastasis-Related MicroRNAs in Lung Adenocarcinoma by High-Throughput Sequencing
AbstractBACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. They participate in a wide variety of biological processes, including apoptosis, proliferation and metastasis. The aberrant expression of miRNAs has been found to play an important role in many cancers. RESULTS: To understand the roles of miRNAs in the bone metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma, we constructed two small RNA libraries from blood of lung adenocarcinoma patients with and without bone metastasis. High-throughput sequencing combined with differential expression analysis identified that 7 microRNAs were down-regulated and 21 microRNAs were up-regulated in lung adenocarcinoma with bone metastasis. A total of 797 target genes of the differentially expressed microRNAs were identified using a bioinformatics approach. Functional annotation analysis indicated that a number of pathways might be involved in bone metastasis, survival of the primary origin and metastatic angiogenesis of lung adenocarcinoma. These include the MAPK, Wnt, and NF-kappaB signaling pathways, as well as pathways involving the matrix metalloproteinase, cytoskeletal protein and angiogenesis factors. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides some insights into the molecular mechanisms that underlie lung adenocarcinoma development, thereby aiding the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma and the Air Bronchogram Sign
AbstractBronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) is one of the few lung tumors known to demonstrate the air bronchogram sign. Production of this valuable radiologic sign by this tumor has been ascribed to an "alveolar" filling process in which tumor grows along alveolar walls with preservation of the architecture and secretes copious amounts of mucus. Thus, aerated bronchi are surrounded by alveoli that are filled with mucus and tumor. We present a case in which the air bronchogram sign and pulmonary consolidation are associated with a nonsecretory BAC. Alternative mechanisms that may produce the air bronchogram sign in BAC are offered.
Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets · 2011 · 17 citations
The molecular pathogenesis and management of bronchial carcinoids
AbstractINTRODUCTION: In terms of well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), the lung is the second most common site of occurrence, after the gastro-entero-pancreatic axis, and comprises ∼ 25% of all NETs which may occur in various parts of the body. Pulmonary NETs are classified into four groups including typical carcinoid tumors, atypical carcinoid tumors, small cell lung carcinoma and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. Among pulmonary NETs, typical and atypical carcinoid tumors of the lung are generally indolent, but do have a (albeit low) potential to metastasize. AREAS COVERED: The molecular biology and novel molecular pathways and drug targets in bronchial carcinoids are reviewed in this paper. A full data search is performed through PubMed over the years 2000 - 2010 with key words 'neuroendocrine tumors of the lung, bronchial carcinoid, lung carcinoid, foregut carcinoid, pulmonary carcinoid, pulmonary NETs, lung NETs, molecular biology, autoradiography, nuclear medicine, treatment'; all relevant publications are included, together with selected publications prior to that date. EXPERT OPINION: Although lying at the benign end of the spectrum of pulmonary NETs, bronchial carcinoids can metastasize, and the pathogenesis of these tumors is poorly understood. Several intracellular signaling pathways are under investigation to define new targets for the successful treatment of these tumors. In terms of treatment, further research should additionally focus on the already known but promising drug options.
[Minimally Invasive Therapies for Early Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer].
AbstractLung cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in the world, among which non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of the total lung cancer. With the widespread of computed tomography (CT) and other imaging screening methods, the pathological types of lung cancer have changed from central squamous cell carcinoma to the early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, which is manifested as isolated pulmonary nodules and ground glass nodules on CT. Early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer is of crucial clinical significance, and the continuous development and improvement of minimally invasive interventional techniques provide more options for lung cancer treatment, such as stereotactic radiation, percutaneous ablation, and bronchial intervention. This paper will make a review on the principle, advantages, disadvantages and prospects of minimally invasive interventional therapy commonly used in clinical practice.
AbstractBronchioloalveolar carcinoma is an increasingly common type of lung cancer. Its nonspecific clinical manifestations, diverse roentgenographic presentations, and associations with some chronic lung inflammatory conditions make it an important, potentially treatable consideration in many patients. Because of the amenability of localized disease to surgical cure and the devastating course of diffuse involvement, recognition of bronchioloalveolar carcinoma in its early stages is essential. More information about cellular origins and predispositions to this tumor is needed if effective prevention is to be achieved. Clin Pulm Med 1995;2(2):129-137
Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma of the Lung
AbstractBronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) is known as a morphologic subtype of nonsmall cell lung cancer. We review a summary of the current carcinogenetic theories for BAC and adenocarcinoma of the lung. In particular, we present several paradigms of morphogenesis and the importance of congenital pulmonary airway malformation and atypical adenomatous hyperplasia as premalignant lesions for mucinous and nonmucinous types of BAC, respectively. To what extent the recent advances in carcinogenesis at molecular and genetic levels will lead to more effective therapeutic avenues remains to be seen in the future.
Improving access to the justice system for people with communication difficulties : a training program for people working in the justice system
AbstractThe classification of pulmonary adenocarcinoma has recently undergone several proposed changes. Among these, the most striking pertains to the discontinuation of the term "bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC)" and its replacement by the terms "adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS)" or "minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA)" for small solitary adenocarcinomas with either pure bronchiolalveolar growth or predominant bronchioloalveolar growth and ≤5 mm invasion, respectively, in resection specimens. The recommendation for these new concepts was based on discussion and review of the literature by a panel of experts from multiple disciplines. However, the results of a recent study investigating the topic of early stage adenocarcinoma (pT1N0M0) which was based on an actual series of cases, have raised questions as to the concept, validity and justification of such new terminology and have reinforced the need to evaluate actual cases that meet the newly proposed definitions and compare them in terms of patient outcome. This is even more important when proposing terminology that implies benign behavior and that could result in a false sense of security putting patients at risk for suboptimal treatment approaches. The controversies surrounding these issues are the subject of this work.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works using Disease Ontology synonyms, 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.
