DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for colorectal cancer — screening already-approved drugs against its 48-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleColorectal cancer maps to a 48-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
approvedRegorafenibApproved drugapprovedDasatinibApproved drug
Structures already discussed alongside colorectal cancer in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
Crystal structure of EphA4 kinase domain — Dasatinib has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 2Y6O, 1.543 Å). This is the drug's own deposited structure, not a prediction, and confirms it is a structurally characterised molecule rather than an untested guess.
Loading structure…
helix sheet 1n1drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 2Y6O · 1.543 Å · ligand Dasatinib (1N1). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a Western Australian population-based study of 5,809 patients treated between 1993 and 2003, five-year overall survival was 59.4% for those managed in private hospitals and 48.6% for those in public hospitals. Treatment in a private hospital was a significant independent predictor of survival, with a relative risk of 0.764. A Glasgow study of 645 patients operated on between 1974 and 1979 found that the proportion of apparently curative resections varied among 13 general surgeons from 40% to 76%, postoperative mortality from 8% to 30%, and ten-year survival after curative resection from 20% to 63%. The authors concluded that such differences compromise survival and that improvement might be achieved if surgery were undertaken by surgeons with a special interest in colorectal surgery.
A 2017 review of colorectal cancer treatment in China notes that international guidelines are used but that treatment varies due to differences in economy, geography, and disease onset. It states that treatment continues to progress and that patient efficacy and quality of life have improved, but provides no specific survival or response data. A 2004 qualitative study of 39 UK patients found that colorectal cancer and its treatment led to a loss of adulthood related to loss of professional and sexual identity, dignity, privacy, independence, and ability to socialise.
Two reviews from 2022 and 2025 discuss drug repurposing for colorectal cancer. The 2022 review notes that five-year survival in the metastatic setting is as low as 10% and that repurposing offers an affordable solution for previously approved drugs, including anti-malarial, anti-helminthic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-diabetic agents. The 2025 review states that despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, challenges remain including high costs, limited efficacy, and drug resistance, and that repurposing offers reduced timelines and lower costs. Neither review reports results from a completed repurposing trial in colorectal cancer patients. What is still missing is any randomised controlled trial data testing a repurposed drug specifically for colorectal cancer, along with the funding and patient stratification needed to move beyond review-level speculation.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Medicine · 2017 · 136 citations · open access
The current status of treatment for colorectal cancer in China
AbstractBACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers all over the world, but its epidemiology is obviously different in various regions. METHODS: The treatment of CRC also has varying characteristics due to differences in economy, geography, disease onset, chemotherapy, and other factors, although international guidelines are used to guide the treatment of CRC in China. RESULTS: This paper summarizes the current status of CRC treatment, including surgical therapy, neoadjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, postoperative chemotherapy, targeted therapy, maintenance therapy, and immunotherapy, according to the clinical situation in China, so as to provide better therapy and improve clinical practice for patients with CRC. CONCLUSION: This research shows that the treatment of colorectal cancer continues to progress, and the patient's efficacy and quality of life have improved.
The Medical Journal of Australia · 2007 · 55 citations
Comparing survival outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer treated in public and private hospitals
AbstractOBJECTIVE: To determine whether treatment in a private versus public hospital was an independent predictor of survival outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective, population-based study. SETTING: Tertiary care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: All patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer in Western Australia between 1993 and 2003. INTERVENTIONS: Management in private versus public hospitals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Overall survival and cancer-specific survival rates. RESULTS: 5809 patients were treated for colorectal cancer. Of these, 1523 (26%) were managed in private hospitals. The 5-year overall survival rates for private and public hospital patients were 59.4% (95% CI, 56.9%-61.9%) and 48.6% (95% CI, 47.0%-50.2%), respectively. Significant independent predictors of overall survival were: treatment in a private hospital (P = 0.0001; relative risk [RR], 0.764; 95% CI, 0.696-0.839); younger age (P = 0.0001; RR, 1.032; 95% CI, 1.029-1.036); male sex (P = 0.001; RR, 1.148; 95% CI, 1.068-1.234); and cancer stage (eg, Stage II: P = 0.0001; RR, 1.508; 95% CI, 1.316-1.729). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment in a private hospital was a significant independent predictor of survival outcomes. Further validation of these results would have a significant bearing on how we approach health care delivery for patients with colorectal cancer.
Overcoming Therapy Resistance in Colon Cancer by Drug Repurposing
AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world. Despite improvement in standardized screening methods and the development of promising therapies, the 5-year survival rates are as low as 10% in the metastatic setting. The increasing life expectancy of the general population, higher rates of obesity, poor diet, and comorbidities contribute to the increasing trends in incidence. Drug repurposing offers an affordable solution to achieve new indications for previously approved drugs that could play a protagonist or adjuvant role in the treatment of CRC with the advantage of treating underlying comorbidities and decreasing chemotherapy toxicity. This review elaborates on the current data that supports drug repurposing as a feasible option for patients with CRC with a focus on the evidence and mechanism of action promising repurposed candidates that are widely used, including but not limited to anti-malarial, anti-helminthic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-diabetic agents.
Clinical Medicine Insights Oncology · 2019 · 27 citations · open access
Efficacy of Regorafenib in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Multi-institutional Retrospective Study
AbstractBACKGROUND: Regorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor approved for treatment of refractory advanced colorectal cancer. It was found in the clinical trials to have a modest benefit and significant toxicity. Our aim was to assess the outcome in our local clinic practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Records of patients with confirmed colorectal cancer treated with regorafenib were reviewed. Clinical, pathological, and molecular data were collected. Efficacy and factors of possible prognostic significance were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 78 patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were treated with regorafenib from February 2014 to February 2016 in 4 different institutions (median age: 50.5 years; male: 40 [51.3%]; KRAS mutant: 41 [52%]; right colonic primary: 18 [23%]). A total of 52 patients (66.7%) had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0 to 1, whereas in 25 patients (32.1%) it was >1. In total, 58 patients (74%) had dose reduction. No patient achieved objective response, 15 patients (19%) achieved stable disease, and 56 patients (72%) had progressive disease. With a median follow-up of 6.5 months, the median progression-free survival was 2.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-3.3) and overall survival was 8.0 months (95% CI, 6.2-9.7). Only performance status of ⩽1 had a statistically significant impact on progression-free survival and overall survival in both univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Regorafenib in our clinical practice has equal efficacy to reported data from pivotal registration trials. Our data suggest that performance status is the most important prognostic factor in patients treated with regorafenib, suggesting a careful selection of patients.
Evidence-Based Nursing · 2004 · 5 citations · open access
Patients with colorectal cancer expressed a loss of adulthood related to a loss of professional and sexual identity, dignity, privacy, independence, and ability to socialise
AbstractRozmovits L, Ziebland S. Expressions of loss of adulthood in the narratives of people with colorectal cancer. Qual Health Res 2004;14:187–203.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Q In patients with colorectal cancer, what is the effect of the illness and treatment on sense of adulthood in relation to self identity? Qualitative study using illness narrative interviews. UK. 39 patients (33–87 y, 51% men) who were 28–68 years of age at the time of diagnosis of colorectal cancer (any of Dukes stages of illness) were recruited using maximum variation sampling. Indepth narrative interviews were done in patients’ homes for all but 3 patients, who were interviewed in a support group office. Patients were invited to tell their stories from the point at which they first suspected a problem and were then asked semistructured questions on several illness related issues. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analysed using the constant comparative method. An overarching theme of loss of … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DQualitative%2BHealth%2BResearch%26rft.stitle%253DQual%2BHealth%2BRes%26rft.aulast%253DRozmovits%26rft.auinit1%253DL.%26rft.volume%253D14%26rft.issue%253D2%26rft.spage%253D187%26rft.epage%253D203%26rft.atitle%253DExpressions%2Bof%2BLoss%2Bof%2BAdulthood%2Bin%2Bthe%2BNarratives%2Bof%2BPeople%2Bwith%2BColorectal%2BCancer%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1177%252F1049732303260874%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F14768457%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1177/1049732303260874&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=14768457&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febnurs%2F7%2F4%2F126.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000188223300004&link_type=ISI
Impact of variability among surgeons on postoperative morbidity and mortality and ultimate survival.
AbstractOBJECTIVE: To assess the differences among surgeons in postoperative complications, postoperative mortality, and survival in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer. DESIGN: Prospective study of patients with colorectal cancer managed by one of 13 consultant surgeons, none of whom had a special interest in colorectal surgery. SETTING: Royal Infirmary, Glasgow. PATIENTS: 645 sequential patients with colorectal cancer presenting over the six years from 1974 to 1979. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postoperative complications, postoperative mortality (within 30 days), and survival (up to 10 years); predictive factors for postoperative mortality and survival; and relative hazard rate ratios for individual surgeons. RESULTS: The proportion of patients undergoing apparently curative resection varied among surgeons from 40% to 76%; overall postoperative mortality varied from 8% to 30%. After curative resection postoperative mortality varied from 0% to 20%, local recurrence from 0% to 21%, and the rate of anastomotic leak from 0% to 25%. Survival at 10 years in patients who underwent curative resection varied from 20% to 63%, two year survival in those who underwent palliative resection varied from 7% to 32%, and median survival in those who underwent palliative diversion varied from one to eight months. The hazard rate ratios among individual surgeons, taking into account the identified risk factors, varied from 0.56 to 2.03, from 0.17 to 1.92, and from 0.57 to 1.50 for curative resection, palliative resection, and palliative diversion, respectively. CONCLUSION: There were significant variations in patient outcome among surgeons after surgery for colorectal cancer; such differences compromise survival. A considerable improvement in overall survival might be achieved if such surgery were undertaken by surgeons with a special interest in colorectal surgery or surgical oncology.
Phase I study of dasatinib in combination with capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab followed by an expanded cohort in previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer.
Abstract513 Background: SRC is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase involved in normal and tumor cell signaling functions including cell proliferation, angiogenesis and survival. Dasatinib (D) is a potent inhibitor of SRC kinase activity. Preclinical data suggests the addition of D to standard chemotherapy agents for colon cancer may increase anti-tumor activity. We evaluated D in combination with capecitabine (C), oxaliplatin (O) and bevacizumab (B) in a phase I dose escalation study followed by an expanded cohort in 1 st line colorectal. Methods: For dose escalation, eligible patients had advanced solid tumors with adequate organ and bone marrow function and no increased risk for class-related toxicities. B and O were given intravenously, and C and D were orally administered; cycle length was 21 days. C was dosed at 850 mg/m 2 on days 1-14; O was dosed at 130 mg/m 2 and B was dosed at 7.5 mg/kg on day one of each cycle. D was dosed at 50 mg twice daily in cohort one and 70 mg once daily in cohort -1. Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) was assessed in cycle 1. Results: Dose escalation is complete with 10 subjects evaluable for toxicity and 11 subjects evaluable for efficacy. Two DLTs were observed out of 5 evaluable subjects in cohort one. Six evaluable subjects were enrolled in the -1 cohort with 1 DLT. Possible grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) included neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, anorexia, diarrhea, fatigue, anemia, hypophosphatemia, hyponatremia and grade 5 GI-perforation. One non-treatment related death was due to disease progression. D-related nausea and fatigue were responsive to low dose oral steroids; fluid retention was responsive to diuretics. Of 10 subjects evaluable for efficacy, 1 subject had a partial response (PR), 2 had a minor response (MR), and 4 had stable disease (SD). Four subjects had disease control (PR, MR, or SD) ≥ 6 months. Conclusions: D in combination with C, O and B is well-tolerated with a toxicity profile similar to standard C, O and B.The recommended phase II dose is C at 850 mg/m 2 on days 1-14, O at 130 mg/m 2 and B at 7.5 mg/kg on day one of each cycle, and D at 70 mg once daily. Enrollment in the expanded cohort of 1 st line colorectal is ongoing. [Table: see text]
World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology · 2025 · 1 citations · open access
Advances and challenges in drug repurposing in precision therapeutics of colorectal cancer
AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most common cancer globally and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, representing a significant health burden. Despite advancements in traditional treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, these approaches still face challenges, including high costs, limited efficacy, and drug resistance. Drug repurposing has emerged as a promising strategy for CRC treatment, offering advantages with reduced development timelines, lower costs, and improved drug accessibility. This review explores drug repurposing strategies for CRC, supported by multidisciplinary technologies, and discusses the current challenges in the field.
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.
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