DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for Conjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 2-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleConjunctival Squamous Cell Carcinoma maps to a 2-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 conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma 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
epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) — EGFR 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 apo structuredrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 7SYD · 3.1 Å · ligand none (apo structure). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Eight patients with conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (three recurrent, three incompletely excised, two untreated) received topical 1% 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) eye drops four times daily for four weeks. All showed clinical regression, with neoplastic conjunctiva replaced by normal epithelium within three months. Mean follow-up was 27 months. One patient required a second course for recurrent disease. Acute transient toxic keratoconjunctivitis occurred in all cases but was controlled with topical therapy; no long-term side effects were reported. The study had no control group and only eight patients.
A retrospective study of 95 treatment-naive cases found 78% were conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 22% were invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Complete excision with or without adjuvant therapy was the initial treatment in 80% of cases. Two SCC cases with scleral invasion received brachytherapy. The AJCC stage did not correlate with initial treatment choice for CIN. In a separate series of 31 patients from a tertiary cancer centre, eye salvage was achieved in 90% by surgical excision with cryotherapy followed by topical chemotherapy; orbital exenteration was needed in 10% due to orbital invasion. Tumour recurrence occurred in 23% of eyes. Predictive factors for recurrence were tumour extension onto nearby structures, tumour invasiveness, and TNM stage. Disease-related mortality was 6% (two patients, both with orbital invasion).
A Peruvian study of 176 consecutive patients reported that only 12.5% had tumours ≤5 mm. The most frequent initial treatment was orbital exenteration (38.6%). Recurrence rate was 6.8% and metastasis rate was 8.0%. Annual survival rate was 7% and annual metastasis rate was 6%; after five years, survival rate was 11% and metastasis rate was 14%. No evaluated prognostic factor was significant. A case report described a 71-year-old man with recurrent conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma who, after multiple local resections and radiotherapy, died nine years later from generalised metastases to long bones, spine, and ribs. Another case report described an older patient with a massive orbital lesion who received palliative radiotherapy; the tumour regressed and the patient remained stable without regrowth at 18 months.
What is still missing are prospective controlled trials with adequate sample sizes, standardised staging and treatment protocols, and reliable biomarkers to stratify patients by risk of recurrence or metastasis. The evidence for topical 5-FU rests on a single small uncontrolled series. The high rate of exenteration in the Peruvian cohort suggests late presentation and limited access to conservative therapies. No randomised comparison of surgery alone versus surgery plus adjuvant topical chemotherapy exists.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
British Journal of Ophthalmology · 2000 · 158 citations · open access
Treatment of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma with topical 5-fluorouracil
AbstractAIM: To evaluate the efficacy of topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) alone, without concurrent surgery or radiotherapy, for the treatment of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Eight patients affected by conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (three recurrent cases, three incompletely excised, and two untreated cases) were treated with 1% 5-FU eye drops. Topical 1% 5-FU was administered four times daily for 4 weeks (one course). Clinical examination (biomicroscopy and photography) and morphological evaluation of conjunctival cytological specimens were used to monitor the efficacy of local chemotherapy, side effects, and recurrences. RESULTS: All patients showed clinical regression of conjunctival carcinoma after topical 1% 5-FU treatment. Neoplastic conjunctiva was completely replaced by normal epithelium within 3 months. Mean follow up was 27 months. One patient needed two courses of local chemotherapy for recurrent disease. An acute transient toxic keratoconjunctivitis was observed in all treated cases; it was easily controlled with topical therapy. No long term side effects were found. CONCLUSIONS: Topical 1% 5-FU is effective in the treatment of recurrent, incompletely excised, and selected untreated conjunctival squamous cell carcinomas. Topical 1% 5-FU has no major complications. This study suggests that topical conjunctival chemotherapy with 1% 5-FU may be useful, at least as adjunctive therapy, in the treatment of conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma.
Conjunctival Squamous Neoplasia: Staging and Initial Treatment
AbstractPURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical relevance of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification in the initial management of squamous neoplasia of the conjunctiva. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 95 histopathologically proven cases of treatment-naive conjunctival squamous neoplasia. Tumors were classified into 4 histological groups: conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) with mild dysplasia (grade 1/3), moderate dysplasia (grade 2/3), severe dysplasia (grade 3/3 or carcinoma in situ), and invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Clinical findings such as tumor location, largest basal diameter, growth pattern, and adjacent structures involved were recorded. RESULTS: CIN was observed in 74 cases (78%), and SCC was noted in 21 cases (22%). Based on the AJCC classification, all the 74 cases of CIN were classified as Tis (tumor in situ). Among the invasive SCC, there were 3 T1 tumors, 2 T2 tumors, and 16 T3 tumors. Complete excision with or without adjuvant therapy was selected as initial treatment in 80% of cases (76/95). Two cases of SCC with scleral invasion were treated using brachytherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The AJCC stage does not correlate with the initial treatment of CIN. The AJCC T3 category should be reviewed to differentiate diffuse SCCs with broad surface extension from tumors with deep scleral invasion.
International Journal of Ophthalmology · 2018 · 12 citations · open access
Characteristics, management, and outcome of squamous carcinoma of the conjunctiva in a single tertiary cancer center in Jordan
AbstractAIM: To evaluate the features and outcome of management of malignant conjunctival squamous tumors in King Hussein Cancer Center (a referral tertiary cancer center in the Middle East). METHODS: Retrospective case series of 31 eyes for 31 patients with conjunctival squamous neoplasia. Main outcome measures included: age, gender, laterality, tumor location, pathological features, tumor stage, treatment modality, and outcome. RESULTS: Twenty (65%) patients were males and median age was 58y. Twenty-two (71%) eyes had the tumor in the nasal quadrant. Tumor invasion to nearby structures was seen in 19 (61%) eyes, including the cornea, fornix, eyelid, and orbit in 17 (55%), 1 (3%), 2 (6%), and 3 (10%) eyes, respectively. Eye salvage was achieved by surgical excision with cryotherapy followed by topical chemotherapy in 28 (90%) eyes, and orbital exenteration was necessary in 3 (10%) eyes due to orbital tumor invasion. Tumor recurrence was seen in 7 (23%) eyes, and the significant predictive factors for recurrence were tumor extension onto the nearby structures (P=0.04), tumor invasiveness (P=0.038), and tumor TNM stage (P=0.031). No significant change in visual acuity was seen, and disease related mortality was 6% (2 patients, both had orbital invasion by invasive squamous carcinoma). CONCLUSION: Conjunctival squamous carcinoma is more common in males. Advanced American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) T-stage, tumor local invasion, more pathologically aggressive tumors, and surgical treatment alone (without adjuvant therapy) are associated with higher risk for recurrence, and orbital invasion is the most important poor prognostic factor for metastasis and death. Treatment strategies should be affected by tumor characteristics at presentation.
British Journal of Ophthalmology · 2019 · 12 citations
Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma: prognostic factors for the recurrence and metastasis and clinicopathological characteristics at an oncological hospital in Peru
AbstractBACKGROUND/AIMS: Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the most frequent malignant tumour of the conjunctiva, with scarce recurrence and infrequent metastasis. The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and pathological characteristics of this neoplasm and to identify the prognostic factors for recurrence and metastasis in a cancer hospital in Peru. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A longitudinal, retrospective study of 176 consecutive patients diagnosed with SCC of the conjunctiva. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated. In addition, Kaplan-Meier curves were performed, and Cox regression was used to determine prognostic factors for recurrence and metastasis over time. RESULT: Only 12.5% presented tumour size ≤5 mm. The highest proportion according to the histopathological type was the well-differentiated infiltrative forms (40.9%), and according to tumour, node, metastases (TNM), stage T3 was the most frequent (31.3%). The most performed initial treatment was orbital exenteration (38.6%). The proportion of recurrence was 6.8% and 8.0% for metastasis. The annual survival rate was 7% and the annual metastasis rate was 6%; for recurrence after 5 years, the survival rate was 11% and the metastasis rate was 14%. No prognostic factor evaluated was significant. CONCLUSION: This is the most extensive patient study in Latin America with CSCC, with a high proportion of advanced histopathological grade, TNM stages, and radical treatments such as exenteration. Recurrence rates on average are similar to other reported studies, and it describes the rates of metastasis that have been poorly described in the literature.
Clinical ophthalmology · 2013 · 6 citations · open access
In situ carcinoma of the conjunctiva: surgical excision associated with cryotherapy
AbstractBACKGROUND: Although frequently underdiagnosed, squamous cell carcinoma is the most commonly observed malignancy of the conjunctiva. Multiple different treatments have been proposed to date. The purpose of this paper is to report our experience in the treatment of In situ carcinoma of the conjunctiva by surgical excision associated with cryotherapy. METHODS: Four eyes in four consecutive patients (two men and two women) of average age 53.2 (range 39-71) years at the time of diagnosis of ocular surface squamous neoplasia were treated by simple surgical excision and cryotherapy of the resulting surgical bed margins. In all cases, the diagnosis of in situ carcinoma was confirmed histopathologically. RESULTS: On histopathology, the edges of the surgical specimens were free of malignant cells in three of four patients. All patients showed excellent evolution without recurrence. Mean follow-up was 6.5 (range 2-14) years. CONCLUSION: In situ carcinoma of the conjunctiva may be simply and successfully treated with surgical excision and cryotherapy.
Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde · 2002 · 4 citations
Fernmetastasen durch Plattenepithelkarzinom der Bindehaut
AbstractBACKGROUND: Squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva is rare. Together with epithelial dysplasia of the conjunctiva the incidence is reported to be 1.9 per 100,000 population and year. After adequate therapy total cure is often achieved. Generalised metastases are however extremely rare. PATIENT AND METHOD: The case of a 71-year old white male patient is presented. Because of a recurrent conjunctival tumour in his right eye local resections had to be performed. The histopathological diagnosis was epithelial dysplasia. After a 3-year history a squamous cell carcinoma developed. In spite of multiple operations total excision of the tumour could not be achieved. Exenteration was refused by the patient. After radiotherapy of the orbit a temporary improvement was observed. However, 9 years later the patient died of general metastases to the long bones, the spine, and the ribs. RESULTS: Histological examination of material obtained during hemilaminectomy of the vertebrate bodies 8 and 9 confirmed the diagnosis of metastases of a squamous cell carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Although extremely rare, general metastases after squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva must be kept in mind. This has to be considered when obtaining informed consent of the patient, planning adequate therapy and follow-up.
The Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care · 2025 · 0 citations · open access
Dramatic Response to Palliative Radiotherapy in Advanced Eyelid Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report
AbstractConjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare ocular malignancy that can occasionally present. We describe the case of an older patient who presented with a massive orbital lesion that caused severe functional and cosmetic impairments. Palliative radiotherapy of the orbital mass resulted in remarkable tumor regression and symptomatic relief. After 18 months of follow-up, the patient remained clinically stable without regrowth of the primary lesion. This case highlights the potential of palliative radiotherapy to achieve durable local control and meaningful improvement in the quality of life, even in advanced conjunctival SCC.
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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