DeCure's autonomous Dermatology AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 9-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleCutaneous fibrous histiocytoma maps to a 9-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 cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma 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
platelet derived growth factor subunit B (PDGFB) — PDGFB 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 ndgdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 3MJG · 2.3 Å · ligand 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranose (NDG). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Two case reports from 1984 describe malignant fibrous histiocytoma arising in previous surgical sites — one in an amputation site, the other in a hernioplasty scar. Both presented as masses initially interpreted as subcutaneous abscesses. The authors discuss a possible causal relationship between prior surgery and malignant fibrous histiocytoma, based on other reported cases following chronic reparative reactions.
A 2004 case report of cerebellar malignant fibrous histiocytoma notes that fewer than 70 central nervous system cases had been documented. The patient was a 44-year-old woman whose tumour recurred 1.5 months after surgery, requiring a second operation and radiotherapy. The review states that with available therapy, prognosis is very poor, with median survival of 27 months. Total excision and radiotherapy are described as the best treatment approach.
A 2015 case report from Taiwan describes a 30-year-old man with metastatic cellular fibrous histiocytoma, a benign cutaneous tumour that rarely metastasises. The authors state this is the first such case reported in Taiwan.
A 2023 paper on cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma (dermatofibroma) lists its histological variants: fibrous (80%), aneurysmal (5.7%), hemosiderotic (5.7%), epithelioid (2.6%), cellular (2.1%), lipidized (2.1%), atrophic (1.0%), and clear cell histiocytoma (0.5%). The most common site is limbs (74%), trunk (23%), head and neck (3%). The authors present a case of aneurysmal-hemosiderotic CFH after injury to the scapula. They note that CFH can mimic Kaposi's sarcoma, melanoma, and basal cell carcinoma, and that recurrence risk ranges from 10% to 50%, requiring vigilance in assessing resection margins. Diagnosis requires dermatoscopy, ultrasound, and histological examination.
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 · 1984 · 36 citations · open access
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma arising in previous surgical sites.Report of two cases
AbstractTwo patients who developed malignant fibrous histiocytoma in previous surgical sites are reported. One patient developed malignant fibrous histiocytoma in an amputation site, and the other patient developed it in a previous hernioplasty scar. Both patients presented with a mass, clinically interpreted as a subcutaneous abscess. The light microscopic and fine structural features of these tumors are described. A possible causal relationship between previous surgery and malignant fibrous histiocytoma is discussed in view of other reported cases arising in various conditions following chronic reparative reactions.
Cerebellar Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma: Case Report and Literature Review
AbstractOBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: Malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the central nervous system is uncommon. Fewer than 70 cases have been documented and, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first case arising from the cerebellum. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 44-year-old woman presented with headaches, vomiting, and dizziness. A neurological examination revealed right cerebellar syndrome. Brain computed tomographic scans revealed an isodense tumor in the right cerebellar hemisphere. The breast ultrasonographic, bone scintigraphic, and thoracoabdominal computed tomographic findings were normal. INTERVENTION: The patient was surgically treated. The tumor recurred 1.5 months later, demonstrating hemorrhagic characteristics on brain computed tomographic scans. The patient underwent a second operation, followed by radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is still a controversial entity, and the lack of specific criteria means that it must be diagnosed via the process of elimination. With currently available therapy, our review can provide only a very poor prognosis. The median survival time was 27 months. In attempts to develop better therapeutic strategies, total excision and radiotherapy seem to represent the best treatment approach.
Dermatologica Sinica · 2015 · 3 citations · open access
Metastatic cellular fibrous histiocytoma
AbstractFibrous histiocytoma is a common benign cutaneous tumor. Although most cases of fibrous histiocytoma pursue an indolent course, rare cases have been reported that show aggressive courses with metastases and fatality despite a benign pathology. Here, we present a 30-year-old man with metastatic cellular fibrous histiocytoma. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of such a disease entity in Taiwan.
British Journal of Dermatology · 1987 · 3 citations
Cutaneous presentation of malignant fibrous histiocytoma
AbstractWe have reviewed the clinical and pathological details of 10 patients with malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) recorded in the diagnostic index of our pathology department computer between January 1983 and January 1986. There were seven males and three females in the series, age range of 55–82 years, average age 74 years. One patient had a lesion in the testis. Five presented with subcutaneous masses, three on the limbs, one on the neck and one on the upper back. Four patients presented with cutaneous lesions. In one, a mass arose in an area previously treated with radiotherapy. The remaining three had lower leg ulceration and there was a clear preceding history of varicose veins and ulceration in two, and a history of trauma to the affected leg in two. All the tumours were of the pleomorphic/spindle cell histological variant except one, affecting the right calf, which had a myxoid pathology. MFH is said to be the commonest soft tissue sarcoma of later life.1 There are isolated reports of cutaneous tumours, especially in post‐irradiated areas. To our knowledge there has been only one report of the tumour in relation to chronic ulceration.2 Dermatologists should be aware of this important tumour and its modes of presentation.
AbstractCutaneous fibrous histiocytoma (CFH) (dermatofibroma - D) is a benign formation without a determined etiology. The immunophenotype of its cells may correspond to fibroblastic or histiocytic origin. There is still a debate between scientists about the origin of CFH(D) whether it is a reactive process or a neoplasia. Several variants of CFH(D) have been described and distinguished which differing in their clinical and histological signs. In particular, the main histological forms of CFH(D) are as follows: fibrous (80%), aneurysmal (5.7%), hemosiderotic (5.7%), epithelioid (2.6%), cellular (2.1%), lipidized (2.1%), atrophic (1.0%), and clear cell histiocytoma (0.5%). The most common site is the limbs (74%), the trunk (23%), head and neck (3%). In this article, we presented a clinical case of aneurysmal-hemosiderotic CFH(D), which occurred after injury in the area of the scapula. Purpose: to increase the awareness and diagnostic skills of doctors of different specialties related to aneurysmal-hemosiderotic CFH(D), and, as a result, to reduce the risk of its relapse. Results and discussion: a clinical case is presented, which differs from others in non-typical localization and anamnesis in combination with a mixed histological type of formation of CFH(D), which in turn has an atypical clinical picture. Conclusions: In the presented clinical case, the diagnosis was established based on the patient's anamnesis and primary examination: “Reorganized hematoma? L85.9 Epidermal thickenings, unspecified”. Considering the atypical clinical picture and anamnesis, an incisional biopsy was performed and the results of a pathohistological examination made it possible to diagnose “CFH(D)”. After receiving the results of the pathohistological examination, the boundaries of the formation were determined using the method of ultrasound diagnosis of soft tissues, and a complete excision of the formation was performed with marking of the resection edges. Thus, SFH(D) can mimic a number of benign and malignant formations, such as Kaposi's sarcoma, melanoma, basalcolytic carcinoma, and requires vigilance in assessing the edge of resection and the radicality of removal due to the increased risk of its recurrence (from 10 to 50%). Diagnosis of the formation requires a combination of such research methods as dermatoscopy, ultrasound of the skin and soft tissues; further histological examination is required.
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.
