DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for endocrine neoplasm — screening already-approved drugs against its 38-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleEndocrine neoplasm maps to a 38-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 endocrine neoplasm 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
protein kinase cAMP-dependent type I regulatory subunit alpha (PRKAR1A) — PRKAR1A 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 pcgdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 5KJZ · 1.347 Å · ligand CYCLIC GUANOSINE MONOPHOSPHATE (PCG). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
The abstracts provided cover endocrine neoplasms only in a general and historical sense, with no single drug evaluated for treatment of these tumours. A 1966 review describes the recognition that tumours of non-endocrine origin can produce hormone-like substances, causing clinical endocrine syndromes, and notes the increasing evidence for this mechanism at that time. A 1941 paper similarly discusses functional activity retained by certain tumours, particularly highly differentiated endocrine neoplasms, citing examples from the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal glands. A 2007 overview states that tumours of endocrine organs are characterised by aberrant growth and hormone secretion, and that molecular mechanisms are being used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, with implications for non-hormone-producing cancers. A 2004 textbook review covers the pathology, molecular biology and treatment of endocrine gland neoplasms, including surgical, medical and radiation approaches, but provides no trial data.
The only clinical data in the set concern neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer, not endocrine neoplasms of the glands. In that retrospective study of 33 post-menopausal patients with primary local disease, the overall response rate was 54.55%. Eighteen patients achieved a partial response after a mean of 10.28 months of therapy. Eight patients proposed for tumour downstaging received 9.71 months of therapy before surgery, and all underwent breast-conserving surgery. Tumour size in the largest diameter fell from 6.51 cm before treatment to 5.18 cm after. Progression occurred after 27.5 months. The authors conclude that extending endocrine therapy beyond the conventional 3–4 months allows additional downstaging and is feasible in patients who refuse or are unfit for surgery, but this is a small, single-institution, retrospective series with no comparator arm.
No abstract in this set reports a drug effect on endocrine neoplasms of the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, ovary or testis. There is no evidence here for any repurposing candidate, no response rate for any agent against these tumours, and no survival data. The 1983 abstract states that the role of the endocrine system in cancer patients remains largely unexplored, which still applies to the specific question of drug repurposing for endocrine neoplasms. What is missing is any prospective trial, any molecular stratification of patients, and any funding for systematic screening of existing drugs against these rare tumour types.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Journal of Clinical Pathology · 1966 · 33 citations · open access
Review of endocrine syndromes associated with tumours of non-endocrine origin
AbstractDuring the past 10 years there has been particular interest in the occurrence of a number of endocrine syndromes in association with tumours of organs other than the endocrines. Evidence is increasing to suggest that these result from the formation of hormone-like substances by the tumours. The clinical importance and theoretical implications of these syndromes constitute the justification for reviewing them here.
Porto Biomedical Journal · 2017 · 6 citations · open access
Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in breast cancer patients
AbstractHIGHLIGHTS: The overall response rate to neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) was 54.55%.The eight patients proposed to tumour's downstage, after 9.71 months of NET, preserved their breast.In the group which achieved response, 10.28 months was the mean time to accomplish it.Even patients who had the worst outcome only began to suffer latter in the course of therapy.NET can be done beyond the conventional 3-4 months to allow additional downstage of the tumour. BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to evaluate if the extension of neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET), beyond the conventional time, allows additional downstage of the tumour, in order to perform a breast conservative surgery (BCS), and to analyze if it is a good option for long-term control in patients who refuse or are unfit for surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed a database containing all patients treated in our institution with NET. All included patients were post-menopausal with primary local disease. The type of response obtained was assessed using modified RECIST criteria. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients were included. Two patients had tumours with 90% expression of oestrogen receptors and all the others had 100%. The tumour size in the largest diameter was 6.51 cm before treatment and 5.18 cm after. Eighteen patients achieved a partial response after 10.28 months of therapy. Patients that were proposed to downstage the tumour performed 9.71 months of therapy until surgery and all were submitted to BCS. Progression occurred after 27.5 months. CONCLUSION: Endocrine therapy is a feasible option for a longer time to allow additional downstage of the tumour and is a good solution in patients who refuse or are unfit for surgery.
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine · 2004 · 6 citations
Endocrine Pathology: Differential Diagnosis and Molecular Advances
AbstractEdited by Ricardo V. Lloyd, 421 pp, with illus, Totowa, NJ, Humana Press, 2004.This textbook contains the latest information on the pathology of endocrine glands, with special emphasis on the molecular biology of their neoplasms, as well as their hyperfunctional and hypofunctional states. Fifty-four authors contributed to the book; the list of authors includes well-known investigators whose experience is reflected in the corresponding chapters. It is an international ensemble from Europe, North and South America, and Asia.The first chapter describes methods in cellular and molecular pathology, as well as immunohistochemistry. A brief introduction to molecular biology, prior to description of the methods, is very helpful. This introduction is followed by easy-to-follow explanations of in situ hybridization, Southern and Northern blotting, tissue microdissection, RNA and DNA extraction from microdissections by polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, mutation analysis, comparative genomic hybridization, and array technology. The list of references in this chapter is extensive and up-to-date, as are all the references in this book.The chapters dedicated to individual glands follow a classic order: a brief historical overview is followed by a description of the physiology and anatomy, pathologic states (including hypofunction and hyperfunction), and benign and malignant neoplasms. Special emphasis is placed on the application of diagnostic tests, including molecular biology techniques.The description of the pathology of endocrine glands starts with the hypothalamus and neurohypophysis and continues with adenohypophysis, pituitary, pineal gland, parathyroid, thyroid, adrenal cortex and medulla-paraganglia, endocrine ovary, endocrine testis, gastrointestinal system, and pancreas.Neuroendocrine differentiation patterns of neoplasia involving lung, breast, skin, and urogenital tract are addressed in a very comprehensive chapter; similar chapters are dedicated to multiple endocrine neoplasia and polyglandular autoimmune syndromes. The final 3 chapters describe the surgical management, as well as the medical and radiation treatment, of endocrine tumors.The book is well written and illustrated, with abundant black-and-white pictures as well as 31 color plates. The book has 421 pages, which is relatively short considering the extensive literature on the subject, yet it contains the latest information. Practicing pathologists, clinical endocrinologists, and researchers interested in the field will find it a valuable addition to their reference library.
AbstractNot so many years ago the general concept of tumors was that they are collections of cells which have cut themselves off from all functional activity, living in a purely parasitic way. It is known now that this is not invariably true and that a considerable degree of functional activity may be retained by the cells of certain tumors, especially those of highly differentiated type. In the case of neoplasms of the endocrine glands such a persistence of function has long been recognized, probably because its manifestations are more striking, involving tissues and functions far removed from the tumor site itself. Many examples of functional endocrine tumors are now adducible as producing well established clinical syndromes. Among these may be mentioned adenoma of the eosinophilic, basophilic or chromophobic cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary and certain tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal (both cortex and medulla) glands
AbstractAbstract The endocrine organs represent groups of cells that have, as their primary function, the production and secretion of hormones into circulation. Tumours of these organs are characterized by widely ranging aberrant growth, hormone secretion, or both. The underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of these distinct entities are now being utilized for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes with implications for non‐hormone‐producing cancers.
Kazan medical journal · 1983 · 0 citations · open access
Gonads and some links of the endocrine system in cancer patients
AbstractIt can be considered established that the origin and development of tumor cells are based on disorders of metabolic processes and protein synthesis, in the regulation of which the endocrine system plays a very important role. Despite this, many issues related to the features of the functional morphology of various parts of the endocrine system in patients with malignant tumors remain unexplored, and they have become the goal of our research.
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.
