DeCure's autonomous Metabolic AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for endocrine system disease — screening already-approved drugs against its 31-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleEndocrine system disease maps to a 31-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 system disease 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
PR/SET domain 11 (PRDM11) — PRDM11 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 unxdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 3RAY · 1.73 Å · ligand UNKNOWN ATOM OR ION (UNX). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2019 review of targeted therapies for HR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer notes that approved agents include everolimus and three CDK4/6 inhibitors: palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib. The review states that adverse events associated with these targeted therapies are complex and potentially severe, unlike the well-characterised safety profile of endocrine therapies. Haematologic toxicities have the greatest impact on clinical management. The authors, drawing on the experience of Italian oncologists, conclude that the toxicities are manageable without needing to consult specialist physicians, though they result in more visits and time with patients.
A 1989 paper describes ten pathogenic mechanisms for endocrine system diseases in animals, including primary and secondary hyperfunction and hypofunction, endocrine hyperactivity secondary to other organ diseases, hypersecretion by nonendocrine tumours, failure of fetal endocrine function, failure of target cell response, abnormal hormone degradation, and iatrogenic hormone-excess syndromes. A 2015 review notes that molecular techniques in endocrine pathology have become less laborious and less expensive than at the beginning of the molecular era, and are now performed in a wide variety of medical settings, providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic information. A 2024 editorial on advances in endocrinology mentions novel diagnostic techniques, personalised medicine, and the role of technology, but provides no specific data on any drug or outcome.
No abstract in this set reports a clinical trial of a drug for endocrine system disease, nor gives any survival or response rate for any treatment. The 2019 paper discusses management of toxicities from drugs already approved for breast cancer, not repurposing for endocrine disease. What is missing is any clinical trial testing a repurposed drug in an endocrine disease population, any patient stratification strategy, and the funding to conduct such a trial.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment · 2019 · 36 citations · open access
Management of toxicities associated with targeted therapies for HR-positive metastatic breast cancer: a multidisciplinary approach is the key to success
AbstractPURPOSE: Agents targeting HR-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer have improved patient outcomes compared with conventional single-agent endocrine therapy. Currently, approved targeted agents include everolimus and three CDK4/6 inhibitors, palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib. Unlike the well-characterized and easily manageable safety profile of endocrine therapies, adverse events associated with targeted therapies are complex and potentially severe. Their prompt recognition and treatment, crucial for prolonged endocrine sensitivity and survival, may be challenging and requires a multidisciplinary effort and a good knowledge of drug interactions. METHODS: We reviewed the current evidence on the drug safety of targeted agents for metastatic breast cancer currently used in clinical practice in Italy, supported by the clinical experience of Italian oncologists with expertise in the field. RESULTS: All oncologists had used CDK4/6 inhibitors in clinical practice and/or within a clinical trial. The clinical management of toxicities, including dose adjustments, treatment interruptions, and concerns regarding special populations is discussed, and the management of relevant adverse events, related to individual agents and class-specific, toxicities is reviewed. Hematologic toxicities have the greatest impact on clinical management of the disease and on patients. Although toxicities associated with the new treatments result in more visits to the physician and more time and attention with patients, they are manageable, with no need for the oncologist to consult with specialist physicians. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the available evidence and current guidelines, we propose a series of practical recommendations for multidisciplinary clinical management of the various toxicities associated with the addition of targeted agents to endocrine therapy.
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology · 2001 · 8 citations
Common Bile Duct Stenosis in Complicated Chronic Pancreatitis
AbstractBACKGROUND: Common bile duct stenosis (CBDS) is one of the most frequent and serious complications in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Due to improved diagnostic tools, the frequency of CBDS seems to occur more frequently, nevertheless the prevalence varies widely because of different selection criteria. METHODS: Between April 1982 and October 1996, 323 patients with chronic pancreatitis and inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas (IMH) (286 patients) or CBDS alone (37 patients) were operated. Patients' data including US, CT, ERCP, endocrine and exocrine function tests were documented prospectively. Dividing patients into groups with and without CBDS, clinical data were comparable concerning distribution of sex, age, etiology of the disease and clinical feature. RESULTS: Regarding the subgroup of 286 patients with inflammatory mass in the head of the pancreas (IMH), 154 patients (51%) showed radiological proved CBDS; out of this group, 82 patients (57%) revealed cholestasis and 37 patients (26%) had one or several periods of jaundice. By means of ERCP, 104 patients (72%) revealed short stenosis of the common bile duct (CBD) (<2 cm). No significant differences could be found in terms of morphologic alterations like pancreatic main duct stenosis, pseudocysts, duodenum stenosis, vascular obstruction. Ten patients (7%) in the group with CBDS and 13 patients (9%) in the group without CBDS had cancer in the pancreatic head. Concerning the endocrine function, the group of patients with CBDS had a significantly elevated rate of impaired glucose metabolism (IGT or IDDM) compared to the group without CBDS (60% versus 38%; P < 0.003). These results demonstrate that patients with IMH bear the risk of developing a stenosis of the CBD even before they become symptomatic with cholestasis or jaundice. CONCLUSION: Due to the elevated morbidity and the significantly deteriorated endocrine function, patients of this group are candidates for early surgical treatment.
Mechanisms that Lead to Disease of the Endocrine System in Animals
AbstractEndocrine glands are collections of specialized cells that synthesize, store, and release their secretions directly into the blood stream. They are sensing and signalling devices located in the extracellular fluid compartment and are capable of responding to changes in the internal and external environments to coordinate a multiplicity of activities that maintain homeostasis. Diseases of the endocrine system are encountered in many animal species and present challenging diagnostic problems. The major pathogenic mechanisms responsible for disturbances in endocrine function include: 1) primary hyperfunction of an endocrine gland; 2) secondary hyperfunction; 3) primary hypofunction of an endocrine gland; 4) secondary hypofunction; 5) endocrine hyperactivity secondary to diseases of other organs; 6) hypersecretion by nonendocrine tumors of hormone-like substances; 7) failure of fetal endocrine function; 8) endocrine dysfunction due to failure of target cell response; 9) endocrine dysfunction resulting from abnormal degradation of hormone; and 10) iatrogenic syndromes of hormone-excess. For each major category, several specific disease problems have been selected to illustrate the morphologic and functional changes that characterize the response of a particular endocrine gland to disruption of function.
Endocrinology and Disorders · 2024 · 0 citations · open access
Advances in Endocrinology: Bridging Research and Clinical Practice
AbstractThe field of endocrinology has witnessed remarkable advancements in recent years, significantly impacting the diagnosis, management, and treatment of endocrine disorders. This editorial provides a comprehensive overview of these advancements, emphasizing the integration of cutting-edge research into clinical practice. Key areas of focus include novel diagnostic techniques, personalized medicine, advancements in diabetes management, thyroid disorders, and the role of technology in enhancing patient outcomes. By bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, these developments promise to improve the quality of life for patients with endocrine disorders.
Turkish Journal of Pathology · 2015 · 0 citations · open access
Application of molecular pathology in endocrine pathology
AbstractRapid growth in knowledge of cell and molecular biology led to the increased usage of molecular techniques in anatomical pathology. This is also due to the advances achieved in the techniques introduced in the last few years which are less laborious as compared to the techniques used at the beginning of the "molecular era". The initial assays were also very expensive and were not performed except for selected centers. Moreover, the clinicians were not sure how to make use of the accumulating molecular information. That situation has also changed and molecular techniques are being performed in a wide variety of medical settings which also has a reflection on the endocrine system pathology among other organ systems. This review will provide an update of genetic changes observed in different endocrine system pathologies and their diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic values.
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.
