DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for epithelioid cell melanoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 22-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleEpithelioid cell melanoma maps to a 22-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 epithelioid cell melanoma 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
NRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase (NRAS) — NRAS 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 gdpdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6ZIO · 1.55 Å · ligand GUANOSINE-5'-DIPHOSPHATE (GDP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2018 study of 70 uveal melanoma patients found that a subset of neoplastic small epithelioid cells, located mainly at infiltrative tumour margins or around blood vessels, is a strong negative prognostic indicator. The proportion of these cells ranged from 0% to 30% of tumour volume (median 1%). In 24 cases (34.3%) the small epithelioid cell component exceeded 5% of the tumour; of these, three were classified as spindle cell and 21 as mixed cell type. Multivariate analysis showed that a small epithelioid cell component greater than 5% was the most significant morphological adverse prognostic factor for metastasis-free survival. Univariate analysis also linked mixed versus spindle cell type, higher lymphocytic infiltration, macrophage infiltration, and ciliary body involvement to worse outcomes. The small epithelioid cells were negative for HMB45, stem cell markers (CD133, CD24, CD38) and the T-cell marker CD3, and only focally and weakly positive for Melan A and SOX10.
A separate 2018 mouse study tested algal oil rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in a B16F10 melanoma lung metastasis model. Algal oil treatment significantly suppressed pulmonary metastases and outgrowth of melanoma cells. This was associated with autophagy induction, shown by increased LC3-II levels, mediated by inactivation of mTOR and p38 MAP kinase and activation of JNKs, leading to decreased p62 accumulation and reduced secretion of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β. These results suggest an anti-tumour mechanism via autophagy and anti-inflammatory activity in mice, but no human data are provided.
A 2010 review discusses general molecular genetics of sporadic melanoma, covering pathways in proliferation, apoptosis, and tumour suppression, and the potential role of melanoma-initiating cells. It does not report any specific treatment outcomes or clinical trial results.
No clinical trial has tested algal oil or any n-3 PUFA intervention in epithelioid cell melanoma patients. The prognostic significance of the small epithelioid cell component in uveal melanoma is established, but no therapy targeting this cell population has been evaluated in humans. What is missing is a clinical trial design that stratifies patients by small epithelioid cell content, funding for such a trial, and any human safety or efficacy data for algal oil in this specific melanoma subtype.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine · 2010 · 36 citations · open access
Molecular Pathogenesis of Sporadic Melanoma and Melanoma-Initiating Cells
AbstractRecent advances in molecular genetics and cancer stem cell biology have shed some light on the molecular basis of melanomagenesis. In this review, we will focus on major genetic alterations in the melanoma, particularly pathways involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, and tumor suppression. The potential role of melanoma-initiating cells during melanomagenesis and progression will also be discussed. Understanding pathogenesis of melanoma may uncover new diagnostic clues and therapeutic targets for this increasingly prevalent disease.
Algal oil rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids suppresses B16F10 melanoma lung metastasis by autophagy induction
AbstractMelanoma is a malignant tumor that arises from epidermal melanocytes with high morbidity and mortality, and currently, there are no effective conventional genotoxic treatments or systematic treatment. Increasing evidence shows that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exhibit anti-melanoma activity, but their anti-melanoma mechanism remains elusive. Here, C57BL/6 mice were injected with B16F10 melanoma cells via a tail vein to establish a lung metastasis model. n-3 PUFAs were significantly increased in lung metastatic tissues from mice treated with algal oil, especially rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Algal oil treatment significantly suppressed pulmonary metastases and outgrowth of melanoma cells, which was associated with autophagy induction, as evidenced by an increase in LC3-II levels. In addition, algae oil-triggered autophagy was mediated by inactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), which led to a decrease in p62 accumulation and decreased secretion of proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β). These results suggest that algal oil exerts its antitumourigenic activities via autophagy-mediated p62 elimination and anti-inflammatory properties.
Annals of Eye Science · 2018 · 0 citations · open access
AB045. Prognostic significance and characterization of small epithelioid cell population in uveal melanoma
AbstractBackground: Uveal melanoma (UM) is a malignant neoplasia that is composed of two main types of cells: spindle and epithelioid. There is a subset of neoplastic small epithelioid cells located predominantly in the infiltrative tumor margins or surrounding blood vessels. The aim of this study is to characterize and evaluate the correlation between the presence of these small epithelioid cells and clinical outcome. Methods: The clinical-pathological features of 70 UM patients were evaluated. The presence of small epithelioid cells was quantified based on percentage of tumor volume, and they were characterized using melanocytic markers (HMB-45, Melan A and SOX-10), stem cell markers (CD133, CD24 and CD38), and T cell lymphocytes (CD3). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Clinical follow up was available for all patients. Results: The ratio of small epithelioid cell components of all 70 tumors ranged from 0% to 30% (median, 1%). Thirty-nine tumors (55.7%) had areas with small epithelioid cells. Univariate analysis showed that mixed versus spindle cell, higher lymphocytic infiltration, macrophage infiltration, ciliary body involvement, and >5% of small epithelioid cell component had a significant negative impact on metastasis-free survival. Small epithelioid cell component >5% was present in 24 cases (34.3%). Of these, three were classified as spindle and 21 were mixed. Multivariate analysis revealed that a >5% small cell component was the most significant morphological adverse prognostic factor. Moreover, the small epithelioid cells were negative for HMB45, stem cell markers and CD3, and focally and weakly positive for MELAN A and SOX10. Conclusions: A high small epithelioid cell component is a strong negative prognostic indicator in patients with UM.
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.
