DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for gallbladder cancer — screening already-approved drugs against its 26-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleGallbladder cancer maps to a 26-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
approvedGemcitabineApproved drug
Structures already discussed alongside gallbladder cancer in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
C4S dCK variant of dCK — Gemcitabine has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 2NO0, 1.8 Å). This is the drug's own deposited structure, not a prediction, and confirms it is a structurally characterised molecule rather than an untested guess.
Loading structure…
helix sheet geodrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 2NO0 · 1.8 Å · ligand Gemcitabine (GEO). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Gallbladder cancer is an uncommon, aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis. Published response rates to chemotherapy are less than 30%, and no survival benefit from palliative systemic therapy has been demonstrated. Mean survival for patients whose disease is beyond surgical reach is 3 months. Surgery remains the only curative therapy but is useful in very few patients.
A 2000 report on four patients with advanced gallbladder cancer treated with gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 intravenously over 30 minutes once weekly for three consecutive weeks every 28 days) described a partial response lasting a mean of 40.3 weeks (standard deviation 23.2 weeks) and a mean survival of 59.75 weeks (standard deviation 17 weeks). One patient survived without evidence of disease 17 months after diagnosis of advanced cancer. Symptoms were alleviated and quality of life improved; toxicity was mild and did not require dose reduction or delay. The authors stated the medication deserves further investigation.
A 2008 review noted that new information on molecular carcinogenic mechanisms, combined with animal model findings, may lead to improved treatment. A 2023 study combined proteomic analysis of patient samples with in vitro characterisation to investigate CEACAM6 as a potential oncogene driving gallbladder cancer aggressiveness. A 2025 comprehensive review described the disease as asymptomatic in early stages, rapidly progressive, and the most common biliary tract cancer and fifth most common gastrointestinal malignancy globally; it discussed immunotherapy and targeted molecular agents as novel avenues but did not report new clinical trial results.
What is still missing are large, randomised controlled trials that demonstrate a survival benefit for any systemic therapy, validated biomarkers to stratify patients for targeted or immunotherapeutic approaches, and the funding to conduct such trials in this relatively uncommon cancer.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Current Opinion in Gastroenterology · 2008 · 6 citations
Targeted therapies for cancer of the gallbladder
AbstractPURPOSE OF REVIEW: Adenocarcinomas of the gallbladder are uncommon, aggressive tumors with poor survival. This review summarizes advances in understanding the biology of gallbladder cancer. RECENT FINDINGS: Published response rates of adenocarcinomas of the gallbladder to chemotherapy are less than 30% and no survival benefit has been demonstrated from palliative systemic therapy. New information on the molecular carcinogenic mechanisms of these malignancies, combined with findings from animal models, may lead to improved treatment for patients. SUMMARY: Improved understanding of the molecular carcinogenesis of adenocarcinomas of the gallbladder, coupled with the availability of novel molecularly 'targeted' chemotherapeutic agents, may improve outcome for patients.
Case Reports in Oncology · 2013 · 2 citations · open access
Early Relapse of Unresectable Gallbladder Cancer after Discontinuation of Gemcitabine Monotherapy Administered for 5 Years in a Patient Who Had Complete Response to the Treatment
AbstractThe tumor shrinkage effect of gemcitabine is considered to be limited in cases of advanced gallbladder cancer, and there are few reports of complete response to gemcitabine therapy in patients with this cancer. Therefore, the treatment continuation strategy in these patients, after a complete response has been achieved, still remains to be established. Here, we present the case of a 77-year-old patient with unresectable gallbladder cancer, who after showing complete response to gemcitabine monotherapy administered for 5 years, showed early relapse within only 11 months of discontinuation of the drug. Thus, it is necessary to establish a suitable treatment continuation strategy for patients who show complete response to gemcitabine treatment.
Revista médica de Chile · 2000 · 1 citations · open access
Eficacia de gemcitabina en cáncer de vesícula biliar.: Experiencia inicial en cuatro casos
AbstractSurgery continues to be the only curative therapy for gallbladder cancer, but useful in very few patients. Mean survival of patients with gallbladder cancer, that are out of the reach of surgery, is 3 months. The few clinical trials of chemotherapy for this disease, report very low success rates. We report four patients with advanced gallbladder cancer, treated with gemcitabine in an intravenous dose of 1000 mg/m2, given in 30 min, once a week during three consecutive weeks, every 28 days. There was a partial response that lasted 40.3 23.2 weeks with a mean survival of 59.75 17 weeks. One patient survives without evidences of disease after 17 months of the diagnosis of an advanced cancer. In all patients, symptoms were alleviated, functional status and quality of life improved. Toxicity was mild and did not require reduction in doses or delay in therapy. Therefore, this medication deserves further investigation for the treatment of gallbladder cancer.
Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie · 2023 · 0 citations
Understanding CEACAM6 mechanisms as a key player in aggressive behaviour of gallbladder cancer
AbstractIntroduction Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive malignancy and represents the most common biliary tract cancer (BTC). Molecular drivers and biomarkers for GBC are poorly identified. This study combines proteomic analysis of patient samples, in vitro characterizations, and molecular mechanism investigations of potential oncogene in GBC aggressiveness.
SAS Journal of Surgery · 2025 · 0 citations · open access
Comprehensive Review on Carcinoma of the Gallbladder: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Contemporary Management Strategies
AbstractCarcinoma of the gallbladder (Gallbladder Cancer, GBC) is an uncommon yet highly aggressive malignancy associated with a dismal prognosis, primarily due to its asymptomatic presentation in early stages and rapid progression to advanced disease. Representing the most prevalent cancer of the biliary tract and ranking as the fifth most common gastrointestinal malignancy globally, GBC poses significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This exhaustive review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, molecular mechanisms, clinical manifestations, diagnostic techniques, staging classifications, and evolving treatment paradigms for gallbladder carcinoma. Additionally, we explore novel therapeutic avenues, including immunotherapy and targeted molecular agents, while highlighting future research directions aimed at improving survival outcomes.
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.
