DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for intraductal breast papilloma — screening already-approved drugs against its 4-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleIntraductal breast papilloma maps to a 4-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 intraductal breast papilloma 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
HRas proto-oncogene, GTPase (HRAS) — HRAS 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 gnpdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 8ELT · 1.66 Å · ligand PHOSPHOAMINOPHOSPHONIC ACID-GUANYLATE ESTER (GNP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
The 2011 study tested intraductal administration of several chemotherapy agents in rats with mammary tumours. Protection from tumour growth was observed with 5-fluorouracil, carboplatin, nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel, and methotrexate, but extensive epithelial destruction was present only in pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD)-treated rats. In a concurrent clinical trial, 15 of 17 women awaiting mastectomy received intraductal PLD at doses from 2 to 10 mg with no serious adverse events. The study concluded that intraductal administration is feasible in an outpatient setting but did not report response rates or survival data for the women treated.
A 2019 case report described a 55-year-old man with a benign intraductal papilloma confirmed after total duct excision. A systematic review found six published cases of intraductal papilloma in men. The review noted one case where the lump was not removed and progressed to malignancy years later, and that male intraductal papillomas may be associated with hormonal treatments or endocrine abnormalities.
A 2024 review of giant intraductal papilloma stated that despite benign histology, these lesions may appear with malignant growths and that biopsy-based diagnosis carries a risk of underestimating breast cancer. The review found that treatment is not consistent and depends on clinical and pathological correlations, and that gynaecologists need to distinguish women who can be enrolled in surveillance from those requiring additional surgery.
No controlled trial has compared intraductal therapy to standard excision for intraductal papilloma. The 2011 study did not include patients with papilloma specifically. The 2019 and 2024 reviews rely on case reports and small series. What is missing is a prospective trial that stratifies patients by atypia, lesion size, and hormonal status, and that is adequately funded to follow long-term outcomes such as progression to malignancy.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Science Translational Medicine · 2011 · 77 citations · open access
Preclinical and Clinical Evaluation of Intraductally Administered Agents in Early Breast Cancer
AbstractMost breast cancers originate in the epithelial cells lining the breast ducts. Intraductal administration of cancer therapeutics would lead to high drug exposure to ductal cells and eliminate preinvasive neoplasms while limiting systemic exposure. We performed preclinical studies in N-methyl-N'-nitrosourea-treated rats to compare the effects of 5-fluorouracil, carboplatin, nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel, and methotrexate to the previously reported efficacy of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) on treatment of early and established mammary tumors. Protection from tumor growth was observed with all five agents, with extensive epithelial destruction present only in PLD-treated rats. Concurrently, we initiated a clinical trial to establish the feasibility, safety, and maximum tolerated dose of intraductal PLD. In each eligible woman awaiting mastectomy, we visualized one ductal system and administered dextrose or PLD using a dose-escalation schema (2 to 10 mg). Intraductal administration was successful in 15 of 17 women with no serious adverse events. Our preclinical studies suggest that several agents are candidates for intraductal therapy. Our clinical trial supports the feasibility of intraductal administration of agents in the outpatient setting. If successful, administration of agents directly into the ductal system may allow for "breast-sparing mastectomy" in select women.
Journal of Surgical Case Reports · 2019 · 16 citations · open access
Intraductal papilloma of the male breast: a case report and review of the literature
AbstractIntraductal papilloma is a benign neoplasm rarely found in the male breast. In this report, we present the case of a 55-year-old Caucasian man who presented with spontaneous bloody nipple discharge of the right breast. Ultrasonic and mammographic investigations revealed a sub-centimetre solid mass within a dilated duct. He underwent a total duct excision. Histopathologic examination confirmed a benign intraductal papilloma with no evidence of atypia or malignancy. A systematic review of the literature revealed six published cases of intraductal papillomas in men. Clinical presentation is the same as in women with single duct blood stained discharge being the most common presenting symptom. Surgical excision offers both histologic confirmation and definitive treatment. There is one case where the lump was not removed and progressed to malignancy years later. Male intraductal papillomas may be associated to medical treatments with hormonal activity given for other reasons or endocrine abnormalities.
British journal of healthcare and medical research · 2024 · 0 citations · open access
Giant Intraductal Papilloma of Breast
AbstractIntraductal papillomas are the most common form of papillary lesions. Despite their benign histological aspect, intraductal papillomas may appear with malignant growths, and a biopsy-based diagnosis involves the risk of underestimating breast cancer. This paper includes a literature review of the most relevant studies published to date in relation to a case of giant intraductal papilloma. Treatment is not consistent and depends on the result of clinical and pathological correlations. Therefore, gynecologists need to distinguish women who may be enrolled in the surveillance program from women requiring additional surgical therapy.
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.
