DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for malignant rhabdoid tumour — screening already-approved drugs against its 6-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleMalignant rhabdoid tumour maps to a 6-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 malignant rhabdoid tumour 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
B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) — BRAF 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 agsdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 8VYP · 3.29 Å · ligand PHOSPHOTHIOPHOSPHORIC ACID-ADENYLATE ESTER (AGS). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2006 case report describes a child with an unresectable malignant rhabdoid tumour of the orbit who received tandem high-dose chemotherapy and gamma-knife radiosurgery. The initial chemotherapy failed, and the tumour was not completely removed, but the patient achieved long-term survival after this combined modality. The authors state this approach may warrant further consideration.
A 1996 case report describes a newborn with a primary cutaneous rhabdoid tumour on the upper back, initially mistaken for a haemangioma on clinical and radiologic examination. Diagnosis was made by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. The authors note this was the seventh reported case of primary cutaneous involvement.
A separate 1996 report describes a recurrent transitional cell carcinoma with rhabdoid features of the kidney in an adult, confirmed by immunohistochemistry and ultrastructure. Fine needle aspiration cytology showed discohesive, large to medium polygonal cells with eccentric nuclei, prominent nucleoli, abundant pink cytoplasm, and paranuclear eosinophilic densities. The authors conclude the cytologic features of malignant rhabdoid tumours are characteristic.
A 2025 case report describes a healthy 51-year-old man with an abdominal mass diagnosed as undifferentiated carcinoma with rhabdoid features. Histopathology and immunohistochemistry showed the morphological and molecular characteristics of this aggressive tumour. The authors note this adds to limited published literature and highlight the need for further investigation into pathogenesis and optimal management. What remains missing is prospective data, standardised treatment protocols, and any trial that stratifies patients by molecular subtype or tumour location.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Pediatric Blood & Cancer · 2006 · 31 citations
Treatment of unresectable malignant rhabdoid tumor of the orbit with tandem high‐dose chemotherapy and gamma‐knife radiosurgery
AbstractMalignant rhabdoid tumor (MRT) is a rare and highly aggressive tumor that primarily occurs in very young children. We report here a patient with a primary MRT of the orbit who received tandem high-dose chemotherapy and gamma-knife radiosurgery. Although the tumor was not completely removed, and the initial chemotherapy failed, the patient achieved long-term survival after this modality of treatment. This approach may be one to be further considered in patients with MRT.
Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor Presenting as a Hemangioma
AbstractMalignant rhabdoid tumor is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy of unknown etiology. We report a primary cutaneous rhabdoid tumor on the upper back of a newborn. It was initially diagnosed as a hemangioma clinically, and that diagnosis was supported by radiologic studies, including magnetic resonance imaging. However, detailed investigation with light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy enabled us to make a diagnosis of rhabdoid tumor. This is the seventh reported case of rhabdoid tumor with primary cutaneous involvement.
Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of a Recurrent Malignant Tumor of the Kidney with Rhabdoid Features in an Adult
AbstractBACKGROUND: Malignant rhabdoid tumor of the kidney in children is considered a distinct entity. Malignant tumors with rhabdoid features in adults in extrarenal locations and in children over the age of 5 years are considered phenotypic variants. CASE: In a case of recurrent transitional cell carcinoma with rhabdoid features of the kidney in an adult, confirmed immunohistochemically and ultrastructurally, fine needle aspiration cytology showed discohesive, large- to medium-sized polygonal cells with eccentric nuclei; prominent nucleoli; abundant, pink cytoplasm; and paranuclear, eosinophilic density, corresponding to cytoplasmic eosinophilic globules seen in the histologic sections and cytoplasmic filamentous inclusions seen ultrastructurally. CONCLUSION: The cytologic features of malignant rhabdoid tumors are characteristic.
Undifferentiated Rhabdoid Carcinoma of the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Rare and Aggressive Malignancy
AbstractUndifferentiated carcinoma with rhabdoid features is an exceptionally rare malignancy within the spectrum of malignant rhabdoid tumors. We report a case of a healthy 51-year-old male presenting with an abdominal mass, ultimately diagnosed as an undifferentiated carcinoma with rhabdoid features. Histopathologic examination and immunohistochemistry revealed the distinct morphological and molecular characteristics of this aggressive tumor. This case adds to the limited published literature on this rare presentation and highlights the need for further investigation into its pathogenesis and optimal management.
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.
