DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for malignant syringoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 45-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleMalignant syringoma maps to a 45-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 syringoma 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
protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type D (PTPRD) — PTPRD 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 flcdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 2YD6 · 1.35 Å · ligand CITRATE ANION (FLC). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Microcystic adnexal carcinoma is a rare sweat gland malignancy that is locally aggressive, with recurrences common, but regional metastases rare; it typically affects the face of middle-aged patients and often requires extensive surgical excision. The 1995 abstract notes that on cursory microscopic examination the tumour mimics syringoma and other benign skin adnexal tumours, but the asymmetric, infiltrative growth pattern clearly sets it apart as carcinoma. A 2009 report of two patients stresses that the benign histologic appearance, particularly in the upper level of the tumour, can be confused with syringoma or benign follicular neoplasm, and that the risk of misdiagnosis is considerable, especially if only superficial biopsies are provided. A 2024 case report of a 46-year-old woman with a slow-growing upper lip lesion describes final pathology showing an adnexal epithelial neoplasm with imprecise borders, non-encapsulated, growing in plaque-like formation from superficial dermis into adipose tissue, with perineural invasion and no epidermal infiltration; the authors state there is no consensus on best management and follow-up due to the tumour's rarity.
Treatment in all reports is surgical. The 1998 abstract describes the first reported case in a black patient, treated with Mohs micrographic surgery, with the tumour successfully excised and no evidence of recurrence at 6 months. The 1995 abstract states optimal treatment consists of complete surgical excision with clear surgical margins. No abstract reports any systemic therapy, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy for microcystic adnexal carcinoma, and none provides survival statistics, response rates, or any quantified outcome beyond the single 6-month recurrence-free follow-up in the 1998 case. The 2024 case underwent resection and reconstruction with local advancement flaps, but gives no follow-up duration or recurrence status.
The remaining abstracts concern benign syringoma, not carcinoma. A 1996 report describes a unique presentation of multiple unilateral syringomas with indurated plaques, where histology showed desmoplasia exceeding by far that usually observed in syringoma. A 1989 letter reports late-onset syringomas limited to the forearms in a 70-year-old man, observed concomitantly with a carcinoid tumour of the lung. A 2017 review classifies syringoma into four principal clinical variants, including generalized syringoma with two sub-variants, multiple and eruptive syringoma, presenting with multiple crops of skin-coloured to tan, flat-topped papules of 1–3 mm diameter distributed symmetrically over face, trunk and extremities; it is benign but a serious cosmetic problem. None of these benign syringoma abstracts evaluates any drug treatment.
What is missing from this literature is any evidence on drug therapy for either condition. There are no trials, no case series with pharmacological intervention, no data on recurrence rates beyond isolated case reports, and no long-term follow-up cohorts. For microcystic adnexal carcinoma, the key gaps are prospective data on surgical margin control, standardised follow-up protocols, and any investigation of adjuvant or systemic options for the rare cases with perineural invasion or incomplete excision. For benign syringoma, there is no controlled study of any topical, laser, or systemic agent, and no patient-reported outcome measure for the cosmetic burden. Money and trial design are absent; patient stratification by tumour depth, perineural involvement, or clinical variant does not exist.
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 Ophthalmology · 1995 · 37 citations
Eyelid Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma
AbstractMicrocystic adnexal carcinoma is an uncommon cutaneous tumor with multiple synonyms. On cursory microscopic examination, the tumor mimics syringoma and other benign skin adnexal tumors. However, the asymmetric, infiltrative growth pattern clearly sets the lesion apart as carcinoma. The tumor is locally aggressive, with recurrences common, but regional metastases are rare. Histogenesis is controversial. Optimal treatment consists of complete surgical excision with clear surgical margins.
Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma First Reported Case in a Black Patient
AbstractBACKGROUND: Microcystic adnexal carcinoma is an uncommon malignancy of the skin with a propensity for local aggressive growth and high rates of recurrence. To date, this neoplasm has been described mainly in the Caucasian population. We describe here the first reported case in a black patient. OBJECTIVE: To discuss the successful identification and management of this aggressive neoplasm in the non-Caucasian population. METHODS: Mohs micrographic surgery was performed on this tumor. RESULTS: The tumor was successfully excised without evidence of recurrence at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: We present the first reported case of microcystic adnexal carcinoma in a black patient. This tumor was identified in its early stages and removed by Mohs micrographic surgery without sequelae.
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology · 1997 · 25 citations
Microcystic adnexal carcinoma
AbstractMicrocystic adnexal carcinoma (MAC) is a rare adnexal tumour which has only recently been recognized as a separate clinicopathological entity. It typically affects the face of the middle-aged and often requires extensive surgical excision, due to its locally invasive nature. Its clinical significance is that, despite being locally invasive, MAC is typified by a lack of metastatic spread. We present a case and review of the literature.
British Journal of Dermatology · 1996 · 19 citations
Unilateral multiple plaque-like syringomas
AbstractWe describe a unique presentation of multiple unilateral syringomas characterized by indurated plaques. Histologically, in addition to typical eccrine duct proliferation, desmoplasia exceeding by far that usually observed in syringoma, accounted for the hard consistency of the plaques. This unusual presentation should be added to the numerous clinical variants of syringoma.
JDDG Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft · 2009 · 11 citations
Microcystic adnexal carcinoma – aggressive infiltrative tumor often with innocent clinical appearance
AbstractMicrocystic adnexal carcinoma is a rare sweat gland malignancy, characterized by slow, but aggressive infiltrative growth. Histologic characteristics are follicular and glandular differentiation, as well as bland cytologic features. The benign histologic appearance, particularly in the upper level of the tumor, can be confused with syringoma or benign follicular neoplasm. Thus the risk of misdiagnosis is considerable, especially if only superficial biopsies are provided. We report two patients with microcystic adnexal carcinoma, using them as a basis to discuss, pathogenesis, diagnosis, histology and therapy of the tumor.
Late-onset syringomas of the upper extremities associated with a carcinoid tumor
Abstract<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Syringomas limited to the extremities have rarely been discussed in the literature.<sup>1</sup>In 1982, Van den Broek and Lundquist<sup>2</sup>reported an unusual case of syringomas in a 52-year-old man. The authors emphasized two very unusual features: the exclusive and symmetrical localization of the syringomas on the distal forearms, and their very late occurrence. No similar case has been reported since. We report a new case of this very unusual variant of syringomas, observed concomitantly with a carcinoid tumor of the lung. <h3>Report of a Case. —</h3> A 70-year-old man was seen in March 1984 because of a 1-year history of an acquired asymptomatic eruption on both forearms. Physical examination revealed multiple grouped and symmetrical 4-mm yellow-brown papules over all the flexural face of the forearms (Fig 1). No similar lesions were noted elsewhere on the skin. A biopsy of a papule showed typical features of
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry · 2024 · 1 citations · open access
Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma. A Rare Entity
AbstractBackground: Microcystic adnexal carcinoma is a rare malignant tumour derived from sweat glands, locally aggressive, but with low rate of lymphatic or metastatic spread.Tends to affect the deep dermis, without affection of epidermis.Surgery remains as the first line treatment.Case Report: We present a case of a 46-year-old woman with a slow growing lesion of the upper lip, with biopsy diagnosis of microcystic adnexal carcinoma.She underwent a resection and reconstruction with local advancement flaps.The final anatomopathological study showed an adnexal epithelial neoplasm with imprecise borders, poorly delimited, non-encapsulated, growing in plaque-like formation from the superficial dermis into the adipose tissue, perineural invasion, without epidermal infiltration.Discussion: It is an extremely rare malignant tumour, appearing as a solitary papule or plaque affecting the central face, that often affect middle-aged caucasic, female patients.Usual local aggressive nature, characterized by small nests and strands of cells in deep dermis and perineural-invasion images, absent in superficial tissue.An incisional biopsy is need to make a correct diagnosis.Due to its rarity there is no consensus on the best management and follow-up.The microcystic adnexal carcinoma should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis.
Journal of Chitwan Medical College · 2017 · 0 citations · open access
Generalized syringoma: benign, yet a serious cosmetic problem
AbstractSyringoma is a benign appendageal neoplasm of the eccrine ducts. The word “Syringoma” has been derived from greek word “Syrinx”, meaning pipe of tube. Friedman & Butler has classified it into four principal clinical variants. Among them, generalized syringoma is a rare variant comprising two sub-varients: multiple syringoma and eruptive syringoma. It presents with multiple crops of skin colored to tan colored, flat topped papules of 1-3 mm diameter, distributed symmetrically over face, trunk and extrimities. It is a benign disease with great cosmetic concern.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works using Disease Ontology synonyms, 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.
