DeCure for Multiple self-healing squamous epithelioma
DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for multiple self-healing squamous epithelioma — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleMultiple self-healing squamous epithelioma maps to a 1-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 multiple self-healing squamous epithelioma 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
transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFBR1) — TGFBR1 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 methoxymethyldrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 3KCF · 2.8 Å · ligand 4-[3-(methoxymethyl)phenyl]-1,2-dimethyl-5-quinoxalin-6-yl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-one (JZO). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Multiple self-healing squamous epithelioma (Ferguson Smith disease) is determined by a rare autosomal dominant allele and affects both sexes with approximately equal severity. Reliable information on 62 cases has been obtained in the west of Scotland, more than twice the number recorded in the world literature at that time. Lesions are found more frequently on exposed areas of skin, and their distribution differs between the sexes. It seems possible that the Scottish cases arose from a single mutation occurring before 1790.
Examination of tumour nuclei with the electron microscope in two cases revealed intranuclear particles seemingly identical to those described in solitary keratoacanthoma. However, this particle has been shown to occur in entirely different cells and circumstances, and cannot justify supporting a possible viral aetiology or the identity of the lesions of multiple self-healing epithelioma and solitary keratoacanthoma. Attempts to culture a virus from lesions of these two patients failed. The nature of the particle and the aetiology of the disease remain uncertain.
Both familial and sporadic types exist. The disease is occasionally known for an extremely mutilating course and fatal outcome. The patient initially described by Ferguson Smith was cited 14 years later for extensive nasal destruction that required a prosthesis. Another patient died as a result of an extensive recurrent anal lesion. A reported case of sporadic multiple self-healing squamous carcinomas experienced extensive recurrent perineural invasion of the right supratrochlear nerve, suggesting that perineural invasion by keratoacanthoma should not be regarded as an entirely benign condition.
A separate case report describes a 35-year-old man with a perineal swelling that became a non-healing ulcer, first diagnosed as pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia but later confirmed as squamous cell carcinoma after a deeper biopsy. The authors note that non-healing perineal lesions are not uncommon and most turn out to be squamous cell carcinoma. They stress the importance of sampling the base of the lesion, analysing multiple sections, and considering clinical data to ensure an accurate diagnosis, as treatment and prognosis differ widely between benign and malignant conditions. What remains missing is any systematic trial of a drug for this rare condition, any molecular characterisation that could guide patient stratification, and the funding needed to recruit sufficient patients for a meaningful study.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Definitions · 2020 · 44 citations · open access
Multiple self-healing squamous epithelioma
AbstractMultiple self-healing squamous epithelioma is determined by a rare autosomal allele in heterozygous state and affects both sexes with approximately equal severity. The lesions are found more frequently on exposed areas of skin and their distribution correspondingly differs between the sexes. Reliable information on 62 cases has been obtained in the west of Scotland. This number of patients is more than twice that recorded in the world literature. It seems possible that the Scottish cases have arisen from a single mutation occurring before 1790.
AbstractTwo cases of multiple self-healing epithelioma (Ferguson Smith) are reported. Examination of tumor nuclei with the electron microscope revealed intranuclear particles seemingly identical to those which have been described in solitary keratoacanthoma. However, this particle has now been shown by us and others to occur in entirely different cells and circumstances, and therefore cannot be considered justification to support (1) the possible identity of the lesions of multiple self healing epithelioma and those of solitary keratoacanthoma or (2) the possible viral etiology of keratoacanthoma. Our attempts to culture a virus from lesions of these two patients failed. The nature of the particle and the etiology of the disease remain uncertain.
Perineural Invasion Associated With Recurrent Sporadic Multiple Self-healing Squamous Carcinomas
Abstract<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Ferguson Smith<sup>1</sup>did not realize that he had discovered an autosomal-dominant trait when he reported a single case of multiple self-healing squamous carcinomas (MSHSC) in 1934.<sup>2</sup>It is now recognized that both familial and sporadic types of MSHSC exist. Both entities are now included in the designation of multiple Ferguson-Smith keratoacanthomas. The MSHSC are occasionally known for an extremely mutilating course and fatal outcome. The patient initially described by Ferguson Smith was again cited 14 years later for extensive nasal destruction that required a prosthesis.<sup>3</sup>Charteris<sup>4</sup>described a patient with MSHSC who died as a result of an extensive recurrent anal lesion. We report a patient with sporadic MSHSC who experienced extensive recurrent perineural invasion of the right supratrochlear nerve. This observation suggests that perineural invasion by keratoacanthoma should not be regarded as an entirely benign condition. <h3>Report of a Case.—</h3> A 44-year-old
AbstractPseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia (PEH) is a benign condition marked by reactive epithelial proliferation seen in response to various insults like trauma, infection, persistent inflammation and neoplasia. In this report, we discuss a case of a 35-year-old man who presented with a perineal swelling, later turned into a non-healing ulcer, first diagnosed as PEH. Still, after clinical suspicion, a deeper biopsy was conducted, confirming the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma and directing treatment appropriately. Non-healing perineal lesions are not uncommon. Most of the lesions turn out to be Squamous Cell Carcinoma. But, if the histopathological picture suggests Pseudoepitheliomatous Hyperplasia, it is vital to consider the limitations of the biopsy, and a solid clinicopathological correlation is required to look aggressively for underlying Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Due to the benign nature of PEH, most cases are treated via excision biopsy, while grafts or flaps are occasionally required to restore severe tissue defects. It is therefore crucial to rule out and distinguish this condition from other benign and malignant conditions, as the treatment and prognosis differ widely. It is of utmost importance to sample the base of the lesion, analyze multiple sections, and consider clinical data to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
Perineural invasion associated with recurrent sporadic multiple self-healing squamous carcinomas
Abstract<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Ferguson Smith<sup>1</sup>did not realize that he had discovered an autosomal-dominant trait when he reported a single case of multiple self-healing squamous carcinomas (MSHSC) in 1934.<sup>2</sup>It is now recognized that both familial and sporadic types of MSHSC exist. Both entities are now included in the designation of multiple Ferguson-Smith keratoacanthomas. The MSHSC are occasionally known for an extremely mutilating course and fatal outcome. The patient initially described by Ferguson Smith was again cited 14 years later for extensive nasal destruction that required a prosthesis.<sup>3</sup>Charteris<sup>4</sup>described a patient with MSHSC who died as a result of an extensive recurrent anal lesion. We report a patient with sporadic MSHSC who experienced extensive recurrent perineural invasion of the right supratrochlear nerve. This observation suggests that perineural invasion by keratoacanthoma should not be regarded as an entirely benign condition. <h3>Report of a Case.—</h3> A 44-year-old
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.
