DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome — 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 moduleNevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome 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 nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome 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
3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) — HMGCR 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 coadrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 1DQA · 2.0 Å · ligand COENZYME A (COA). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A single case report from 1987 described a patient with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome who was given oral etretinate for 13 months. The authors reported a therapeutic effect on existing basal cell carcinomas and a prophylactic effect against new tumour formation during that period. No sample size, response rates, or survival data were provided, and no controlled comparison was made.
A 1981 report described a young woman with the syndrome who had about 150 basal cell carcinomas on the face treated simultaneously by curettage and electrodesiccation under general anaesthesia. The authors considered this method effective for eradicating numerous carcinomas rapidly, particularly when patient cooperation was poor. No long-term outcomes or recurrence rates were given.
Later reports from 2016 and 2021 described the syndrome’s clinical features, diagnostic criteria, and genetic basis. The 2016 paper noted that nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder with complete penetrance and variable expressivity, caused by mutations in the patched gene on chromosome 9q22.3-q31. It presented 4 familial and 2 sporadic cases but gave no treatment outcomes or quantitative efficacy data. The 2021 report similarly described a single patient’s clinical features and surgical treatment without providing response rates or survival figures.
A 2011 case report emphasised that when basal cell carcinoma is discovered, a detailed history going back to the patient’s youth is needed, and that the diagnosis should not deter treatment of the skin carcinoma but should prompt more aggressive and frequent dermatologic oversight. No new treatment data were presented.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
International Journal of Dermatology · 1987 · 64 citations
Etretinate Treatment of the Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome
AbstractA patient suffering from the nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, in whom various surgical and conservative treatment modalities had been tried previously, was placed on oral etretinate therapy. A therapeutic effect of the etretinate on existing basal cell carcinomas and a prophylactic effect in inhibiting new tumor formation were well demonstrated during the 13-month period of treatment.
The Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology · 1981 · 7 citations
The Nevoid Basal‐Cell Carcinoma Syndrome
AbstractThe case of a young, mentally retarded woman with the nevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome is presented in whom about 150 basal-cell carcinomas on the face were treated simultaneously be curettage and electrodesiccation with the patient under general anesthesia. Such a method is excellent for eradicating numerous carcinomas rapidly, effectively, and at once, especially when cooperation of the patient is not optimal.
AbstractABSTRACT: Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that has an impact on the body's organs, such as skin and skeletal. Clinical features, physical and pathological examinations, surgical treatment, and diagnostic criteria have been explicated by means of describing the medical experience of a patient with nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome in this report.
JORDI - Journal of Oral Diagnosis · 2016 · 2 citations · open access
Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
AbstractThe nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is an autosomal dominant disorder with complete penetrance and variable expressivity. It is caused by mutations in the patched gene, mapped to chromosome 9q22.3-q31. Its characteristics include multiple basal cell carcinomas, odontogenic keratocysts, vertebral and rib anomalies, and intracranial calcifications. Here, we describe the features of 4 familial and 2 sporadic cases of the NBCCS.
Recurrent lesion on the right ala nasi and an odontogenic cyst in a soldier
AbstractNevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome is a genetic abnormality that often manifests with skin abnormalities and odontogenic pathology at a relatively young age. Whenever basal cell carcinoma is discovered, a more detailed history must be taken that goes back to the patient's youth. A suspicious history should lead to further follow-up. The diagnosis of NBCCS should not deter the clinician from treating the underlying skin carcinoma; rather, it should educate both the patient and the clinician that a more complex pathology exists that requires more aggressive and frequent oversight by a dermatologist.
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.
