DeCure's autonomous Metabolic AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for parathyroid adenoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 43-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleParathyroid adenoma maps to a 43-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
approvedCaffeineAdenosine receptor antagonist
Structures already discussed alongside parathyroid adenoma in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
Crystal structure of Aspergillus fumigatus chitinase B1 — Caffeine has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 2A3B, 1.9 Å). This is the drug's own deposited structure, not a prediction, and confirms it is a structurally characterised molecule rather than an untested guess.
Loading structure…
helix sheet cffdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 2A3B · 1.9 Å · ligand Caffeine (CFF). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a 2007 prospective study of 14 chronic dialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism resistant to conventional therapy, local injections of calcitriol were given under ultrasound guidance. Six injections were performed at two-day intervals, with the dose calculated as 1 microgram per cubic centimetre of parathyroid tissue. Mean gland volume did not change significantly, going from 0.62 mL before therapy to 0.85 mL after 14 days. Seven patients showed a reduction in parathyroid hormone levels, from a mean of 1588 pg/mL to 909 pg/mL after treatment. Four patients became free of bone or joint pain, and others reported some pain relief. The authors concluded that patient selection and early intervention are important for success, but the study was small, uncontrolled, and did not report long-term outcomes.
Three case reports from 2019 and 2022 describe surgical management of parathyroid adenoma. In a 2022 report of a giant parathyroid adenoma in a 46-year-old woman, parathyroid hormone fell by 90% after surgical removal, as measured by intraoperative assay. The authors noted that intraoperative PTH monitoring improves surgical success when only one imaging test is positive. A 2019 report of a 24-year-old woman with recurrent parathyroid adenoma and previous neck surgery described skeletal abnormalities including multiple long bone fractures and bowed legs, despite normal serum calcium. She underwent total thyroidectomy with complete parathyroid tissue removal; intraoperative PTH fell immediately, symptoms improved, and she was discharged on the fifth postoperative day.
No controlled trials exist for drug treatment of parathyroid adenoma itself. The 2007 calcitriol injection study addressed secondary hyperparathyroidism in dialysis patients, not primary adenoma, and showed only a partial and inconsistent hormone response. Surgery remains the only intervention described in these reports that consistently normalises PTH and relieves symptoms, but recurrence can occur, as the 2019 case illustrates.
What is missing is any randomised trial of drug therapy for parathyroid adenoma, any study of oral or intravenous calcitriol for primary adenoma, and any data on patient stratification beyond gland volume or symptom status. No funding for such trials is mentioned in these abstracts, and no biomarker other than PTH and calcium is proposed to guide non-surgical treatment.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2013 · 22 citations · open access
Inhibition of Parathyroid Hormone Secretion by Caffeine in Human Parathyroid Cells
AbstractCONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Caffeine is a highly consumed psychoactive substance present in our daily drinks. Independent studies have reported associations between caffeine consumption, low bone mineral density, and urinary calcium loss, as well as impaired bone development in vitro and in vivo. Calcium (Ca(2+)), vitamin D, and PTH are critical regulators of bone remodeling. A possible association between caffeine and parathyroid gland function has been suggested in the literature. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: Effects of caffeine on PTH secretion and Ca(2+) levels were determined by batch incubation and Fura-2, respectively, in pathological parathyroid cells. Protein expressions were studied by Western blot and immunohistochemistry in normal and parathyroid adenoma tissues. Alterations in gene expressions of adenosine receptor A1 (ADORA1) and A2 (ADORA2A) and PTH were quantified by PCR; intracellular cAMP levels and protein kinase A activity were analyzed by an antibody-based assay. RESULTS: We studied physiological concentrations of caffeine ranging from 1 to 50 μm and found that 50 μm caffeine caused a significant decrease of PTH secretion and PTH gene expression. This decrease occurred in parallel with a decrease of the intracellular cAMP level, protein kinase A activity, and ADORA1 gene expression, indicating a possible causal relationship. The intracellular level of Ca(2+) was unaffected even by high concentrations of caffeine. Protein expressions demonstrated two main targets for caffeine-ADORA1 and ADORA2A. CONCLUSION: A physiological high dose of caffeine inhibits PTH secretion in human parathyroid cells, possibly due to a decrease of the intracellular level of cAMP. The observation demonstrates a functional link between caffeine and parathyroid cell function.
Local Calcitriol Injections as a Suppressive Treatment of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism in Chronic Dialysis Patients
AbstractAIM: A prospective study was made of the effectiveness of repeatable local calcitriol injections therapy to suppress secondary hyperparathyroidism resistant to conventional therapy in chronic dialysis patients. METHODS: Under ultrasonographic guidance, six injections at an interval of two days were performed in 14 chronic dialysis patients. The total amount of calcitriol to be injected each time was estimated as 100% of the calculated gland volume. Calcitriol was given in doses 1 mug of medicine per 1 cubic cm (as measured by USG) of parathyroid tissue. Parathormone concentration, total calcium, ionized calcium, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase levels were assessed on the first and last day of the treatment period. RESULTS: Prior to therapy, the mean gland volumes were 0.62 (0.15-3.0) ml, and they increased to 0.85 (0.2-3.9) after 14 days (NS). Seven patients were found to have decreased their PTH levels to 909 +/- 387 pg/mL after 14 days of treatment when compared with the first day mean values of 1588 +/- 440 pg/mL (p < 0.05). After completion of the therapy, four patients were reported to be free from any clinical symptoms of ostalgia or arthralgia. Others reported an alleviation of pain. CONCLUSIONS: Parathyroid adenoma injection is an alternative method of treatment for some patients resistant to treatment by means of vitamin D3 pulses or intravenous administration of calcitriol. The success of treatment is to a great extent determined by proper selection of patients and the taking of decisions when the period of secondary hyperparathyroidism is not very advanced.
Indian Journal of Case Reports · 2022 · 0 citations · open access
A giant parathyroid adenoma mimicking a thyroid swelling: A case report
AbstractGiant parathyroid adenomas are uncommon. Its clinical management is challenging. Our study’s goal is to share our experience with pre-operative localization of parathyroid adenomas while emphasizing the importance of intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) assays in such situations. Here, we present the case of a 46-year-old woman who was diagnosed with parathyroid adenoma. The clinical aspects, pre-operative management, and surgical procedure have all been examined. Parathyroid hormone levels were reduced by 90% following surgical removal of the tumor and an IOPTH assay. IOPTH significantly improves surgical success rates in patients with only one positive imaging test result and adds significant value to surgical decision-making.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2019 · 0 citations · open access
RECURRENT PARATHYROID ADENOMA IN YOUNG FEMALE PATIENT
Abstract<em>Parathyroid adenoma is one of the leading causes of primary hyperparathyroidism characterized by clinical and laboratory evidence of elevated parathyroid hormone level and increased serum calcium levels. Here we have presented the case of a 24 years old young female patient with recurrent parathyroid adenoma with previous history of surgery for neck swelling. Patient’s parathyroid hormone levels were found to be raised. However, despite having skeletal abnormalities like multiple long bone fractures and bowing of legs, her serum calcium levels were within normal limits. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy along with complete removal of parathyroid tissue. Immediate decline in her serum parathyroid hormone levels intraoperatively confirmed the diagnosis of parathyroid adenoma. Following surgery, patient’s symptoms improved dramatically and she was successfully sent home on 5<sup>th</sup> postoperative day. </em> <strong>Keywords: </strong><em>Parathyroid adenoma, skeletal abnormalities, intraoperatively</em>,
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2019 · 0 citations · open access
RECURRENT PARATHYROID ADENOMA IN YOUNG FEMALE PATIENT
Abstract<em>Parathyroid adenoma is one of the leading causes of primary hyperparathyroidism characterized by clinical and laboratory evidence of elevated parathyroid hormone level and increased serum calcium levels. Here we have presented the case of a 24 years old young female patient with recurrent parathyroid adenoma with previous history of surgery for neck swelling. Patient’s parathyroid hormone levels were found to be raised. However, despite having skeletal abnormalities like multiple long bone fractures and bowing of legs, her serum calcium levels were within normal limits. The patient underwent total thyroidectomy along with complete removal of parathyroid tissue. Immediate decline in her serum parathyroid hormone levels intraoperatively confirmed the diagnosis of parathyroid adenoma. Following surgery, patient’s symptoms improved dramatically and she was successfully sent home on 5<sup>th</sup> postoperative day. </em> <strong>Keywords: </strong><em>Parathyroid adenoma, skeletal abnormalities, intraoperatively</em>,
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.
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