DeCure's autonomous Dermatology AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for primary cutaneous amyloidosis — 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 modulePrimary cutaneous amyloidosis 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 primary cutaneous amyloidosis 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.
What the evidence adds up to
In a long-term follow-up study of nodular localized primary cutaneous amyloidosis (NLPCA) at St John's Institute of Dermatology covering cases from 1968 to 1999, the estimated rate of progression to systemic amyloidosis was 7%, which is substantially lower than the 50% figure previously quoted in the literature. A 2013 review of nodular cutaneous amyloidosis (NCA) confirms that the amyloid fibrils in NCA are the same as those found in primary systemic amyloidosis and myeloma-associated systemic amyloidosis, and it also reports a lifetime risk of progression to systemic disease of approximately 7%. Age of presentation in NCA ranges from 20 to 87 years with no clear gender predilection.
A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of treatments for primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis (PLCA) included 116 studies with 534 patients. For nodular amyloidosis (NA), surgery was the most effective treatment, with statistically significantly better outcomes compared with other treatments. For non-nodular PLCA, analysis of 20 cohort studies (418 patients) reported partial response rates of 100.0% for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, 100.0% for microneedling, 97.5% for laser therapies, 96.9% for topical therapies, and 94.4% for systemic immunosuppressants. Complete response rates were 22.2% for surgical interventions and 2.5% for laser therapies. In case-level studies of non-nodular PLCA, no statistically significant differences between treatments were found, though biologic agents and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors were noted as possibly promising for refractory lesions.
Earlier work from 1977 using direct immunofluorescence on 24 patients with primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis found IgG, IgA, IgM and C3 associated with amyloid deposits in about two-thirds of cases, and autofluorescence in two patients with very chronic lesions. A 2012 concept review discusses the history and classification of cutaneous amyloidosis but provides no new treatment data.
What remains missing is prospective, randomised controlled trials that compare treatments head-to-head, particularly for the non-nodular form where the evidence is drawn from cohort studies and case series. The 7% progression risk for nodular disease is based on a single-centre retrospective series, and longer follow-up in larger, multicentre cohorts is needed to confirm that figure. No trial has yet stratified patients by amyloid subtype or by molecular markers, and no study has addressed the cost or feasibility of the promising but unproven biologic and JAK inhibitor approaches.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
British Journal of Dermatology · 2001 · 161 citations
Nodular localized primary cutaneous amyloidosis: a long-term follow-up study
AbstractWe present long-term follow-up data on patients with nodular localized primary cutaneous amyloidosis (NLPCA) seen at the St John's Institute of Dermatology between 1968 and 1999. This is the largest clinical follow-up study of this type of amyloid to date. Based on these cases we estimate the rate of progression of NLPCA to systemic amyloidosis to be only 7%, much lower than the 50% rate currently quoted in the literature.
American Journal of Dermatopathology · 2012 · 80 citations
Cutaneous Amyloidosis: A Concept Review
AbstractConcepts and semantics are crucial for good communication between clinicians and pathologists. Amyloidosis was described more than 150 years ago. Therefore, the terminology related to it is abundant, varied, and sometimes complex. In this report, we intend to discuss several terms related to the disease, with special emphasis on cutaneous amyloidosis. We present a review, from Virchow to present, of the concepts related to amyloidosis: its nature, the classification of cutaneous forms of the disease, and the techniques used in its diagnosis.
Indian Dermatology Online Journal · 2012 · 26 citations · open access
Study on epidemiology of cutaneous amyloidosis in northern India and effectiveness of dimethylsulphoxide in cutaneous amyloidosis
AbstractCONTEXT: Amyloidosis, which is characterized by the extracellular deposition of a proteinaceous substance, is usually associated with considerable tissue dysfunction. However, the etiology of the disease remains uncertain and the treatment disappointing. AIM: 1. To know the epidemiology of cutaneous amyloidosis 2. To evaluate the effect of dimethylsulphoxide on cutaneous amyloidosis. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Data was collected from patients attending the Outpatient Department (OPD) over a period of one year. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients were screened on the basis of signs and symptoms and then confirmed histologically. A total of 62 patients who were suspected to be suffering from amyloidosis on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms and 38 patients who were further confirmed histopathologically underwent the treatment. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square test was used for testing the significance of proportions. RESULTS: 63.15 percent of the patients had macular amyloidosis and the interscapular area was the most common area involved (52.63%). Pruritus, pigmentation, and papules responded excellently to dimethylsulphoxide after one month of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Cutaneous amyloidosis is a disease found in middle-aged persons, with a female preponderance, and dimethylsulphoxide seems to be an effective therapy.
AbstractNodular cutaneous amyloidosis (NCA), the least common form of primary cutaneous amyloidosis, is characterized clinically by waxy, purpuric plaques and nodules and histologically by amyloid deposits in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. We present a patient who developed multiple, non-contiguous NCA lesions over a three year period without evidence of systemic disease. We reviewed the literature and found few other cases of this unusual presentation.
A case of nodular cutaneous amyloidosis and review of the literature
AbstractNodular cutaneous amyloidosis (NCA) is the rarest form of primary cutaneous amyloidosis. The amyloid fibrils of NCA are not unique to NCA but are also the prevailing amyloid component in primary systemic amyloidosis (PSA) and myeloma-associated systemic amyloidosis. Age of presentation in NCA has ranged from 20 to 87 years without a clear gender predilection. Progression from NCA to primary systemic amyloidosis has been reported, with an estimated lifetime risk of approximately 7 percent, prompting the need for appropriate follow up to evaluate for the presence of systemic amyloidosis. We report a case of nodular cutaneous amyloidosis in an otherwise healthy 62-year-old woman and we review the literature.
Australasian Journal of Dermatology · 1977 · 11 citations
AN IMMUNOFLUORESCENT STUDY OF CUTANEOUS AMYLOIDOSIS
AbstractTwenty-four patients with primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis were studied by direct immunofluorescent techniques. Autofluorescence of the amyloid deposits was observed in two patients with very chronic lesions. IgG, IgA, IgM and C3 were found in association with the amyloid deposits in about two-thirds of the cases. The immune pathogenesis of amyloid formation is postulated.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology · 2025 · 7 citations
Systematic review and meta-analysis of treatments and outcomes in primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis
AbstractBACKGROUND: Primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis (PLCA) is a skin-limited disorder characterized histologically by amyloid deposition in the papillary dermis. OBJECTIVES: To review current treatment strategies and provide an updated perspective on the treatment of PLCA. METHODS: We searched the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases for eligible studies. Studies were divided into those that described nodular amyloidosis (NA) and those that described non-NA. Cohort studies were meta-analysed using a random effects model to evaluate the outcomes of different treatments, while case reports and case series were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Overall, 116 studies involving 534 patients were included. Surgery was the most effective treatment option in patients with NA, with statistically significantly better outcomes compared with other treatments. For the non-NA group, 62 case-level studies (79 patients) and 20 cohort studies (418 patients) were analysed separately. Although there were no statistically significant differences between treatments in the case-level studies, biologic agents and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors may be promising treatments for refractory lesions. Among the cohort studies, partial response rates of 100.0%, 100.0%, 97.5%, 96.9% and 94.4% were achieved for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, microneedling, laser therapies, topical therapies and systemic immunosuppressants, respectively; complete response rates of 22.2% and 2.5% were achieved for surgical interventions and laser therapies, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that surgery is the most effective treatment option for NA, and laser therapy is recommended for patients with non-NA. Biologic agents and JAK inhibitors may be promising treatment options for lesions that do not respond to conventional therapies.
Case Reports in Dermatology · 2021 · 2 citations · open access
A Peculiar Case of Large and “Unresectable” Primary Localized Cutaneous Nodular Amyloidosis of the Ankle
AbstractNodular cutaneous amyloidosis represents the rarest variant of primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis. The proposed management ranges from topical or systemic agents to surgical treatment. Complete surgical excision is advisable due to its potential progression to systemic amyloidosis due to dermis and subcutaneous tissue infiltration. However, in particular locations, the risk of functional complications is high, so an alternative treatment option should be considered. We report a case of a large primary nodular cutaneous amyloidosis of the leg involving the joint capsule which was successfully treated by incomplete surgical removal, without recurrences at 7-year follow-up.
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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