DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for skin carcinoma in situ — screening already-approved drugs against its 6-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleSkin carcinoma in situ maps to a 6-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 skin carcinoma in situ 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
UDP-GlcNAc:betaGal beta-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 2 (B3GNT2) — B3GNT2 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 6mdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 8TJC · 2.2 Å · ligand (6M)-1-[(2R)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-yl]-6-[(5S)-5-methyl-4-oxo-5-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl]-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (HI8). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A 2022 study tested a nanoparticle (TSL-IR820-CAT) designed to deliver oxygen and combine photodynamic and photothermal therapy against cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in cell and mouse models. The nanoparticle accumulated in tumour tissue after needle-free injection, produced oxygen to relieve hypoxia, and caused irreversible apoptosis in A431 cells. The authors report no apparent systemic side effects in mice. The work is preclinical; no human data are provided.
A 2023 study examined how reliably Mohs surgeons can distinguish actinic keratosis from squamous cell carcinoma in situ on frozen sections. Seventeen slides were assessed by multiple surgeons. The overall kappa value was 0.26, indicating weak agreement. For actinic keratosis the kappa was 0.34, and for squamous cell carcinoma in situ it was 0.37. The authors conclude that interpretation of in situ carcinoma varies notably among surgeons.
A 2025 literature review on multifocal superficial basal cell carcinoma identified 15 studies. It states that Mohs micrographic surgery is the treatment of choice but can produce large defects. Topical 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod showed promising efficacy, especially as adjuncts after Mohs surgery. Laser and light therapy, electrodesiccation and curettage, and systemic retinoids are listed as viable alternatives. The review notes that incomplete excisions and recurrences are associated with aggressive histologic subtypes including multifocal superficial basal cell carcinoma. It calls for further research to refine guidelines and standardise management protocols.
What is still missing: randomised controlled trials comparing these topical and surgical approaches head-to-head in defined patient subgroups, standardised histopathological criteria for in situ lesions, and human efficacy data for the nanoparticle platform.
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 Surgery Case Reports · 2018 · 7 citations · open access
Sentinel lymph node biopsy in porocarcinoma: A case reports
AbstractINTRODUCTION: Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) is a slow-growing carcinoma arising from the eccrine sweat glands. Based on its clinical presentation it can be confused with malignant and benign skin lesions, both. Histological examination is essential to formulate a correct diagnosis. Surgical excision with clear margins is the standard therapeutic approach while the role of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SNLB) remains controversial. CASE PRESENTATION: The Authors report two cases of EPC of the lower limbs occurred in two women. Patients were treated by wide surgical excision of the lesion and SNLB. 6 months follow-up was disease free for both patients. CONCLUSION: Although a rare cutaneous tumor, EPC has to be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of malignant skin lesions because of its possible loco-regional aggressiveness and related morbidity. Among the available treatment options, surgical excision is considered the standard approach whereas the role of SNLB is controversial although the Authors discuss a possible usefulness for staging and diagnosis.
International Journal of Nanomedicine · 2022 · 6 citations · open access
Near-Infrared Light-Activated Oxygen Generator a Multidynamic Photo-Nanoplatform for Effective Anti-Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment
AbstractIntroduction: Nanophototherapy has emerged as a novel and promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment; however, its efficacy in dermatological tumors and precancerous lesions remains severely limited. This study aimed to use the gas-liquid injection technique to fully utilize the synergistic photodynamic therapy (PDT)/photothermal therapy (PTT) of nanomaterials to enhance the antitumor effect. Methods: A novel oxygen-generating nanocomposite (TSL-IR820-CAT) was synthesized by encapsulating the photosensitizer IR820 and catalase (CAT) using a matrix encapsulation method based on thermosensitive liposomes (TSL).-The liquid injection technology enhances the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC). The combined PDT/PTT therapeutic effect of TSL-IR820-CAT on cSCC was investigated using in vivo and in vitro experiments. Results: TSL-IR820-CAT, with good stability, efficient drug release, and photothermal conversion ability, was successfully developed. Nanoparticles injected through a needle-free syringe efficiently accumulate in the tumor tissue. As TSL-IR820-CAT was consumed by A431 cells, some of it localized to the mitochondria and produced oxygen to relieve hypoxia, thereby enhancing the efficacy of PDT. PDT/PTT combination therapy resulted in irreversible apoptosis and inhibited cSCC growth. TSL-IR820-CAT coupled with gas-liquid injection was free from apparent systemic side effects. Conclusion: This article discusses new strategies and ideas for treating skin tumors and has significant application value.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology · 2023 · 3 citations
Concordance in Distinguishing Actinic Keratosis from Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Situ on Mohs Histological Frozen Sections
AbstractBACKGROUND: Mohs surgeons routinely encounter squamous cell carcinoma at surgical margins and often base the decision to take another layer on the severity of atypia observed. Currently, no criteria exists for distinguishing borderline histological patterns that could be interpreted differently as actinic keratosis (AK), squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS), or AK with focal SCCIS. OBJECTIVE: To assess interrater concordance amongst Mohs surgeons in distinguishing AK from SCCIS when evaluating Mohs frozen sections. METHODS: Seventeen slides were selected and converted into digitally formatted cases. They were compiled into an electronic survey and distributed to the American College of Mohs Surgery. RESULTS: Overall κ was 0.26 corresponding to weak agreement between raters compared to the standard, with κ of 0.34 for AK and 0.37 for SCCIS. CONCLUSION: There exists notable variability among Mohs surgeons who interpret the spectrum of in situ carcinoma differently. Ongoing learning and consensus building among Mohs surgeons and trainees can aid in quality patient care, even if there may not be agreement on every case. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(2):199-194. doi:10.36849/JDD.7084.
Journal of Cancer Therapy · 2024 · 1 citations · open access
Unique Clinical Features of Curaderm when Treating Skin Cancers
AbstractBasal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer and the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. Conventional treatments to remove or destroy basal cell carcinoma are indiscriminate and also remove or destroy normal skin cells resulting in compromised cosmetic outcomes. Consequences of these treatments include body-image issues, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and poorer quality of social and family life. A progressive topical cream formulation, Curaderm, containing the natural BEC glycoalkaloids, have shown to have advantages over conventional treatments. However, comprehensive clinical features of the skin cancer lesions during treatment with Curaderm have to date not been reported. This report shows that using unpublished data from a large number of patients with varying sizes, types and locations of basal cell carcinomas when treated with Curaderm in a phase 3 trial, an initial increase in size of the lesions occur, followed by a reverse course, leading to complete removal of the skin cancer. The specificity and mode of action of Curaderm explains the superior cosmetic outcomes when compared with conventional therapies.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology · 2025 · 0 citations
Medical and Surgical Management of Multifocal Superficial Basal Cell Carcinoma
AbstractBACKGROUND: Multifocal superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) is a subtype of BCC characterized by subclinical extension of noncontiguous tumor islands and high recurrence rates. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the treatment of choice for multifocal sBCC but can invariably result in large defect size when additional stages are required to achieve complete tumor clearance. We aim to review the literature to summarize key advantages, disadvantages, and limitations of surgical and nonsurgical treatment modalities for multifocal sBCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature review identified 15 studies focusing on the medical and surgical management of multifocal sBCC. RESULTS: Laser and light therapy, electrodesiccation and curettage, and systemic retinoids are viable alternatives to standard excision and MMS for multifocal sBCC. Topical application of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and imiquimod have shown promising efficacy, especially as adjunctive therapies following MMS for multifocal sBCC. DISCUSSION: Studies demonstrate that incomplete excisions and recurrences are associated with aggressive histologic subtypes, including multifocal sBCC. Combining MMS with adjuvant imiquimod or 5-FU may enhance outcomes for multifocal sBCC. The high incidence, morbidity, and economic costs of sBCC necessitate optimizing therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes. Further research is needed to refine guidelines and establish standardized management protocols for multifocal sBCC. CITATION: Zhu TR, Islam Z, Chahine A, et al. Medical and surgical management of multifocal superficial basal cell carcinoma. J Drugs Dermatol. 2025;24(5):483-488. doi:10.36849/JDD.8543.
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.
