DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for squamous cell carcinoma — 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 moduleSquamous cell carcinoma 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
approvedDocetaxelApproved drugapprovedPaclitaxelApproved drug
Structures already discussed alongside squamous cell carcinoma in the retrieved literature, rendered from public PubChem SMILES. Which drugs appear here reflects the evidence found, not a ranked prediction.
Molecular view
Refined structure of alpha-beta tubulin from zinc-induced sheets stabilized — Paclitaxel has a real, experimentally solved structure in complex with this target (PDB 1JFF, 3.5 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 ta1drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 1JFF · 3.5 Å · ligand Paclitaxel (TA1). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a phase II trial of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and continuous-infusion 5-fluorouracil for advanced squamous carcinomas of various primary sites (excluding lung), 39 of 60 patients (65%) had objective responses, with 25% complete responses. Twelve patients (22%) remained progression-free from 7 to 63 months (median 35 months) after therapy. Grade 3/4 toxicities included leukopenia (48%), mucositis (28%), diarrhoea (17%), and portacath-related events (13%). The authors judged the regimen feasible and highly efficacious, but the trial included only 12 previously treated patients and no randomised comparator.
A separate study of weekly docetaxel (30 mg/m², 4 weeks on, 1 week off) in 38 patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck reported responses in 42% (95% CI 26–58%). Median response duration was 8.39 months, median overall survival 11.3 months, and 1-year survival 39%. No grade 3–4 toxicities were recorded, and no dose reductions or delays were needed. The authors concluded docetaxel was active in this setting.
Two case series highlight the poor outlook for rare squamous cell carcinomas of the thyroid and gallbladder. Among three patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid treated with surgery plus radiotherapy or radiotherapy alone, two died within one year; the authors described the tumour as chemo-resistant. In a single case of giant squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder, the patient died 6 months after en-bloc resection and adjuvant oncological treatment. Both reports note that despite aggressive surgery and combined modality therapy, prognosis remains poor.
What is missing across these studies is prospective, randomised evidence for any regimen in advanced squamous cell carcinoma beyond head and neck sites. The 2001 three-drug combination has not been tested in a controlled trial, and the docetaxel data are from a single-arm phase II study. For rare sites such as thyroid and gallbladder, no adequately powered trial exists, and patient stratification by molecular subtype or prior therapy is absent. Funding for multi-centre trials in these uncommon presentations remains scarce.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Cancer · 2001 · 50 citations · open access
Paclitaxel, carboplatin, and long-term continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of advanced squamous and other selected carcinomas
AbstractBACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, toxicity, and efficacy of the combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and long-term continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in the treatment of advanced squamous carcinomas of various primary sites. METHODS: Patients were eligible for this trial if they had metastatic squamous carcinoma at any site except the lung. In addition, patients with locally advanced squamous carcinoma of the head and neck were eligible, if they were considered unlikely to be cured with combined modality therapy. Sixty patients entered this trial between February 1995 and March 1999; 12 patients (20%) had received 1 previous chemotherapy regimen, whereas 48 patients (80%) were previously untreated. All patients received the following regimen: paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2), 1-hour intravenous infusion, Days 1 and 22; carboplatin area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) 6.0 intravenously, Days 1 and 22; 5-FU 225 mg/m(2)/day, by 24-hour continuous intravenous infusion, Days 1-35. Treatment courses were repeated at 6-week intervals; responding patients continued treatment for a maximum of 4 courses (24 weeks). RESULTS: Thirty-nine of 60 patients treated (65%) had objective responses to this regimen, with 25% complete responses. Twelve patients (22%) remain progression free from 7 to 63 months (median, 35 months) after completion of therapy. Complete responses were observed in squamous carcinomas from various primary sites including head and neck, esophagus, cervix, vagina, anus, and unknown primary. The most frequent Grade 3/4 toxicities observed with this 3-drug regimen included leukopenia (48%), diarrhea (17%), mucositis (28%), and portacath-related events (13%). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of paclitaxel, carboplatin, and long-term infusional 5-FU is feasible, well tolerated, and highly efficacious in patients with advanced squamous carcinomas of various primary sites. This regimen merits further investigation.
Weekly docetaxel in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
AbstractBACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the antitumor activity and toxicity profile of weekly docetaxel in patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. METHODS: Patients with recurrent, metastatic, incurable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were enrolled. Weekly docetaxel (30 mg/m2) was administered for 4 weeks every 5 weeks for a maximum of 6 cycles. RESULTS: The activity and toxicity of docetaxel were assessed in all 38 patients who were entered on the study. No Grade 3-4 toxicities were recorded. No treatment delays were required because of toxicity or dose reductions. Responses were observed in 42% of patients (95% confidence interval, 26-58%). The median duration of response was 8.39 months, the estimated median overall survival was 11.3 months, and the 1-year survival rate was 39%. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggested that weekly docetaxel was an active agent for patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
International Seminars in Surgical Oncology · 2007 · 19 citations · open access
Is an aggressive approach justified in the management of an aggressive cancer-the squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid?
AbstractBACKGROUND: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the thyroid is an extremely rare neoplasm, with less than 50 cases reported in the world literature. The prognosis is poor with a median survival of less than six months. The death is usually secondary to progression of local disease as distant metastases are rare. CASE REPORTS: Three cases, two males and one female presenting with sudden increase in the size of long standing thyroid swellings and associated pressure effects on the aero-digestive tract are reported. Exhaustive clinical, endoscopic, and radiological examinations did not reveal any primary site of squamous-cell carcinoma as the likely source of the metastases, or of any contiguous spread from neighboring structures. Two cases were managed by combined modality therapy including curative surgery with radiotherapy and one by radiotherapy alone. CONCLUSION: Primary squamous cell carcinoma is a rare malignancy with a poor outcome inspite of combined modality therapy. Out of three reported cases, two succumbed to their disease within less than one year. Aggressive surgery in the form of curative resection along with adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended, the tumor being chemo resistant.
World Journal of Clinical Cases · 2019 · 7 citations · open access
Giant squamous cell carcinoma of the gallbladder: A case report
AbstractBACKGROUND: Gallbladder cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the biliary tract. The majority of cases are adenocarcinoma. Squamous cell carcinoma is the histological type present in 12% of all neoplasias accounting for approximately 12% of gallbladder neoplasms. It can occur in its pure form reaching 1%-3% of the tumors. Many patients are at an advanced stage when diagnosed and have bad therapeutic efficacy. CASE SUMMARY: A 45-year-old male patient presented with left flank pain for 1 year and irradiated to the mesogastric region. He denied fever, vomiting, and any other intestinal changes. He reported a weight loss of 10 kg in a period of 7 mo. He denied alcoholism, smoking, drug use, or prior illness. Computed tomography of the abdomen showed in the gallbladder fossa a voluminous mesogastric heterogeneous collection that had a thick and irregular capsule with liquid and gaseous contents. A predominantly hypoattenuating rounded material with partially calcified margins measuring about 2.0 cm related to gallstone was also emphasized. No lymphadenomegalies or free fluid was observed in the abdominal cavity. Patient underwent laparotomy where a huge tumor was observed affecting the transverse colon and gallbladder. This mass was resected en bloc removing gallbladder and transverse colon together with corresponding mesocolon and regional lymphadenectomy. There were no complications in the postoperative period. Although oncological treatment was performed, the patient died 6 mo after surgery. CONCLUSION: Squamous cell carcinoma represents a rare disease. Patients often present with large, bulky tumors with involvement of adjacent organs. In spite of progress in surgical techniques and adjuvant chemotherapy, the prognosis remains poor.
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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