DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for Testicular Embryonal Carcinoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 27-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleTesticular Embryonal Carcinoma maps to a 27-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 testicular embryonal carcinoma 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
axin 1 (AXIN1) — AXIN1 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 dttdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 1DK8 · 1.57 Å · ligand 2,3-DIHYDROXY-1,4-DITHIOBUTANE (DTT). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
The National Cancer Data Base examined 2280 testicular carcinoma cases from 1985–1986, 5677 from 1990–1991, and 7452 from 1995–1996, representing roughly 22.6%, 47.3%, and 51.4% of estimated U.S. cases in those periods. Survival rates decreased with increasing AJCC stage. Young men under 25 were diagnosed with advanced stage nonseminomatous germ cell tumours more often than men aged 30 or older. For early stage nonseminomas, surgery alone was the treatment of choice and was used with increasing frequency over the three time periods; for advanced stage nonseminomas, surgery with concomitant chemotherapy remained relatively stable. For early stage seminomas, surgery alone was increasingly used despite standard therapy being surgery plus radiation; for advanced seminomas, surgery plus chemotherapy was employed more often while surgery plus radiation declined slightly.
Most testicular germ cell tumours arise from germ cell neoplasia in situ, which is thought to be arrested and transformed primordial germ cells. Seminomas have features identical to germ cell neoplasia in situ or primordial germ cells, whereas non-seminomas show varied differentiation. Seminomas and embryonal carcinomas have the feature of pluripotency, which is thought to cause histological heterogeneity and mixed pathology. Testicular germ cell tumours show high sensitivity to chemotherapies, but 20–30% of patients show resistance to standard chemotherapy. A 1987 report added another instance of embryonal metastasizing cancer occurring in both a father and son, adding to the few such familial cases in the literature.
The isochromosome i(12p) is the most common and characteristic cytogenetic finding and already appears in testicular carcinoma in situ. Proto-oncogenes such as cyclin D and PTHLH, as well as putative tumour suppressor genes, are localised on 12p, but their role in pathogenesis and prognosis has not been defined. Clinical characteristics of familial testicular germ cell tumours indicate a genetic background, but the genetic basis of testicular cancer pathogenesis is still unknown. Most reported data on proliferation markers, tumour suppressor genes, proteases and adhesion molecules need confirmation in prospective randomised trials before widespread clinical use. Based on available prospective data, the percentage of embryonal carcinoma and vascular invasion appear to be the most significant prognosticators.
What is still missing are prospective randomised trials to confirm molecular prognostic markers, a defined genetic basis for pathogenesis, and strategies to overcome chemotherapy resistance in the 20–30% of patients who do not respond. The NCDB data also cannot show whether the observed treatment shifts improve survival beyond stage-based expectations, and no trial design has yet stratified patients by the molecular markers that might predict aggressive behaviour in embryonal carcinoma.
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 · 1999 · 68 citations
The National Cancer Data Base report on patterns of care for testicular carcinoma, 1985-1996
AbstractBACKGROUND: Previous Commission on Cancer data from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) have examined time trends in stage of disease, treatment patterns, and survival for selected cancers. In the current study data relating to patients diagnosed with testicular carcinoma in 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1995, and 1996 are described. METHODS: The data reported in this review were collected from hospital cancer registries from across the U.S. Case information is submitted to the NCDB following guidelines established by the North American Association of Central Registries. Data items include patient demographics, tumor characteristics, initial course of therapy, and follow-up status. Eight calls for data have yielded a total of 6.9 million cases for the years 1985-1996, including 2280 testicular carcinoma cases in 1985-1986, 5677 cases in 1990-1991, and 7452 cases in 1995-1996. These data represent approximately 22.6%, 47.3%, and 51.4%, respectively, of the estimated cases of testicular carcinoma diagnosed in the U.S. in each of these 3 respective time periods. Cases diagnosed and reported to the NCDB between 1985-1991 and that had been staged according to the 4th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) manual for the staging of cancer (1567) were used in the analysis of survival outcomes. RESULTS: Four principle findings are reported. First, young men (age < 25 years) are diagnosed with advanced stage nonseminomatous germ cell tumors more frequently than are older men (age >/= 30 years). Second, although surgery and concomitant radiation are the standard therapy for early stage seminomas, surgery alone increasingly is being used. In the treatment of patients with advanced stage seminomas the use of surgery and radiation has declined slightly whereas surgery with concomitant chemotherapy appears to be employed with greater frequency. Third, surgery alone is the treatment of choice for patients with early stage nonseminomatous germ cell tumors and has been employed with increasing frequency over the three time periods studied. The use of surgery and concomitant chemotherapy has remained relatively stable over time in the treatment of patients with advanced stage nonseminomas. And fourth, survival rates decrease with increasing AJCC stage of disease. CONCLUSIONS: The NCDB data regarding testicular carcinoma highlight a number of important trends in the presentation and management of testicular tumors. These trends not only evaluate new protocols of treatment but also can be used to direct new strategies toward achieving earlier patient presentation.
International Journal of Urology · 2018 · 37 citations · open access
Current knowledge of risk factors for testicular germ cell tumors
AbstractThe development of the human gonads is tightly regulated by the correct sequential expression of many genes and hormonal activity. Disturbance of this regulation does not only prevent proper development of the gonads, but it also contributes to the development of testicular germ cell tumors. Recent genetic studies, especially genome-wide association studies, have made great progress in understanding genetic susceptibility. Although there is strong evidence of inherited risks, many environmental factors also contribute to the development of testicular germ cell tumors. Histopathological studies have shown that most testicular germ cell tumors arise from germ cell neoplasia in situ, which is thought to be arrested and transformed primordial germ cells. Seminoma has features identical to germ cell neoplasia in situ or primordial germ cells, whereas non-seminoma shows varied differentiation. Seminomas and embryonic cell carcinomas have the feature of pluripotency, which is thought to be the cause of histological heterogeneity and mixed pathology in testicular germ cell tumors. Testicular germ cell tumors show high sensitivity to chemotherapies, but 20-30% of patients show resistance to standard chemotherapy. In the present review, the current knowledge of the epidemiological and genomic factors for the development of testicular germ cell tumors is reviewed, and the mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapies are briefly mentioned.
Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology · 1987 · 4 citations
Testicular Malignancy in Father and Son
AbstractThe etiology of testicular cancer is unknown, but both environmental and genetic factors have to be considered. The recognition of the tumour in more than one member of a family, a rare occurrence, adds further material to the research of the etiology and might, therefore, be of general interest. To the few cases of testicular cancer occurring both in father and son reported in the literature, the present presentation adds another instance of embryonal metastasizing cancer.
Medical and Pediatric Oncology · 1978 · 2 citations
Childhood embryonal carcinoma of testis, report of two unusual cases, and the implication on clinical management
AbstractPrimary testicular neoplasms are not common childhood tumors, comprising about 1% of all childhood malignancies [1]. Embryonal carcinoma is the most common childhood testicular neoplasm. It has been described in a variety of histologic variants as embryonal carcinoma of infancy, orchioblastoma, yolk sac tumor, endodermal sinus tumor, Teilum tumor, and adenocarcinoma with clear cells. Because of the rarity of the tumor, there is no general concensus concerning the management. Recently we encountered two children with embryonal carcinoma of testis who had rather unusual clinical courses. We believe that a report of these cases may contribute to further design of the most suitable therapeutic regimen.
Estimation of ascorbic acid on the basis of its reducing action in a Landolt system.
AbstractAim of this review article was to critically analyze the recently described cytogenetic and molecular markers for testicular germ cell tumors with regard to their clinical utility. The isochromosme i(12p) represents the most common and characteristic cytogenetic finding which already appears in testicular carcinoma in situ. A number of proto-oncogenes (cyclin D and PTHLH) as well as putative tumor suppressor genes are localized on 12p; however, their role in pathogenesis and prognosis of testicular germ cell tumors has not been defined yet. Clinical characteristics of patients with familial testicular germ cell tumors indicate a genetic background for the development of testicular tumors. Although a number of chromosomal loci encoding potential testicular tumor susceptibility genes have been identified, the genetic basis of testicular cancer pathogenesis is still unknown. With regard to molecular prognostic risk factors most of the reported data on proliferation markers, tumor suppressor genes, proteases and adhesion molecules have to be confirmed in prospective randomized trials prior to their widespread clinical use. Based on the available data on prospective studies the percentage of embryonal carcinoma and vascular invasion appear to be the most significant prognosticators. Investigation and identification of those factors determining the aggressive biologic behavior of embryonal carcinoma compared to all other histological components appear to be most promising in the research for prgnosticators of metastatic disease. In conclusion, the increasing knowledge of molecular genetic events involved in pathogenesis and prognosis of testicular germ cell tumors will not only help to better understand development and progression of testicular cancer, but it will also define new approaches to classification and management of germ cell tumors
Ewha Medical Journal · 1985 · 0 citations · open access
A Case of Testicular Embryonal Cell Carcinoma
AbstractMaligant testicular tumors in children are relatively rare and represent 1 percent of all malignant one in them. Since seventy per cent of pediatric testicular tumors are of germinal origin and eighty per cent of these are malignant embryonal cell carcinoma, any solid scrotal mass in a child must be considered malignant until proved otherwise. We observed one case of testicular embryonal cell carcinoma in 2 year-old male patient. The treatment was done by right inguinal radical orchiectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy with actinomycin D and vinblastine. Herein we reported a case of testicular embryonal cell carcinoma with a review of the litartures.
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.
