DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for Testicular Yolk Sac Tumor — screening already-approved drugs against its 25-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleTesticular Yolk Sac Tumor maps to a 25-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 yolk sac tumor 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
NRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase (NRAS) — NRAS 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 gdpdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 6ZIO · 1.55 Å · ligand GUANOSINE-5'-DIPHOSPHATE (GDP). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
A review of 61 paediatric patients treated between 1995 and 2014 at one Chinese hospital found that all presented with a painless scrotal mass, elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the 15 patients where it was measured, and a solid mass on ultrasound. Inguinal orchiectomy was performed in 60 patients; one child had testis-sparing surgery. All patients received postoperative chemotherapy. Serum AFP returned to normal within one to two months after surgery, and no patient treated at that hospital relapsed. The authors advocate inguinal orchiectomy for stage I disease plus postoperative chemotherapy to prevent recurrence.
A larger retrospective study from a different Chinese centre covering 2005 to 2021 included 109 children with a median age of 18 months. One hundred were stage I, six stage II, and three stage IV. All underwent radical orchiectomy; 61 received postoperative chemotherapy. Over a mean follow-up of 61.3 months, eight patients relapsed. The five-year overall survival was 90.6% (95% CI 84.6%–96.7%). Higher disease stage and relapse were independent adverse factors for survival on multivariate analysis (hazard ratios 148.30 and 94.58, respectively). The authors conclude that prognosis is generally excellent but that stage and relapse predict poor outcomes.
A 2023 comprehensive review describes yolk sac tumour as a rare malignant germ cell tumour that can arise in gonads or extragonadal sites. It notes that children with testicular yolk sac tumour often present with large, painless testicular lumps. Treatment typically combines surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation depending on stage. The review states that FDG PET/CT staging in paediatric patients was only marginally better than traditional imaging. It does not report new survival data or specific drug regimens.
What remains missing is prospective trial data that stratifies patients by risk to determine which children need chemotherapy and which can be managed with surgery alone. The retrospective studies are from single institutions in China, and no randomised comparison of chemotherapy versus observation for stage I disease has been published. The role of testis-sparing surgery in selected patients is not defined by controlled evidence. Funding for multi-centre trials and standardised follow-up protocols would be needed to clarify these questions.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
World Journal of Surgical Oncology · 2014 · 36 citations · open access
Testicular yolk sac tumors in children: a review of 61 patients over 19 years
AbstractBACKGROUND: To describe 19 years of clinical experience managing pediatric patients with testicular yolk sac tumors at the Chongqing Medical University Affiliated Children's Hospital. METHODS: This study involved a retrospective review of the records of 61 pediatric patients who presented with testicular yolk sac tumor at our institution between 1995 and 2014. RESULTS: All patients presented with a painless scrotal mass. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were elevated (n = 15). Ultrasonography identified the yolk sac tumors as solid masses. Color Doppler flow imaging showed rich blood flow inside and around the masses in 84.8% cases. X-ray of the scrotum showed no intrascrotal calcification (n = 38). Inguinal orchiectomy was performed in 60 patients, one case was treated with testis-sparing surgery. In 11 cases, radical dissection of the inguinal lymph nodes was performed. Histological analysis showed pathologies typical of yolk sac tumor including microcapsule and reticular structures, gland tube-gland bubble structures, an embryo sinus structure, and papillary structures. All patients received postoperative chemotherapy. Serum AFP levels returned to normal 1 to 2 months after surgery. No patients treated with surgery in our hospital relapsed. CONCLUSION: Testicular yolk sac tumor presents as a painless scrotal mass, increased serum AFP levels, and a solid mass on ultrasound. Chest radiography and abdominal ultrasound should be used to accurately stage the tumor. We advocate for inguinal orchiectomy for Stage I disease and postoperative chemotherapy to prevent recurrence in the ipsilateral or contralateral testis.
Frontiers in Pediatrics · 2022 · 10 citations · open access
Characteristics and outcomes of pediatric testicular yolk Sac tumor
AbstractPurpose Pediatric testicular yolk sac tumor is a rare malignant germ cell tumor and there is a lack of large clinical studies. The purpose of this study is to summarize the clinical characteristics of pediatric testicular yolk tumor and evaluate the prognostic factors. Materials and methods The medical records of children with testicular yolk sac tumor in one pediatric medical centre in China from January 2005 to January 2021 were retrospectively investigated. Data regarding clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis were collected. Results A total of 109 patients with a median diagnosed age of 18 months (range 2–69) were included in this study; of them 100 were diagnosed as stage I, 6 as stage II and 3 as stage IV. All patients underwent radical orchiectomy, and 61 of them underwent postoperative chemotherapy. The mean follow-up time was 61.3 months (range 3–259), during that time, 8 patients experienced relapse. The five-year overall survival was 90.6% (95% CI 84.6%–96.7%). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that disease stage, relapse, maximum tumor diameter, and alpha-fetoprotein returning to normal within 2 months postoperatively were risk factors for survival (HRs of 25.43, 26.43, 1.48 and 0.08, respectively, p < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis suggested that higher disease stage and relapse were independent adverse factors for survival (HRs of 148.30 and 94.58, respectively, p < 0.05). Conclusions The prognosis of pediatric testicular yolk sac tumor is generally excellent. A higher disease stage and the occurrence of relapse could predict a poor prognosis. The individualized management of children with testicular yolk sac tumor according to risk classification is feasible.
International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research · 2023 · 1 citations · open access
Advances in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis of Yolk Sac Tumors: A Comprehensive Review
AbstractYolk sac tumor, also known as endodermal sinus tumor, is a rare and malignant germ cell tumor that typically arises in the gonads (testes and ovaries) but can also occur in extragonadal sites, such as the sacrococcygeal area or mediastinum. Yolk sac tumors arise from germ cells, which are the precursors of eggs in females and sperm cells in males. During normal embryonic development, germ cells migrate to the gonads (testes or ovaries) and differentiate into mature reproductive cells. Clinical mass-effect signs are the typical presentation of yolk sac tumours. These signs include rapid belly expansion, ascites, early satiety, and abdominal pain, among others. Children with testicular yolk sac tumours frequently appear with large, painless testicular lumps. Yolk sac tumours can be deadly or very damaging if left untreated. Depending on the characteristics of the tumour and its stage, a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy is usually employed to treat yolk sac tumours. Regular follow-up visits and imaging studies are typically conducted to monitor the patient's response to treatment, detect any recurrence, and manage potential late effects of therapy. Close collaboration between the healthcare team and the patient is essential to ensure the best possible outcomes. FDG PET/CT staging of YST in paediatric patients was only marginally better than traditional imaging. Keywords: Yolk sac tumor, Alpha-fetoprotein, F-fluorodeoxyglucose
European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences · 2022 · 1 citations · open access
Case Report: Adult Pure Yolk Sac Tumor of the Testis
AbstractYolk sac tumor is a non-seminomatous testicular germ cell tumor rarely found in adults. It is an extra-embryonic differentiated tumor. It reproduces structures evocative of the yolk sac in humans. We report the clinical case of a 37-year-old patient, with no previous history, who is followed up for a tumor of the left testicle revealed by an increase in size and induration of the testicle. The left orchiectomy, performed through an inguinal approach, allowed us to retain the diagnosis of pure yolk sac tumor on anatomical and immunohistochemical examination. The evolution was marked during the surveillance by a relapse requiring a systemic treatment.
Pure Yolk Sac Testicular Tumour in an Adult: A Diagnostic Dilemma
AbstractA rare case of a pure yolk sac testicular tumour presenting in an adult with learning difficulties is presented. Pure yolk sac tumours are much more common in children, but when they do occur in adults, onset can be both insidious and aggressive. The best practice for identification involves the precise use of ultrasound, blood tests for tumour markers and FDG-PET/CT imaging for staging. Dual-phase treatment in the form of radical inguinal orchidectomy performed expediently followed by chemotherapy is the mainstay of treatment in advanced cases.
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.
