DeCure's autonomous Cancer AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for Tonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma — screening already-approved drugs against its 46-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleTonsillar Squamous Cell Carcinoma maps to a 46-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 tonsillar squamous cell 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
kelch like ECH associated protein 1 (KEAP1) — KEAP1 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 2r,3sdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 8IXS · 1.48 Å · ligand (2R,3S)-3-[[(2S)-2-fluoranyl-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl)ethanoyl]amino]-2-methyl-3-(4-methylphenyl)propanoic acid (T6I). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
In a 2006 review of 74 patients with advanced-stage tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma, no significant difference in overall survival or freedom from relapse was found between the 38 patients who received definitive surgery to the primary site and the 36 treated with an organ-preservation approach using radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy. T classification and N status were significant independent predictors of both outcomes. Major late toxicity occurred in 10 patients in the surgical group and nine in the organ-preservation group. The authors favoured organ-preservation therapy for advanced-stage disease.
Earlier studies consistently report poor outcomes for advanced tumours. A 1986 analysis of 87 patients treated with primary irradiation alone found a 5-year survival of 20%, with tumour size and nodal status as the major determinants of survival; histological differentiation had no prognostic significance. A 1983 study of 70 patients treated with external radiotherapy alone reported that among 17 patients with stages I and II disease, six recurrences occurred and three were salvaged by surgery, while among 53 patients with stages III and IV, 24 recurrences occurred and only three could be salvaged by surgery. The authors concluded that radiotherapy alone is adequate for early-stage disease but that advanced-stage patients have a poor survival rate with radiotherapy alone, with high local recurrence and inadequate surgical salvage. A 1991 retrospective analysis of 75 patients reported a 5-year survival of 39% for the entire series, 53% for 30 patients receiving combined surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, and 29% for 45 patients receiving radical radiotherapy alone; however, the radical radiotherapy group contained more patients with advanced disease (66% stage IV versus 23% in the combined therapy group). Thirty-four patients (45%) died from uncontrolled disease.
A 1977 report on tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma in patients under 40 years of age found that only 11 cases had been treated at one institution since 1944. Their 5-year survival was 14%, compared with 48% for the total group of tonsillar cancer patients. Ninety-one percent of young patients had neck nodal metastasis, with 55% staged N3, versus 76% and 23% in the total group. The average total delay from symptoms to diagnosis was 11 months. Radiotherapy alone produced no failures in patients with T1, T2, TX, N0, or N1 staging, but five of the 11 young patients had T3 or T4 primaries and all died, four with regional failure. Six of the 11 had N3 staging and five of these died, all with regional failure except one.
What remains missing is prospective evidence from trials that stratify patients by T and N status, and that test modern combined-modality regimens against organ-preservation protocols in advanced-stage disease. No data from randomised controlled trials are presented in these abstracts. The consistently poor salvage rates for advanced-stage and young patients with high-stage disease indicate that better loco-regional control strategies are needed, but no drug-based repurposing evidence appears in these papers.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Head & Neck · 2006 · 23 citations
Advanced‐staged tonsillar squamous carcinoma: Organ preservation versus surgical management of the primary site
AbstractBACKGROUND: Our aim was to review our experience in the management of advanced tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and to compare treatment outcomes between patients treated with and without surgery to the primary site. METHODS: The records of 74 patients with advanced-stage tonsillar SCC were reviewed. The median age at diagnosis was 58 years. Thirty-eight patients received definitive surgery to the primary site, and 36 were treated with an organ-preservation approach (OP) using radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy. RESULTS: No significant difference in overall survival (OS) or freedom from relapse (FFR) by treatment was found. T classification and N status were significant independent predictors on multivariate analysis for OS and FFR. Major late toxicity was noted in 10 patients in the surgical group and nine in the OP group. CONCLUSION: Patients treated with OP and primary surgery had comparable OS and FFR. T classification and N status were significant independent predictors for tumor relapse and survival. On the basis of these results, we favor organ-preservation therapy for patients with advanced-stage tonsillar SCC.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil in young adults
AbstractSquamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil is rare in people under 40 years of age. Only 11 cases have been treated at the M.D. Anderson Hospital since 1944. Their 5-year survival was decreased (14%) when compared to the total group of patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil (48%). Young adults had higher clinical staging than the total group. Ninety-one percent of the young patients had neck nodal metastasis, with 55% staged N3. Of the entire group, 76% had neck nodal metastasis with 23% staged N3. Case histories indicate a lack of suspicion of tonsillar cancer on the part of patients and physicians. The average total delay from symptoms to diagnosis was 11 months. Response rates of radiotherapy alone were excellent (no failures) in patients with staging T1, T2, TX, N0, and N1. However, five (45%) of the 11 young patients had T3 or T4 primaries and all died, four with regional failure. Six of the 11 young patients had N3 staging and five of these died, all with regional failure except one. Planned combined treatment should be used more frequently in young adults with high staging.
British Journal of Radiology · 1986 · 13 citations
Radiation therapy of squamous carcinoma of the tonsil: an analysis of prognostic factors and of treatment failures
AbstractA retrospective analysis of the results of treatment by primary irradiation of 87 cases of squamous-cell carcinoma of the tonsil at one institution over a 20-year period is presented. Survival at 5 years for all patients was 20%. The major determinants of survival were tumour size (T) and nodal status (N) at presentation. Degree of histological differentiation had no prognostic significance. Initial failure occurred in the primary tonsil site or in cervical lymph nodes in almost all cases. It is clear that treatments that increase loco-regional control are needed if the prognosis for the more advanced tumours is to be improved and it is suggested that a combined-modality approach (surgery plus irradiation) needs to be explored. For early lesions, primary radiation therapy remains the treatment of choice.
American Journal of Clinical Oncology · 1983 · 8 citations
Carcinoma of the tonsillar area treated with external radiotherapy alone*
AbstractSeventy patients with carcinoma of the tonsillar area were treated with radiation therapy alone, all with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. Seventeen patients with stages I and II developed six recurrences and three were salvaged by surgery. Fifty-three patients with stages III and IV developed 24 recurrences, and only three could be salvaged by surgery. We conclude that radiation therapy is adequate for stages I and II carcinoma of the tonsillar area. Local control rate is satisfactory and surgical salvage is acceptable. Patients with advanced disease, Stages III and IV, have a poor survival rate with radiotherapy alone. Local recurrence is high and surgical salvage is inadequate. We have decided to offer selected patients with stages III and IV tonsillar carcinoma planned combined radiotherapy and surgery, in an effort to improve the survival rate.
American Journal of Clinical Oncology · 1983 · 8 citations
Carcinoma of the tonsillar area treated with external radiotherapy alone*
Abstractseventy patients with carcinoma of the tonsillar area were treated with radiation therapy alone, all with a minimum follow-up of 3 years. Seventeen patients with stages I and II developed six recurrences and three were salvaged by surgery. Fifty-three patients with stages III and IV developed 24 recurrences, and only three could be salvaged by surgery. We conclude that radiation therapy is adequate for stages I and II carcinoma of the tonsillar area. Local control rate is satisfactory and surgical salvage is acceptable. Patients with advanced disease, Stages III and IV, have a poor survival rate with radiotherapy alone. Local recurrence is high and surgical salvage is inadequate. We have decided to offer selected patients with stages III and IV tonsillar carcinoma planned combined radiotherapy and surgery, in an effort to improve the survival rate.
Acta Oncologica · 1991 · 7 citations · open access
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tonsillar Region A Retrospective Analysis of Treatment Results
AbstractSeventy-five patients treated for squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsillar region during 1958-1982 were reviewed retrospectively. Of the 75 patients, 30 received combined treatment with surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, and 45 radical radiotherapy alone. The 5-year survival rate for the entire patient series was 39%, the corresponding figure was 53% for the patients treated with combined therapy and 29% for the patients with radical radiotherapy. The radical radiotherapy group included more patients with advanced stage of the disease (stage III 27% and stage IV 66%) than the combined therapy group (47% and 23% respectively). Thirty-four patients (45%) died from uncontrolled disease.
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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