DeCure's autonomous Rare AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for xeroderma pigmentosum group G — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleXeroderma pigmentosum group G maps to a 1-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 xeroderma pigmentosum group g 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
ERCC excision repair 5, endonuclease (ERCC5) — ERCC5 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 sf4drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 9PD3 · 3.3 Å · ligand IRON/SULFUR CLUSTER (SF4). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Xeroderma pigmentosum is an autosomal recessive disease characterised by a more than 1000-fold increase in nonmelanoma skin cancer. Patients can be divided into eight complementation groups (A–G and V for variant), each representing a different genetic defect in DNA repair. Deficiencies in various gene products in the nucleotide excision repair pathway cause xeroderma pigmentosum in groups A–G; the molecular basis of the variant group remains to be elucidated. The disease was first described in 1874 and is relatively frequent in countries with high consanguinity rates and large family sizes, such as those in the Maghreb region.
In a 1994 study of 29 Japanese xeroderma pigmentosum group A patients, 25 (86%) had a mutation at the splicing junction of intron 3 and exon 4 in the homozygous state. Patients with this homozygous splicing mutation developed severe skin manifestations from early infancy and severe progressive neurologic abnormalities, including sensorineural hearing impairment, brain atrophy, mental retardation, areflexia, and ataxia. Four patients were heterozygous for the splicing mutation; at least three of them showed milder skin symptoms and milder neurologic abnormalities than patients with the homozygous mutation. Two patients (single-ovum twins) were compound heterozygotes for the splicing mutation and a nonsense mutation of exon 6. One patient had the splicing mutation and another mutation at the last codon of exon 5, a type not previously reported. These data indicate that different genetic alterations in the xeroderma pigmentosum group A complementing gene may induce different clinical features.
A 2023 study from southern Morocco describes the epidemiological, clinical, and histological profile of xeroderma pigmentosum patients treated in a plastic surgery department, specifying the modalities of oncologic and reparative surgical treatment. No numbers of patients, survival data, or response rates are given in that abstract. The 1975 review covers biochemical and genetic characteristics, including cell killing and host cell reactivation after irradiation or exposure to chemical carcinogens, SV40 transformation of xeroderma pigmentosum cells, and the role of caffeine in DNA repair in the variant form, but provides no quantitative clinical outcomes.
What is still missing are large, well-funded prospective trials that stratify patients by complementation group and specific mutation, as well as standardised protocols for surgical and oncologic management. No drug therapy is mentioned in any of these abstracts, and no treatment efficacy data are reported.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Annual Review of Genetics · 1975 · 401 citations
XERODERMA PIGMENTOSUM: BIOCHEMICAL AND GENETIC CHARACTERISTICS
AbstractBiochemical and genetic studies on xeroderma pigmentosum are reviewed under the following headings: clinical features of xeroderma pigmentosum; karyotype; cell killing and host cell reactivation after irradiation or exposure to chemical carcinogens; SV40 transformation of xeroderma pigmentosum cells; biochemical defects in the common and de Sanctis-Cacchione forms of xeroderma pigmentosum; cell hybridization and complementation groups; biochemical defects in the xeroderma pigmentosum variant and the role of caffeine in DNA repair; DNA repair in xeroderma pigmentosum heterozygotes; response of xeroderma pigmentosum cells to various mutagens and chemical carcinogens; other high and low repair diseases; and possible significance of DNA repair in theories of aging and carcinogenesis. (HLW)
Gene Alterations and Clinical Characteristics of Xeroderma Pigmentosum Group A Patients in Japan
AbstractBACKGROUND AND DESIGN: The responsible gene for xeroderma pigmentosum group A was recently identified. This study was performed to detect the gene alteration of xeroderma pigmentosum group A complementing gene in 29 xeroderma pigmentosum group A patients in Japan and to analyze whether genetic alterations in the xeroderma pigmentosum group A complementing gene are related to the clinical features. RESULTS: Of 29 patients, 25 (86%) had a mutation at the splicing junction of intron 3 and exon 4 in the homozygous state that was detected by the polymerase chain reaction and the AlwN I-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Patients having a splicing mutation at intron 3 in the homozygous state develop severe skin manifestations from early infancy and severe progressive neurologic abnormalities, including sensorineural hearing impairment, brain atrophy, mental retardation, areflexia, and ataxia. Four patients were heterozygous for splicing mutation in intron 3. Among them, at least three patients showed milder skin symptoms and milder neurologic abnormalities than patients with the homozygous splicing mutation. Two patients (single-ovum twins) revealed a compound heterozygote of splicing mutation of intron 3 and a nonsense mutation of exon 6. One patient had the splicing mutation and another mutation at the last codon of exon 5, a type of mutation that has never been reported. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that different genetic alterations in the xeroderma pigmentosum group A complementing gene may induce different clinical features.
Drugs in Context · 2022 · 71 citations · open access
Xeroderma pigmentosum: an updated review
AbstractBackground: Early recognition of xeroderma pigmentosum is important to minimize the complications arising from the harmful effects of exposure to ultraviolet radiation. This narrative review aims to familiarize physicians with the clinical features, diagnosis and management of xeroderma pigmentosum. Methods: A search was conducted in December 2021 in PubMed Clinical Queries using the key term "xeroderma pigmentosum". The search strategy included all clinical trials, observational studies and reviews published within the past 10 years. The information retrieved from the search was used in the compilation of this article. Results: laser resurfacing, fractional/pulsed laser therapy, and photodynamic therapy. Cutaneous malignancy can be treated by photodynamic therapy, curettage and electrodesiccation, or surgical excision. Oral isotretinoin, oral niacinamide, topical imiquimod and topical fluorouracil can be used for the prevention of skin malignancy. Treatment options for poikiloderma include chemical peeling, dermabrasion and laser resurfacing. Methylcellulose eyedrops and soft ultraviolet-protective contact lenses may be used to keep the cornea moist and protect against the harmful effects of keratitis sicca. Investigational therapies include the use of T4 endonuclease-V liposome lotion and oral nicotinamide to reduce the rate of actinic keratoses and non-melanoma skin cancers and gene therapy for radical cure of this condition. Conclusion: Although currently there is no cure for xeroderma pigmentosum, increased awareness and early diagnosis of the condition, followed by rigorous sun avoidance and protection and optimal management, can dramatically improve the quality of life and life expectancy.
AbstractBACKGROUND: Xeroderma pigmentosum is an extremely rare, autosomal recessive disease characterized by a more than 1000-fold increase in nonmelanoma skin cancer. Individuals with this disease can be divided into eight complementation groups: A-G and V for variant. Each one represents a different genetic defect in DNA repair. OBJECTIVE: To review the molecular basis of xeroderma pigmentosum. RESULTS: Deficiencies in various gene products in the nucleotide excision repair pathway cause xeroderma pigmentosum in complementation groups A-G. The molecular basis of the variant group remains to be elucidated. CONCLUSIONS: Research into the genetic defects underlying xeroderma pigmentosum have led to an increased understanding of nucleotide excision repair.
Indian Journal of Dermatology Venereology and Leprology · 2021 · 13 citations · open access
Therapeutics of xeroderma pigmentosum: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review
AbstractXeroderma pigmentosum is a rare hereditary autosomal recessive genodermatosis. At present, there are many treatment options for xeroderma pigmentosum, covering medical/procedural, surgical and combined modalities. However, the quality of these interventions has not been assessed. Our study aimed to perform a systematic review of the literature regarding the treatment of xeroderma pigmentosum. Multiple medical databases were accessed with the Medical Subject Headings terms; "xeroderma pigmentosum," "therapeutics" and "surgical procedures, operative" from January 2000 to April 2019, including articles published in Portuguese, Spanish and English (PROSPERO-CRD42018114858). Two hundred and ninety-eight studies were found in the databases researched, of which, after applying the inclusion criteria, only 33 studies remained. The 33 complete articles were read by three of the authors, having been found: 16 reported medical/procedural and 17 reported surgical treatments. Only one clinical study presented a good level of evidence (EL: 2): a randomized clinical trial using a T4 endonuclease V (T4N5) liposome lotion which reduced the development of skin lesions in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum. Amongst surgical modalities, all studies presented low evidence level (EL: 4). Three illustrative cases are also presented, to emphasize the multiple number of times that surgical modalities may be required in these patients. The therapeutic modalities, both clinical and surgical, for xeroderma pigmentosum presented a low level of scientific evidence which did not allow meta-analysis. More therapeutic studies, both clinical and surgical, with better scientific evidence are needed.
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2023 · 0 citations · open access
XERODERMAPIGMENTOSUM: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, CLINICAL AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS
AbstractXeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) is a rare and disabling genetic dermatosis that was first described in 1874. It is characterized by photo-induced cutaneous alterations, often associated with ocular lesions and sometimes with neurological involvement. The transmission of XP is on an autosomal recessive mode, and it is relatively frequent in countries with high consanguinity rates and large family sizes, such as those in the Maghreb region. This study aims to present an epidemiological, clinical, and histological profile of XP patients treated in the plastic surgery department in southern Morocco, reflecting the regions epidemiological reality and specifying the modalities of oncologic and reparative surgical treatment.
International Journal of Advanced Research · 2023 · 0 citations · open access
XERODERMAPIGMENTOSUM: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, CLINICAL AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS
AbstractXeroderma Pigmentosum (XP) is a rare and disabling genetic dermatosis that was first described in 1874. It is characterized by photo-induced cutaneous alterations, often associated with ocular lesions and sometimes with neurological involvement. The transmission of XP is on an autosomal recessive mode, and it is relatively frequent in countries with high consanguinity rates and large family sizes, such as those in the Maghreb region. This study aims to present an epidemiological, clinical, and histological profile of XP patients treated in the plastic surgery department in southern Morocco, reflecting the regions epidemiological reality and specifying the modalities of oncologic and reparative surgical treatment.
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.
