Publications by authors named "Majda Vucic"

Article Synopsis
  • In melanomas, BRAF gene mutations are common early events, and this study aimed to compare their frequency in dysplastic nevi (ND) and melanomas in situ (MIS) while examining correlations with clinical factors.
  • A total of 175 patients were analyzed, revealing a significant correlation between BRAF mutations and the diagnosis of MIS, while patients with lentigo maligna (LM) had fewer mutations compared to those with ND and MIS.
  • The study concluded that while BRAF mutations are essential in ND, they alone are insufficient to trigger melanoma development, enhancing understanding of melanoma's etiology and the role of ND as potential precursors.
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Although not completely understood, the role of the Hedgehog-GLI (HH-GLI) signaling pathway in melanoma and epithelial skin tumors has been reported before. In this study, we confirmed in various melanoma cell line models that keratin 16 (KRT16) and S100 Calcium-Binding Protein A7 (S100A7) are transcriptional targets of GLI Family Zinc Finger (GLI) proteins. Besides their important role in protecting and maintaining the epidermal barrier, keratins are somehow tightly connected with the S100 family of proteins.

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Erythema multiforme (EM) is an immune-mediated, mucocutaneous hypersensitivity syndrome that can occur as a result of various medications, including a wide range of antineoplastic and hormonal drugs. Anastrozole, a nonselective aromatase inhibitor used in breast cancer management has been associated with different cutaneous side effects, of which EM is rarely seen and usually in a minor or major form with typical target lesions. This is a short report of a patient who developed a rare cutaneous side effect after the use of aromatase inhibitor anastrozole - segmental erythema multiforme in cancer-affected area.

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In prostate adenocarcinoma, both tumorous stroma and epithelium have important role in tumor progression. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β) is a promotor in advanced stages of prostate cancer. Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), the endopeptidase that degrades extracellular matrix is considered to be overexpressed in prostatic carcinoma related to its growth and aggressiveness.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Darier disease (DD) is a rare genetic skin disorder caused by mutations in the ATP2A2 gene, characterized by skin lesions, nail abnormalities, and mucosal changes.
  • - A case study of a 40-year-old woman revealed pruritic skin lesions concentrated on one side of her body, leading to a diagnosis of localized segmental DD after a biopsy showed characteristic cell changes.
  • - The condition typically appears between ages 6 and 20 and presents with crusty, itchy papules; it results from calcium imbalance and loss of cell adhesion due to impaired ATP2A2 gene function.
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Contact dermatitis (CD), including its irritant (ICD) and allergic (ACD) types, is a complex, often chronic and therapy-resistant disease that significantly affects patient quality of life and healthcare systems. Objective of this study was to examine the main clinical features of patients with ICD and ACD on the hands through follow-up in correlation with baseline skin CD44 expression. Our prospective study involved 100 patients with hand CD (50 with ACD; 50 with ICD) who initially underwent biopsies of skin lesions with pathohistology, patch tests to contact allergens, and immunohistochemistry for lesional CD44 expression.

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  • - Morphea profunda (MP) is a chronic autoimmune disease that leads to restricted skin movement and discomfort, while dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare, slowly growing tumor that can invade deeper tissues and has a tendency to recur locally but rarely spreads to other parts of the body.
  • - A 39-year-old female patient had a brownish lesion diagnosed as MP at 20, which later developed into palpable nodules, leading to further evaluation and a new diagnosis of DFSP after deep biopsy and immunohistochemical analysis.
  • - The patient underwent complete surgical removal of the DFSP tumor, followed by additional excision due to inadequate initial margins, and has shown no signs of
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Although there are many single case reports on paraneoplastic dermatoses in the literature, there are very rare articles containing multiple cases. A retrospective study was performed to examine paraneoplastic dermatoses and accompanying malignancies based on skin manifestations and appropriate diagnostic evaluations. We recorded outcomes, current conditions, and surgical/oncologic treatments.

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The management of bladder cancer patients largely depends on pathologic staging and grading, and current morphological classification does not always show the individual patient's risk. Despite modern surgical techniques, pre- and postoperative therapies, clinical outcomes of these patients have not changed over decades. Today, there are new biomarkers for bladder cancer showing changes in tumor biology and progression, as a result of changes in the pathways affecting cell signaling, proliferation, apoptosis, epigenetic changes, angiogenesis, and modulation of host immune response.

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Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans. Clinically useful molecular markers that help predict response to therapy and prognosis are still rare. The research was conducted in 55 patients with GBM, 26 (47.

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Background: Previous research using animal models demonstrated that CD44 expression may contribute to directing inflammatory cells into skin lesions during inflammation development in allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).

Objectives: To examine CD44 expression in patients with ACD and irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), and to compare it to patients with psoriatic lesions and healthy controls' (HCs) skin.

Methods: This study included 200 patients comprising four groups of 50 each: ACD, ICD, psoriasis vulgaris, and HCs.

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- Contact skin lesions may be the consequences of contact with various irritants or allergens, or due to other factors (e.g., UV radiation, microbials), intrinsic factors (e.

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Background: Proliferation rate is a major determinant of the biologic behavior of the tumor and provides information that can be used to guide treatment decisions.

Methods: This ring study included 27 pathologists from 14 Institutions, in order to assess inter-observer concordance between pathologists in Croatia. We analyzed Ki-67 proliferative index on ten randomly selected breast cancer samples comparing consistency between visual assessment using light microscopy compared to digital image analyses results from one central laboratory as a referral value.

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LMO2 (LIM domain only) is a member of transcription factor family of proteins characterized by their cysteine-rich, zinc-binding LIM domains. Its expression in prostate cancer cells, as well as in adjacent stroma, is described in a study in a cohort of 83 patients treated with radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate adenocarcinoma. Authors found that LMO2 overexpression in prostate cancer was strongly associated with features indicative of worse prognosis (higher preoperative PSA, higher Gleason score, positive surgical margins, and extraprostatic extension of disease).

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Article Synopsis
  • - Syndecan-1 (Sdc1) is a protein that plays a key role in breast cancer by influencing cell communication, growth, and the spread of cancer (metastasis). This study examined Sdc1 levels in both the cancerous cells and surrounding tissue (stroma) of two types of breast cancer: invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). - The study found that Sdc1 was present in 90% of tumor cells in both cancer types, with notable expression differences in the stroma: 40% of ILC samples showed no stromal expression, while about 86.7% of the IDC metastases expressed Sdc1 in their cancer cells. - Additionally, correlations
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Pulmonary myelolipoma is a very rare benign tumor composed of mature adipose tissue and hematopoietic elements such as erythroid, myeloid and megakaryocytic. It usually represents accidental finding during autopsy or chest imaging, since most cases are asymptomatic. Larger masses can lead to hemorrhage, chest pain and chest organ compression.

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Aim: To determine whether apoptosis is more common in previously punctured native veins than in non-punctured native veins among patients who undergo surgical creation of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for dialysis access.

Methods: Cephalic vein specimens were obtained from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2014 from 60 patients, 30 with previously punctured native veins and 30 with non-punctured native veins. Before AVF placement, a 1-cm vein segment was excised from distal part of the vein for histological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical analysis.

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Extraosseous osteosarcoma as a primary tumor of the neck is exceedingly rare, with only a few cases reported to date. The most appropriate therapy is still under investigation. We report a case of an aggressive, right-sided, advanced-stage extraosseous osteosarcoma in a female patient.

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Treatment of lichen planopillaris (LPP) remains a significant challenge due to the irreversible damage inflicted on hair follicles combined with the low efficacy of existing treatments. We hypothesized that growth factors released by the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may arrest the development of LPP. To test our hypothesis, we treated an LPP patient that has failed previous treatments with a new PRP regimen.

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Vitiligo, depigmenting disorder of the skin and mucous membranes, affects up to 1% of the population worldwide. It is classified into four major types: segmental, non-segmental, mixed, and unclassified type. Non-segmental vitiligo refers to non-dermatomal distribution of lesions, while dermatomal distribution of lesions is present in patients with segmental vitiligo.

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Herein we present 82-year-old man with leiomyosarcoma arising from the spermatic cord with scalp metastasis, five years after primary surgical treatment. Complete surgical excision is required in such cases, as well as precise evaluation of further therapy. Paratesticular leiomyosarcoma is a rare entity, malignant mesenchimal tumor of smooth muscle differentiation.

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Melanoma is one of the most malignant skin tumors with constantly rising incidence worldwide, especially in fair-skinned populations. Melanoma is usually diagnosed at the average age 50, but, nowadays is also diagnosed more frequently in younger adults, and very rarely in childhood. There is no unique or specific clinical presentation of a melanoma.

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