The role of tumor microenvironment in development and progression of malignant melanomas - a systematic review.

To reveal the particular aspects of the tumor microenvironment of malignant melanomas, a systematic review including 34 representative papers was performed. The review took into account the aspects related the Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) versus mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) of keratinocytes, fibroblasts and melanoma cells, as possible tools for understanding genesis and evolution of malignant melanoma. The possible reversible features of EMT and the role of tumor microenvironment in the metastatic process were also analyzed.

Unusual Location of Hydatid Cysts: Report of Two Cases in the Heart and Hip Joint of Romanian Patients.

Hydatid cyst is usually located in the liver and lungs, rare cases showing localization in other organs or tissues. In the unusual location, echinococcosis is an excluding diagnosis that is established only after microscopic evaluation. Our first case occurred in a 67-year-old female previously diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and hospitalized with persistent pain in the hip joint.

A systematic review of the possible carcinogenic role of the aristolochic acid.

Aristolochic acid (AA) is a bioactive component of Chinese herbs, dietary supplements, slimming pills and contaminated flour, which is known to induce chronic tubulointerstitial disease. AA is also shown to be involved in the genesis of the upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) and some other cancers, but its tumorigenic role is far to be understood. We performed a systematic literature review regarding the involvement of AA in malignant processes and molecular pathways of carcinogenesis.