Overlapping biomarkers, pathways, processes and syndromes in lymphatic development, growth and neoplasia.

Jul 15, 2012

Witte MH, Dellinger MT, Papendieck CM, Boccardo F.

Source

Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ, 85724-5200, USA, lymph@u.arizona.edu.

Keywords:  Biomarkers – Cancer metastasis – Lymphatic development – EMT-MET – Vascular neoplasia – Lymphogenous dissemination

Abstract

Recent discoveries in molecular lymphology, developmental biology, and tumor biology in the context of long-standing concepts and observations on development, growth, and neoplasia implicate overlapping pathways, processes, and clinical manifestations in developmental disorders and cancer metastasis. Highlighted in this review are some of what is known (and speculated) about the genes, proteins, and signaling pathways and processes involved in lymphatic/blood vascular development in comparison to those involved in cancer progression and spread. Clues and conundra from clinical disordersthat mix these processes and mute them, including embryonic rests, multicentric nests of displaced cells, uncontrolled/invasive "benign" proliferation and lymphogenous/hematogenous "spread", represent a fine line between normal development and growth, dysplasia, benign and malignant neoplasia, and "metastasis". Improved understanding of these normal and pathologic processes and their underlying pathomechanisms, e.g., stem cell origin and bidirectional epithelial-mesenchymal transition, could lead to more successful approaches in classification, treatment, and even prevention of cancer and a whole host of other diseases.

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Case report of fetal axillo-thoraco-abdominal cystic hygroma.

Case report of fetal axillo-thoraco-abdominal cystic hygroma.

Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2009 Apr 10

Masood SN, Masood MF.
Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan, sh_naz@yahoo.com.

Cystic hygroma (moist tumor) was first described in 1828 by Redenbacher. The cyst usually results owing to an absence or an inefficient connection between the lymphatic and venous systems. Of this type of malformation 75% cases are localized in the nuchal region; however, only 20% are found in the axilla while 5% of these hygromas are in other locations. Prognosis depends on associated fetal co-morbidities. There are many case reports on cystic hygroma but only a few on the axillo-thoraco-abdominal variant. This is a case report of a huge late-onset fetal axillo-thoraco-abdominal cystic hygroma, which was diagnosed at term followed by a difficult vaginal delivery in a 38-year-old woman. The baby did not have any congenital anomaly other than cystic hygroma with no evidence of intrathoracic or intra-abdominal extension of mass and a pelvic kidney reported on neonatal ultrasound and CT scan. The surgical excision of the cyst was done on the fourth day following birth and the histopathology report confirmed the diagnosis. Management of fetal cystic hygroma with the use of a sclerosing agent is a new modality being explored. Risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies for aneuploidy is not increased. The baby has been followed up to 5 months of birth and is thriving well. Karyotype shows an XX pattern.

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