Melanoma and the tumor microenvironment

Cytokines in the microenvironment of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma characterized by the overproduction of a monoclonal IgM protein that accumulates in the serum. Although the pathologic findings in this disease entity are reasonably well defined, the mechanisms that regulate malignant B-cell growth and monoclonal protein synthesis are less well understood. Cytokines are known to regulate many biologic processes in normal lymphocyte development including immunoglobulin production, and the presence of cytokines within the tumor microenvironment of WM is likely to contribute to malignant cell growth and survival as well as immunoglobulin production. Several studies have suggested that cytokines are potentially dysregulated in WM, however the precise role played by cytokines in WM biology is not clearly defined. This report therefore highlights our current understanding of the role of cytokines in the microenvironment of WM and how they affect malignant cell persistence and function in the bone marrow of patients.

Inflammation and melanoma metastasis

Metastatic melanoma is extremely refractory to existing chemotherapeutic drugs and bioimmune adjuvant therapies, and the life span of patients with metastatic melanoma is often measured in months. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for the development of tumor metastasis is critical for finding successful curative measures. An expending amount of data reveal the importance of inflammatory microenvironment and stroma in cancer initiation and progression, which brings new directions and approaches to cancer treatment. This review will summarize current data on the role of the tumor microenvironment in shaping the metastatic phenotype of melanoma.

A pilot study on acute inflammation and cancer: a new balance between IFN-gamma and TGF-beta in melanoma

Recent data have redefined the concept of inflammation as a critical component of tumor progression. However, there has been little development on cases where inflammation on or near a wound and a tumor exist simultaneously. Therefore, this pilot study aims to observe the impact of a wound on a tumor, to build a new mouse tumor model with a manufactured surgical wound representing acute inflammation, and to evaluate the relationship between acute inflammation or wound healing and the process of tumor growth. We focus on the two phases that are present when acute inflammation influences tumor. In the early phase, inhibitory effects are present. The process that produces these effects is the functional reaction of IFN-γ secretions from a wound inflammation. In the latter phase, the inhibited tumor is made resistant to IFN-γ through the release of TGF-β to balance the inflammatory factor effect on the tumor cells. A pair of cytokines IFN-γ/TGF-β established a new balance to protect the tumor from the interference effect of the inflammation. The tumor was made resistant to IFN-γ through the release of TGF-β to balance the inflammatory effect on the tumor cells. This balance mechanism that occurred in the tumor cells increased proliferation and invasion. In vitro and in vivo experiments have confirmed a new view of clinical surgery that will provide more detailed information on the evaluation of tumors after surgery. This study also provides a better understanding of the relationship between tumor and inflammation, as well as tumor cell attacks on inflammatory factors.