Objective: To investigate the impact of cytokine levels (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-? and TNF-a) and Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) load in the saliva and blood on the survival of llogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients.

Recent evidences demonstrated the importance of bone marrow derived Endothelial rogenitor Cells (EPC), in the contribution to postnatal physiological and pathological neovascularization, and in tumor growth and angiogenesis. These cells are recruited undifferentiated, in response to systemic or chemoactractive signals, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), they lodge in the growing or lesioned tissue and ifferentiate into endothelial cells in response to local stimuli and cell-cell interactions.The extent and the significance of the EPCs contribution for the growing of most tumors, including those of the breast, are still not fully defined. We analyzed the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients and found that they have circulating EPCs. We also found an association between expression of AC133+Kdr+ and VEGF plasma levels in these patients. Strategies to impair the mobilization and incorporation of EPCs into breast tumors may contribute to halt the growth of these tumors.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a frequent subtype of peripheral T – cell lymphoma (PTCL) characterized by generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and frequent B - symptoms. Extranodal manifestations are quite common in this subtype of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma which is characterized by frequent skin involvement. However, the extranodal disease should be evaluated thoroughly and a tissue diagnosis must be obtained to confirm lymphomatous involvement when the presentation is not classical. Here we report a case of AITL who presented with lung mass suspected to be due to lymphomatous involvement, but turned out to be a synchronous presentation of an adenocarcinoma of the lung. The possible relation between the two conditions is also elucidated.

Stem cells are the focus of cutting edge research interest because of their competence both to self-renew and proliferate, and to differentiate into a variety of tissues, offering enticing prospects of growing replacement organs in vitro, among other possible therapeutic implications. It is conceivable that cancer stem cells share a number of biological hallmarks that are different from their normal-tissue counterparts and that these might be taken advantage of for therapeutic benefits. In this review we discuss the significance of cancer stem cells in diagnosis and prognosis of cancer as well as in the development of new strategies for anti-cancer drug design.