Platelets, the primary operatives of hemostasis that contribute to blood coagulation and wound healing after blood vessel injury, are also involved in pathological conditions, including cancer. Malignancy-associated thrombosis is common in ovarian cancer patients and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Platelets extravasate into the tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer and interact with cancer cells and non-cancerous elements. Ovarian cancer cells also activate platelets. The communication between activated platelets, cancer cells, and the tumor microenvironment is via various platelet membrane proteins or mediators released through degranulation or the secretion of microvesicles from platelets. These interactions trigger signaling cascades in tumors that promote ovarian cancer progression, metastasis, and neoangiogenesis. This review discusses how interactions between platelets, cancer cells, cancer stem cells, stromal cells, and the extracellular matrix in the tumor microenvironment influence ovarian cancer progression. It also presents novel potential therapeutic approaches toward this gynecological cancer.

Background: Malignant melanoma is an agressive tumour related to the overproduction of melanin, which provides colors of skin, eyes and hair. In addition contributing to the risk of malignant melanoma, abnormal production of melanin has many drawbacks, including hyperpigmentation, post-inflammatory pigmentation, melasma and skin aging. Kojic acid is currently employed in order to lighten skin pigmentation and provide depigmentation. Objective: Mannich bases of kojic acid with the structure of 2-substituted-3-hydroxy-6-hyroxymethyl/chloromethyl/ methyl/morpholinomethyl/piperidinylmethyl/pyrrolidinylmethyl-4H-pyran-4-one (compounds 1-23) were synthesized by the reaction of kojic acid/chlorokojic acid/allomaltol and substituted benzylpiperazine derivatives in the presence of formaline. To obtain the cyclic amine (morpholine, piperidine and pyrrolidine) derivatives, nucleophilic substitutions were carried out. Method: Cytotoxic effects on A375 human malignant melanoma, HGF-1 human gingival fibroblasts, and MRC-5 human lung cell lines were investigated by sulphorhodamine B assay. Control agents were vemurafenib, dacarbazine, temozolomide, and lenalidomide, which are the commercially available drugs for the treatment of malignant melanoma. Results: Cytotoxic action against melanoma cells was significantly more efficacious (IC50: 11.26-68.58 μM) than the FDA-approved drugs except for vemurafenib. Fourteen of the compounds were proven to have higher IC50 values for the non-cancerous cell lines, HGF-1, and MRC-5 cells. Melanogenesis inhibition assay was performed to observe the ability of the drugs to inhibit melanin production and certain compounds were shown to be capable of actively inhibiting melanin production in melanoma cells. Conclusion: Mannich bases of kojic acid derivatives may be promising therapeutic agents, since some have more potent effects on melanoma cells than previously FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of malignant melanoma.

Background: Ankaferd Blood Stopper® is a commercially available herbal extract with potent blood-stopping property and is clinically used to treat immediate dental, dermal, external and internal bleeding. Its possible anti-neoplastic effect or whether it ingenerates drug resistance in cells has not been previously scrutinized. Objective: In the present study HEPG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line was exposed to clinically used dose (8 μL/mL) of the blood stopper for 24 h and the behavioral changes were investigated on both proteomic and genomic levels. Method: Cell culture experiments were performed by using Ankaferd® application in HepG2 cell line. Cytotoxic activity experiments with MTT, oncoproteomic studies with 2d gel electrophoresis, genomic studies were performed with RT-PCR. Results: It was seen that the agent did not significantly inhibit cell viability subsequent to 24 h of the treatment meanwhile, it clearly deducted cell viability after 72 h. Although reduction of HEPG2 cell proliferation was not witnessed as a response to 24 h of treatment with Ankaferd®, genomic and oncoproteomic analysis demonstrated diversification. Conclusion: It was established that protein processing networks in endoplasmic reticulum which regulate protein folding, relocation and degradation were effected. Additionally, it was proved that along with the elongation of the exposure period, mitochondrial apoptotic pathway may be activated due to hnRNP F-p53 interaction. Given to the fact that the agent did not cause P-glycoprotein-dependent drug resistance unlike many clinically used chemotherapeutic agents, it can also be considered for combination treatment. Overall, these findings suggest that Ankaferd® offers a novel promising approach against hepatocellular carcinoma which needs further investigation.