A limitless Brazilian scientist: Professor Travassos and his contribution to cancer biology.

Luiz Rodolpho Travassos, a Brazilian scientist recognized in several areas of research, began his studies in the field of oncology in the late 1970s when he took a sabbatical at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY, USA. At that time, the discovery and characterization of human melanoma glycoprotein antigens yielded important publications. This experience allowed 16 years later, and Dr. Travassos founded UNONEX, significantly contributing with discoveries in the area of oncology and training of researchers. This review will address all the contributions of team of researchers who, together with Dr. Travassos, collaborated with investigations into molecules and processes that lead to the development of melanoma.

Indicadores morfométricos del melanoma maligno de piel / Morfometric indicators in malignant skin melanoma

RESUMEN Fundamento: el melanoma maligno es un tumor con una gran capacidad de invasión y de difícil tratamiento por su elevada agresividad y mortalidad, en este, los estudios morfométricos se hacen necesarios por el valor que aportan en el diagnóstico histológico para mejorar el pronóstico de la enfermedad. Objetivo: describir el comportamiento de indicadores morfométricos como el área nuclear, volumen nuclear y factor de forma nuclear. Métodos: se realizó un estudio de serie de casos de 12 pacientes con el diagnóstico de melanoma maligno de piel en el período septiembre 2015 a septiembre 2017 en la provincia Holguín. Se emplearon métodos teóricos y empíricos, estos últimos basados en técnicas morfométricas, luego se realizó análisis estadístico de los datos obtenidos y se reflejaron en tablas. Resultados: el área y el volumen nuclear muestran valores pequeños. El factor de forma como indicador de pleomorfismo nuclear presentó valores superiores en los casos del estudio que en los descritos en la literatura. Conclusiones: el volumen nuclear muestra valores pequeños, lo que habla a favor de un comportamiento característico de tejido hiperplásico, al igual que el comportamiento del área nuclear, los valores del factor de forma nuclear indican menor pleomorfismo que el descrito en la literatura.

ABSTRACT Background: malignant melanoma is an invasive tumour and difficult to treat due to its high level of mortality and aggressiveness, a morphometry study was required to provide a proper diagnosis of the disease. Objective: to describe the behavior of morphometric indicators as nuclear area, nuclear volume and nuclear shape factor. Methods: a case series study in 12 patients having malignant skin melanoma was carried out, in the period from September 2015 to September 2017 in Holguin Province. Theoretical and empirical methods were used; these last two methods were based on Morphometric techniques. Then a statistical analysis of the information obtained was performed and they were added on a chart. Results: the area and nuclear volume showed low rate. The shape factor showed less levels of pleomorfism than the ones described in specialized literature. Conclusions: when low values of nuclear volume and nuclear area in malignant melanoma are found we are dealing with hyperplastic tissue. The same happens with the incidence of the nuclear area; the values of the nuclear shape factor evidenced less pleomorfi levels than the ones described in specialized literature.