Cancer cells are characterized by the reprogramming of certain cell metabolisms via activation of definite pathways and regulation of gene signaling. Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is characterized by tissue damage and death following a lack of perfusion and oxygenation. It is most commonly seen in the setting of organ transplantation. Interestingly, the microenvironments seen in cancer and ischemic tissues are quite similar, especially due to the hypoxic state that occurs in both. As a consequence, there is genetic signaling involved in response to IRI that has common pathways with cancer. Some of these changes are seen across the board with many cancer cells and are known as Hallmarks of Cancer, among which are aerobic glycolysis and the induction of angiogenesis. This literature review aims to compare the metabolic pathways that are altered in cancer tissues and in normal tissues subjected to IRI in order to find common adaptive processes and to identify key pathways that could represent a therapeutic target in both pathologies. By increasing our understanding of this relationship, clinical correlations can be made and applied practically to improve outcomes of transplanted organs, given the known association with acute rejection, delayed graft function, and poor graft survival. The following metabolic pathways are discussed in our review, both in the setting of cancer and IRI: apoptosis, glycolysis, and angiogenesis. The role of the immune system in both pathologies as well as mitochondrial function and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are reviewed.

While there are relatively commonly observed, reported anatomical variations associated with the posterior abdominal wall, especially with the kidneys, we report here over a dozen variations in one prosected medical school donor body (Caucasian, male, age 87, cause of death: sepsis). These variations could contribute significantly to negative outcomes, especially in surgical procedures. During a routine dissection, we found bilateral extra‐renal pelvises. In the right kidney, there were two extra‐renal major calyxes, and five extra‐renal minor calyxes (two extra‐renal minor calyxes from the superior major calyxes, and three extra‐renal minor calyxes from inferior major calyxes). In the left kidney, there were four extra‐renal major calyxes and two extra‐renal minor calyxes off the most inferior major calyx. In addition, we found four venous variations and four arterial anomalies including one in a major artery. Namely, there were bilateral accessory renal veins found at the hilum that drained into the posterior aspect of the inferior vena cava. There was an additional accessory left renal vein that drained into the left renal vein, at the junction of the left testicular and left suprarenal veins. There was also a left lumbar vein that drained into one of the accessory left renal veins. Regarding the arterial supply to the kidneys, there were two polar right renal arteries directly off the abdominal aorta in addition to two long hilar right renal arteries, and three left hilar renal arteries that branched individually from the abdominal aorta. Finally, there was a long left common iliac artery compared to the right common iliac artery. Anatomical variations within patients can be of no significance or can turn a routine surgical procedure into a hazardous process if unrecognized at the time of intervention. Further documentation of such anatomical variations in prosected donor bodies can further inform surgeons for the need for imaging prior to various surgical procedures.