[Influence of neoadjuvant therapy on VEGFR-2 levels in tumor and blood serum from breast cancer patients].

Degree and trends of changes taking place in the angiogenic factors VEGF and VEGFR-2 were studied in cytosols and blood serum sampled from breast cancer patients in the course of neoadjuvant therapy. Such evidence was evaluated vis-alpha-vis basic indices for clinic-morphological features of the disease. The study included 30 cases of locally-advanced tumors.

[The use of 1H-NMR spectroscopy for the prognosis of overall survival of breast cancer patients].

The pool of low-molecular metabolites in untreated breast cancer patients was investigated by high-resolution 1H-NMR spectrometry. It was found that the delta = 1.75 m.

[The specificity of expression of molecular biological markers in tumors of the mammary gland].

Data are described on a retrospective immunohistochemical study of the Ki-67, PCNA, Bcl-2, BAX, BclX and VEGF expression in tumors of two groups of patients with breast cancer (BC) and with the favorable and unfavorable clinical courses. A reliably high level of VEGF expression was detected in tumors of patients with an early BC relapse. Apart from VEGF, higher levels of the Ki-67 and PCNA expression were registered in tumors of the discussed patient's category.

[Experience with turbulent magnetic field as a component of breast cancer therapy].

No adverse side-effects were reported in an investigation of the antitumor effect of turbulent magnetic field (TMF) carried out as a component of preoperative chemoradiotherapy for breast cancer at the Center's Clinic. The study group included 114 patients with locally advanced tumors(T3, N1-N3, M0). According to the clinical, roentgenological and histological evidence on the end-results, the procedure was highly effective.

[The role of epithelial antigens in diagnosis and staging of breast cancer].

The study of different epithelial antigen expression has been performed in 183 breast cancers. In 73 patients regional lymph nodes were studied as well. Panepithelial antigen Egp-34 (Mab HEA-125) was expressed in 100% of primary tumors and metastases.

[Contemporary treatment methods in primary breast carcinoma].

Surgery for primary breast carcinoma is the method of choice. The use of the so-called conservative (sparing) techniques greatly improves late outcomes. Thus, five-year survival in patients with early cancer stages after radical resections followed by radiation therapy was 87.

[The experience in the use of DNA flow cytometry to predict the natural history of malignant neoplasms].

The aim is to study the pattern of a cell population (ploidy) and to evaluate the latter's significance in the prognosis of different carcinomas. A total of 467 patients with primary carcinomas of the breast (n = 177), lung (n = 88), head and neck (n = 140), and colon and rectum (n = 62) were examined. All the patients underwent surgery alone or in combination with radiotherapy (X-ray)/chemotherapy.

[Prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptors in stage I-II breast cancer: results of a six-year follow-up].

The disease-free (DFS) and overall (OS) survival was retrospectively assessed using mono- and multiparametrical methods in 197 patients with T1-2N0-1M0 tumors of the breast during a 3-73 month follow-up. No significant differences in DFS or OS were observed between epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)-positive or negative patients, either in the general study group or in those without metastases in the lymph nodes. However, DFS was much and significantly higher in patients with an "endocrine" receptor phenotype of tumor (EGFR-ER+PR+) than with an "auto/paracrine" one (EGFR+ER-PR).

[Expression of epidermal growth factor receptors and their ligands in malignant tumors of the breast].

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) have been investigated in the tumors of 166 breast cancer patients and concentrations of their ligands (alpha-TGF and EGF) were measured in 104 tumors by radioimmunoassay. EGFR and both growth factors were simultaneously detected in 18% and EGFR and one of the ligands were found in 11%. There were trends to higher frequency of EGFR expression in advanced tumors, in ductal and lobular infiltrative cancers with high grade of malignancy and in estrogen receptor negative breast cancers.

[DNA ploidy of tumor cells in prognostication of the course of malignant neoformations].

DNA flow cytometry (FCM) was used for the clinical prognosis in patients undergone surgical removal of a tumor. The relationship between the structure of the tumor cell population (ploidy) and the frequency, time of a relapse onset (recurrence, metastasis), and the survival length were analyzed. All the patients had presurgical treatment (chemo- and/or radiotherapy).

[Evaluation of the effectiveness of tamoxifen in malignant breast tumors: new approaches].

It has been shown that 17 beta-estradiol stimulates the cycle of phospholipid conversion in the breast tumor cells. The action of tamoxifen on antiestrogen cells is not limited by weakening the stimulating effect of 17 beta-estradiol on the exchange of intracellular phospholipids, but gives rise to a more complicated pattern of changes: inhibited incorporation of 32-P-phosphatidylcholine (PC) and activated exchange of phosphoinositides (PI). The experimental findings of 53 breast tumors have indicated that in 47.

[Tumor markers CEA, CA 15-3, MCA, TPA, ferritin and PTH in the diagnosis and monitoring of primary breast cancer].

Sera from 254 females were assayed for markers of tumor growth, such as cancer embryonal antigen (CEA), breast cancer-associated antigen (CA 15-3), mucinoid cancer antigen (MCA), ferritin, tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), parathyroid hormone (PTH) by means of monoclonal antibody kits by using radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay. Forty nine patients were diagnosed as having benign breast neoplasms, 171 patients were admitted to the clinic for primary breast cancer of varying severities, 34 patients without any breast abnormalities and somatic diseases comprised a control group. There was a close correlation between the higher levels of markers and the stage of a tumorous process.

[The effect of steroid hormones and tamoxifen on the rate of phospholipid turnover in the cells of uterine and breast tumors].

The cycle of phospholipid turnover has been found to be under the negative control of hormonal cytostatics (progesterone) and under the positive control of proliferation stimulants (17 beta-estradiol, epidermal growth factor). Specific changes in the synthesis of phospholipids are shown when tamoxiphen, an antiestrogen and an inhibitor of protein kinase C, was used. The findings suggest that changes in the turnover rate of phospholipids are one of the key stages of steroid action on target cells and may be regarded as an additional criterion of tumor genetic sensibility.

[The practical use of the determination of relative 32P accumulation in the tumor in breast cancer].

The level of relative accumulation of a 32P radionuclide was measured in 180 tumor samples obtained from 148 patients with stage I--IV breast cancer. Mean initial relative accumulation level (IRAL) was 1477 +/- 174% whereas that following effective conservative treatment (posttreatment) (PRAL)--486 +/- 81% (P < 0.01).

[The role of tumor receptor status in choosing adjuvant therapy for breast cancer patients of reproductive age].

Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptor levels were assayed in primary tumor samples from 271 premenopausal patients suffering T1,2N1M0 (stage II) breast cancer. Four clinical groups were identified according to steroid receptor levels in which results of adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy or complex treatment) were assessed. ER and PR positivity was associated with longer disease-free and overall survival.

[The lymphocyte immunological phenotype of young and middle-aged breast cancer patients].

The immunologic phenotype of lymphocytes of young and middle-aged patients with breast cancer was identified using ICO monoclonal antibodies. The parameters were compared to that of healthy subjects of the corresponding age groups. Breast cancer patients of both age groups were shown to have lower T-cell level as compared to donors.

[Chromosome fragile sites in patients with multiple primary tumors and familial forms of breast cancer].

An analysis was carried out of chromosomal site-fragility in patients with primary multiple tumors and familial breast cancer. A possible correlation is discussed between fragile sites, breakpoints in chromosome rearrangements in cancer patients and the localization of oncogenes mapped in chromosomal regions involved in said rearrangements.

[Comparative study of the effectiveness of the classical and modified Cooper protocol for breast cancer chemotherapy].

Efficiency of routine and modified Cuper procedures was studied after evaluation in saliva and urine of women with mammary gland tumor of the following parametres: alterations in dynamics of acrolein excretion with saliva, dynamics of alterations in calculated therapeutic doses of cyclophosphane administered using these procedures, dynamics of the ratio between non-metabolized cyclophosphane and its initial level in urine of the patients. Analysis of the data obtained suggest that the liver tissue enzymatic systems, involving in biotransformation of cyclophosphane, were distinctly less impaired during the modified Cuper procedure as compared with the routine course, thus corroborating advantages of the modified procedure used in chemotherapy of patients with mammary gland tumor.

[The effect of finoptin on the metabolism and pharmacological action of cyclophosphane in vivo and in vitro].

Phynoptin (Ph) and cyclophosphamide (CP) gave rise to a type I spectral changes with liver microsomal fraction. KS were 15 microM and 2150 microM, respectively. Ph increases the concentration of NBP product(s) of CP and acrolein in the blood plasma of animals.