[Prognostic significance of p53, HER-2/neu, Ki-67 and VEGF expression in chondrosarcomas].

Expression of the mutant protein-suppressor of tumor growth p53 and the receptor of epidermal growth factor of type II--HER-2/neu may serve as prognostic factors for patients with chondrosarcoma of malignancy grade II. Combined expression of these proteins in the tumor tissue correlates with shorter 5-year survival of recurrence-free patients. The data obtained may be used for prognosis of chondrosarcoma course and choice of adequate therapy.

[Osteosarcoma: biochemical and endocrinological studies as a basis for its pathogenetic treatments].

The paper considers data of the long-term studies of androgen metabolism, baseline serum levels of reproductive steroid hormones and their receptors in the tumor, in the blood concentrations of sex steroid-binding globulin and pituitary hormones, the expression of epidermal growth factor, its receptors and ligands, soluble Fas-antigen, vascular endothelial growth factor, angiogenin, and the content of calmodulin, cAMP in the osteosarcoma in 300 patients aged 14 to 56 years, which were made at the N. N. Blokhin Russian Cancer Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.

[Results of a phase I clinical trial of "theraphthal + ascorbic acid" catalytic system].

Phase-I clinical studies of teraphtal and a "teraphtal + ascorbic acid" catalytic system have been completed. The dose-limiting toxicity and maximum tolerable dose were not reached even at the end of maximal dose trials. No side-effects characteristic of antitumor cytostatic drugs were registered.

Plasminogen activators and their inhibitor in bone tumors and tumor-like damages.

Expression of urokinase- and tissue-type plasminogen activators and their inhibitor PAI-1 in the cytosolic fraction of 20 osteosarcomas, 20 chondrosarcomas, 13 giant-cell bone tumors, 5 Ewing's sarcomas, and 7 osteochondral exostoses was studied by enzyme immunoassay. The content of urokinase-type plasminogen activator increased, while the concentration of tissue-type plasminogen activator decreased in bone tumors of various histological compositions compared to osteochondral exostoses. A positive correlation was found between PAI-1 content and the volume of osteo- and chondrosarcomas.

Tissue- and urokinase-type plasminogen activators and type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor in melanomas and benign skin pigment neoplasms.

The content of urokinase- and tissue-type plasminogen activators and plasminogen activator inhibitor PAI-1 in the cytosol of primary and metastatic melanomas and benign skin pigment neoplasms was estimated by enzyme immunoassay. It was shown that local growth and invasion of melanomas are related to suppressed expression of tissue plasminogen activator. The content of urokinase plasminogen activator increases in patients with distant metastases and large thickness of the primary tumor.