Expression of E-cadherin in drug resistant human breast cancer cells and their sensitivity to lymphokine-activated lymphocytes action.

Aim: To analyze the correlation between the elevated sensitivity of drug resistant breast cancer cells to the action of lymphokine-activated lymphocytes (LAK) and expression of E-cadherin and other marker proteins by cancer cells and lymphocytes.

Methods: Breast tumor explants were cultured with autologous lymphocytes in double diffusion chambers. The results were evaluated by morphological criteria of explants growth.

Leuprorelin acetate every-3-months depot versus cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil as adjuvant treatment in premenopausal patients with node-positive breast cancer: the TABLE study.

Purpose: Ovarian suppression with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists is an effective adjuvant treatment for premenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER) -positive breast cancer. Whereas monthly LHRH agonist therapy has been well established, the value of every-3-months (3-monthly) formulations is unclear.

Patients And Methods: This randomized phase III trial was performed to compare the 3-monthly depot LHRH agonist leuprorelin acetate (LAD-3M; n = 299) and chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF; n = 300) in pre- or perimenopausal patients with ER-positive, node-positive breast cancer.

Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil (CMF) versus hormonal ablation with leuprorelin acetate as adjuvant treatment of node-positive, premenopausal breast cancer patients: preliminary results of the TABLE-study (Takeda Adjuvant Breast cancer study with Leuprorelin Acetate).

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of leuprorelin acetate in adjuvant treatment in comparison to standard chemotherapy with CMF in premenopausal, estrogen-receptor-positive or unknown, node-positive patients with early breast cancer.

Patients And Methods: The patients were randomly assigned to receive either 2 years of hormone ablation with leuprorelin acetate 11.25 mg as a subcutaneous injection every three months or six courses of CMF (cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2, methotrexate 40 mg/m2, fluorouracil 600 mg/m2, days 1 and 8, q 4 weeks).

[Disorders of hormonal homeostasis in patients with kraurosis and leukoplakia vulvae].

A study was made into the functional status of hypophysis, adrenal cortex, ovaries, and thyroid gland in patients with kraurosis and leukoplakia vulvae. The above patients demonstrated profound disturbances in the system hypophysis-ovaries, that attest to the need for applying corrective therapies to treat the disturbed hormonal homeostasis.

[The endocrinological aspects of cancer of the vulva].

Patients with cancer of the vulva showed significant disorders of pituitary adrenal cortex, ovarian and thyroid function. This requires carrying out corrective hormone therapy with the purpose of increasing the efficiency of combined treatment.

[The determination of beta-casein gene expression and the assessment of hormonal homeostasis in gynecomastia patients and in breast cancer in men].

beta-Casein genes expression in breast epithelium was studied in male patients with various forms of gynecomastia and cancer. Blood serum levels of pituitary, sex and glucocorticoid hormones were assayed in 29 patients with gynecomastia and 22 cases of breast cancer, and in 25 of them beta-casein genes expression was evaluated additionally. Activation of the above genes was established in the tissues studied.

[Experience with the use of a low-calorie diet in breast cancer patients to prevent metastasis].

The paper discusses results of three-year follow-up of breast cancer patients keeping to a low-calorie diet after radical mastectomy and chemotherapy. The diet was planned according to age, energy expenditures and body weight and was aimed at a 15% decrease in the total caloricity as compared to corresponding individually-tailored norms for healthy people. This was achieved by reduction in fat (by 30%) and carbohydrates (by 9%).

[The treatment of edematous-infiltrative forms of breast cancer by using thermochemo- and thermoradiotherapy].

The study included 157 patients with edematous-infiltrative breast cancer. Thermochemo- and thermoradiotherapy were shown to modify (increase) cancer cell sensitivity to antitumor treatment and thus improve tumor response.

[The function of the hypophysis, adrenal cortex and gonads in men with breast cancer].

It was established that male patients with breast cancer showed significant disorders of the functional state of the pituitary, adrenal cortex and gonads. This may be significant for the efficacy of combined treatment.

[Functional state of the hypophysis, adrenal cortex and gonads in patients with gynecomastia].

Patients with gynecomastia revealed simultaneous increase in blood levels of estrogens, glucocorticoids and pituitary (first of all, gonadotropic) hormones associated with a decrease in blood-androgen concentration. Such combination of disturbances may account for hyperplasia of the male breast.

[The effect of age-related changes on the hypophyseo-adrenal and sympathetico-adrenal systems in patients with cancer of the digestive tract and lungs].

An analysis of the activity of pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic-adrenal systems in patients with cancer of the digestive canal and lungs with consideration of age, sex and stage of the disease indicates that not age but the development of the tumour process is the leading factor in disorders of the neuroendocrine homeostasis. Therapeutic measures are discussed.

[Prognostic value of urinary levels of corticosteroids and catecholamines in patients with cancer of the transverse colon and rectum].

Long-term results of treatment of colorectal cancer versus levels of 17-ketosteroids, 17-ketogenic steroids, adrenaline and norepinephrine in diurnal urine were evaluated in 116 patients. Normal or slightly elevated urine-corticosteroid and catecholamine levels were shown to correlate with good prognosis, particularly, in cases with normal excretion of all (or almost all) hormones studied and their normal ratios.

[Correction of the function of the sympathoadrenal system in the surgical and combined treatment of patients with cancer of the esophagus and stomach].

The study was concerned with the functional condition of the sympatho-adrenal system in 80 patients with cancer of the esophagus and proximal part of the stomach who had undergone surgery and received combined treatment, coupled with measures aimed at correcting the sympatho-adrenal system in some cases. Treatment with phenformin, decaris and S-methylmethionine was shown to produce a favorable effect on certain stages of catecholamine synthesis and metabolism as well as on immunologic indexes and hemodynamic stability.

[The pituitary-adrenal system in cancer of the esophagus and stomach].

Excretion of corticosteroids, levels of 11-OCS in blood plasma, tests with dexasone and clinical evaluation of the pituitary-adrenal system function were studied in 354 patients with carcinomas of the esophagus and proximal stomach division. Some degree of hypocorticism with a decrease in the 11-OCS level in blood plasma and lowered excretion of corticosteroids in the urine were found in 71% of patients. These variations are accompanied by lowered hypothalamus sensitivity to dexasone.

[Impaired function of the sympatho-adrenal system in patients with esophageal and stomach cancer].

Patients with esophageal and gastric cancer show a decreased diurnal excretion of DOPA matched by a considerable drop in the urine levels of catecholamines and their main metabolites as compared with healthy subjects. This points to a severe inhibition of synthesis and metabolism of catecholamines at all stages. Tumor process progression is accompanied by an ever-increasing inhibition of sympatho-adrenal system function.

[The sympathetic-adrenal and hypophyseal-adrenal systems in the preoperative irradiation of patients with cancer of the esophagus and cardia].

A study was made of 74 patients with esophageal and cardiac cancer, Stages II and IV. The excretion of catecholamines, corticosteroids and their precursors was studied, tests with adrenalin before and after preoperative irradiation at a summary dose of 30 Gy were done. It has been shown that before the start of radiation therapy the excretion of catecholamines and corticosteroids is lowered, the reaction to adrenalin administration is negative in most patients, the phase syndrome of cardiac hypodynamics associated with disturbed function of the sympathoadrenal system was revealed.