[Low dose-rate contact radiation therapy (brachytherapy) for prostate cancer using domestic I-125 seeds as a monotherapy and combined with pelvic lymphadenectomy].

INTRODUCTION: In 2014, the incidence of prostate cancer in the Russian Federation was 116.4 per 100,000 population. It is noteworthy that from 2004 to 2014, the proportion of patients with stage I-II prostate cancer increased from 35.5% to 52.5%, while that of patients with stages III and IV disease decreased from 38.4% to 29% and from 22.7% to 16.5%, respectively. All of this allows an increasing number of prostate cancer patients to be treated with radical treatment - low dose-rate brachytherapy. For the first time in this country, we report a clinical trial of low dose-rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer using domestically manufactured I-125 seeds. The successful results of this clinical trial are presented in this article. The aim of this work was to show the clinical efficacy and safety of domestically manufactured I-125 seeds for low dose-rate prostate cancer brachytherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinical trial comprised 36 patients with stage T1-T2 prostate cancer. Patients were randomly assigned according to the risk of cancer progression. Low and intermediate risk groups comprised 30 (83.3%) and 6 (16.7%) patients, respectively. Patients of low risk group underwent brachytherapy alone with the minimum therapeutic dose of 145 Gy. I-125 seeds of two activities, 0.55 and 0.35 mCi per seed were used for implantation. Depending on the prostate volume, from 40 to 80 seeds, 57 on average were implanted. Mean implantation time was 85 minutes. In patients of the intermediate risk group brachytherapy was performed in combination with laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy which was carried out 4-5 weeks prior to brachytherapy. RESULTS: Follow-up examination at 6 months after implantation showed that PSA decreased in all patients on average by 87% from the baseline. No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSION: The findings of the clinical trials of domestically manufactured I-125 seeds showed they are effective, safe and comply with international standards.

The Content of ROS in Blood Lymphocytes of Healthy Individuals, Individuals Irradiated as a Result of Chernobyl Disaster and Patients with Prostate Cancer.

The ROS concentration and proliferation activity (Ki67 expression.marker) have been studied in the periphery blood lymphocytes of Moscow and Obninsk citizens, donors, Chernobyl disaster liquidators, inhabitants of the region contaminated after Chernobyl disaster (Klincy) and individuals with prostate cancer. It was shown that ROS concentration in lymphocytes of the liquidators and residents of the polluted region was lowered. But in lymphocytes of patients with tumors the ROS content was higher in comparison with the control. The cell content with Ki67 expression in lymphocytes of the individuals resided in the polluted region and tumor patients was lowered.

[An experience with dose-escalated conformal radiation therapy in hormone-radiotherapy for prostate cancer].

This study presents the short-term outcomes of conformal external beam radiation therapy given in conjunction with hormone therapy to 110 patients with prostate cancer. We performed a comparative analysis of the rate and degree of radiation reactions and complications following delivery of a total dose of 70 Gy and 72-76 Gy to the tumor. In prostate cancer, a continuous course of dose-escalated conformal radiation therapy resulted in satisfactory tolerance and acceptable levels of late complications.

[The Changes of Properties of Blood Peripheral Lymphocytes of Donors and Patients with Prostate Gland Cancer: Reaction of Lymphocytes on Irradiation in vitro].

The oxidative status (ROS), markers activation expression (CD69), proliferation activity (Ki67), proapoptotic antigen (CD95) have been investigated on healthy donors and patients with prostatic gland cancer in human blood lymphocytes. The lymphocyte reaction in vitro on γ-irradiation at different doses (0.05-1.0 Gy) has been determined too. It was shown that in these two types of individuals the ROS content does not differ and the reaction on irradiation is not different either. Essential is the difference between the marker expression in lymphocytes of healthy donors and patients with tumour: in individuals with cancer the content of lymphocytes with CD69+ phenotype (in non active situation) and CD95+ increases, the expression of marker Ki67 decreases. The lymphocyte response to irradiation in healthy and tumour lymphocytes is distinguished. Irradiation at doses 0.05-10.0 Gy on tumour patients lymphocytes markers does not influence expression. In healthy donors' lymphocytes the expression of markers is changed considerably, the reaction depends on the marker type: expression of CD69 marker decreases (tendency); expression of Ki67 decreases too; it is unusual that the expression of CD95 changes--it decreases after irradiation at the doses of 0.05-1.0 Gy, then increases with dose. So this work shows the changes in tumour patients' blood lymphocytes in comparison with healthy donors' lymphocytes. The possible mechanisms of the observed phenomenon are discussed.

Life expectancy in the former USSR and mortality dynamics by cause of death: regional aspects.

"The purpose of our paper is to present recent trends of mortality in the former USSR in terms of demographic transition theory.... Analysis of data on mortality dynamics by age and cause of death allows us to consider some features of the progress of the demographic transition.... The principal causes of the discrepancy between the former USSR and Western countries appear to follow first of all from considerably lower living standards.... The second principal cause of unfavourable patterns of mortality was an unhealthy environment in the workplace and at home." The focus is on the 1980s.