[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. Our results pointed to an influence produced by preoperative therapy on the levels of angiogenic factors both in tumor and serum. However, trends of development of such parameters are different and independent of therapeutic modality. Correlation was established between VEGF and VEGFR-2 levels in residual tumor, on the one hand, and degree of therapeutic pathomorphosis, on the other.

[Molecular-biological markers as prognostic factors in breast cancer of I-IIA stage]. / Molekuliarno-biologicheskie markery kak faktory prognoza pri rake molochnoi zhelezy I-IIA stadii.

The study of molecular-biological markers for prediction of recurrence-free survival in breast cancer stage I-IIA demonstrates that high expression of thymidilate synthetase and high maximal density of microvessels are prognostically effective and that the prognosis is influenced by expression of both Bcl-2 and Bax. Low recurrence-free survival was observed in Bcl-2-/Bax patients (31%, median 44 months) while such survival was high in Bcl-2+/Bax patients (86%, median was not reached). The findings can be used for prognostication of a breast cancer clinical course.

[Tumor markers CEA, CA 15-3, MCA, TPA, ferritin and PTH in the diagnosis and monitoring of primary breast cancer]. / Opukholevye markery REA, CA 15-3. MCA, TPA, ferritin i PTG v diagnostike i monitoringe pervichnogo raka molochnoi zhelezy.

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. Various therapies-induced decreases in the levels of the markers serve as an objective criterion for the efficiency of the latter. Steady increases in the mean concentrations of tumor markers in the intra- and post-therapeutical periods are indicative of an extremely poor prognosis in this group of patients.

[New aspects of adoptive immunochemotherapy in disseminated forms of cancer]. / Novye aspekty adoptivnoi immunokhimioterapii rasprostranennykh form raka.

A method of autolymphochemotherapy was developed based on administration of a "therapeutic" course of chemotherapy following cytotoxic treatment of a large amount (1.5-2 l) of central lymph obtained by external drainage of the thoracic duct. Immediate results of treatment of 15 patients with advanced breast, lung (non-small-cell) and ovarian cancer with various degree of chemoresistance are presented. Marked response was observed in 14 cases. It seems justified to use the method for the treatment of locally advanced cancer.