Vol 16, No 3 (2011)

The paper analyzes the results of treatment in 29 patients with retroperitoneal lipomas (n = 5) and liposarcomas (n = 24). Among the patients with retroperitoneal lipomas, there were 3 patients with primary tumors and 2 with recurrent ones. There were 16 patients with primary liposarcomas and 8 with recurrent ones. Surgical treatment was performed in 26 patients. The survival rates after surgical treatment in patients with retroperitoneal lipomas varied from 3.5 to 17 years. Of them, 4 patients were reoperated on for tumor recurrences. After surgical treatment, recurrent liposarcomas were noted in 12 patients, 10 of them underwent radical surgery. The survival rates after surgical treatment in patients with retroperitoneal liposarcomas varied from 8 months to 12 years.

The paper gives the results of comprehensive examination in 57 patients with space-occupying lesions of the pancreas, which have been used to propose a diagnostic algorithm that allows malignancies of the pancreatic head to be verified with a high probability.

The authors give their experience in treating 62 patients with breast cancer undergoing organ-saving operations and radical mastectomies with one-stage TRAM-flap reconstruction. They describe secondary plastic surgeries and anterior chest wall defect closure by means of a TRAM flap after extensive radical mastectomies. Indications for TRAM flap use are defined and complications analyzed.

Breast cancer (BC) morbidity and mortality rates were analyzed in the Republic of Dagestan (RD) for a long period (1991-2002) and their current state was assessed. The standardized (world standard for) rate of BC morbidity in the RD was found to be 22.9 and, as a whole, significantly lower than the average rate in the Russian Federation (41.6%) and that of morbidity was 14.1 and inconsistent with the official data. It was also ascertained that both rates in the RD were increasing and varied within this republic with the female residence (urban, rural, geographic zone). Thus, the morbidity and mortality rates among the urban women (32.1 and 19.7) and in the lowlands (27.7 and 18.0) was twice as high as in the rural (15.8 and 10) and highlands (12.7 and 8.5). Cities, towns, and areas with high and low BC morbidity and mortality rates were defined. In some of them the BC mortality rates were also established to be greater than not only average republican, but also average federative ones. It was concluded that this situation was due to poor detection and the absence of primary and secondary prevention measures and screening programs. The impact of inadequate scope of treatment performed in the Dagestan Republican Cancer Dispensary on the rates is not ruled out either.

The paper analyzes the results of international studies evaluating the efficiency and tolerability of chemotherapy during combination treatment for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The considerable local extent of a tumor process, a high risk for a local recurrence, and a tendency to massive lympho- and hematogenic metastases have resulted in an active search and use of various chemotherapy regimens in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The paper gives the results of international studies of a role of targeted therapy for disseminated colorectal cancer (DCRC). It considers three drugs from this group - cetuximab (erbitux), panitumumab (vectibix), and bevacizumab (avastin). Erbitux demonstrated its activity against DCRC with EGFR receptor hyperexpression and KRAS wide-type and its ability to potentiate the antitumor activity of irinotecan. In DCRC patients without K-RAS mutation, the use of vectibix could significantly increase objective response rates, disease stabilization, and survival to progression as compared with the similar parameters during symptomatic therapy. Avastin therapy leads to a reduction in tumor growth and increases in overall survival (to 25 months) time to disease progression (by 20-25%) as compared to chemotherapy only.