Vol 17, No 1 (2012)

Two hundred and thirty-three patients with primary cancer of the oral and otopharyngeal mucosa received chemoradiotherapy with unequal divisions of a daily dose and standard radiotherapy. After chemoradiotherapy with division of the dose of into 1 + 1.5 Gy and fractionation into 1 + 2 Gy, the rate of objective responses (a sum of complete and partial regressions) was significantly higher than that following standard radiotherapy (97.8, 100, and 61.9%, respectively). During chemoradiation therapy in the 1 + 1.5 Gy and 1 + 2 Gy regimen, the incidence of Grade 3 mucositis was 40.5 and 77.8% (p < 0.05) versus 52.7% of those receiving the standard radiotherapy. Late radiation damage to normal tissues and organs in a radiation area were observed in 8.9, 10.8, and 20.2% of cases, respectively (p > 0.05). In terms of the early toxic effect - mucosal radiation reactions, variously fractionated chemotherapy is fairly tolerated by patients and, after it, there is no increase in late local toxicity as compared to the standard radiotherapy.

The oral fungal microflora was studied in 67 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and in people without cancer. In the patients with oropharyngeal tumors, Candida was shown to be encountered on the oral mucosa more frequently and in greater quantities than in the persons without cancer. Chemoradiotherapy causes a statistically significant increase in the Candida colonization index and changes in the qualitative composition of the oral fungal microflora. The coadministration of Candida solution and immunal can normalize the microbial landscape.

The paper presents the results of an investigation of the expression of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (TsPO) in patients with renal cell carcinoma in relation to gender, age, disease stage, histological type, and comorbid diseases. In the patients with renal cell carcinoma, the level of TsPO was found to be related to the disease stage, histological type, and the presence of synchronous cancer at other sites. The findings may suggest that TsPO can be used as a marker in predicting the efficiency of treatment and the course of disease.

Ultrasound studies were performed for tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (esophageal bullae in 243 patients, stomach in 606, colon in 226, rectum in 197, and anal canal in 26). An ultrasound semiotics of for gastrointestinal tract tumors was developed. The potentials of ultrasonography in imaging tumors and defining their local extent were studied in relation to the tumor site. The method showed its high clinical efficiency. The possibilities of using three-dimensional (3D) repair for gastrointestinal tumors were studied.

This case study demonstrates a positive surgical treatment result in a female patient with giant neck and right hemithorax neurofibroma complicated by second thoracic vertebral body destruction, tracheal and brachiocephalic vessel compression, and Horner’s syndrome. The success of treatment became possible due to the joint tactics of thoracic and vertebral surgeons. Total second thoracic vertebral body destruction induced by a tumorous process was intraoperatively verified. There was elimination of Horner’s syndrome and brachiocephalic vessel compression in the early postoperative period. No neurological symptoms occurred with a metallic prosthetic implant of the thoracic vertebra. Twelve months after surgery, the patient felt satisfactory and had no signs of recurrent neurofibroma.

Radical abdominal tracheletomy is an organ-saving surgical treatment for invasive forms of cancer of the cervix uteri in young patients who wish to preserve reproductive function. The authors describe their clinical observation of the birth of Russia’s first baby after abdominal radical trachelectomy using assisted reproductive technologies.

Among the drugs with angiogenic mechanism of action, only bevacizumab demonstrates proved activity against colorectal cancer. However, tumor resistance develops during its treatment and a number of tumors seem to be primarily susceptive to bevacizumab. This review gives the results of investigations for finding the clinical, instrumental, and molecular factors predicting the efficacy of bevacizumab in patients mainly with disseminated colon carcinoma.