Vol 20, No 1 (2015)

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women worldwide. The role of the multi-Y-box binding protein 1 (YB-1) as a prognostic marker in relation to BC aggressiveness and resistance of tumors to chemotherapy is not sufficiently clear. Objective. The systematic search and analysis of scientific publications describing studies of the predictive power of expression (high, low) and localization (nuclear, cytoplasmic) of YB-1 for overall survival and progression free survival in patients with breast cancer. Methods. A systematic search was carried out in Medline database and the Cochrane Library in April 2014. Of the 88 studies found, we selected for further analysis 2 prospective cohort studies and 7 retrospective studies. We assessed the methodological quality of the selected studies taking into account study design, the risks of systematic biases and risks of incorrect statistical analysis. Results. The included studies varied in their methodological quality (from IIa to IIIc). The expression level (high vs. low) of YB-1 protein when localized in the nucleus of tumor cells is a predictor of overall survival (OS) in patients with breast cancer. The predictive role of cytoplasm localization of YB-1 for OS is not proven. The role of the protein expression level of YB-1 as a predictor ofprogression free survival (PFS) is not proven both for nucleus and cytoplasm localizations. The role of protein localization of YB-1 (nucleus vs. cytoplasm) at high and low levels of expression as a prognostic factor of OS and PFS in patients with breast cancer requires further studies.

During last 25 years there has been a progressive increase in the share of «small» tumors (T1a and T1b) in breast cancer stage I. Biological characteristics of tumor size T1a, T1b and T1c are different. Tumors less then 5mm have favorable biology: a high rate of luminal A subtype of breast cancer that affects the minimum proportion of relapses of the breast cancer and high rates of long-term survival. Biological characteristics of tumor with T1b and T1c size are more aggressive and presented by a high frequency of ductal carcinoma with luminal B and triple-negative immunophenotype, which significantly decreases the prognosis of the disease. Biology «small» tumors should be considered for choosing the optimal adjuvant treatment algorithm for breast cancer stage I.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal is a rare disease and is no more than 1.7-2% of the annual cancer incidence. Chemoradiation therapy - the standard modern treatment of squamous cell anal cancer. Short-term recurrence-free period of the new approaches to the treatment of anal cancer, in particular to the new regimes chemoradiotherapy.

The study investigated antitumor activity of 10 new compounds in the series of N-glycosides of indolo[2,3-a] carbazoles. The results identified strong antitumor activity of compounds LCS-1208, LCS -1054, LCS -999 and LCS-1006 against lymphocytic leukemia P-388 (ILS=85 - 119%). Glycosides LCS-1208, LCS-999 and LCS-1006 exhibited high antitumor activity immediately after treatment for Lewis epidermoid lung carcinoma LLC (TGI =90%). In addition, the antitumor effect after LCS-999 and LCS-1006 treatment kept on for 10 days, and LCS-1208 - for 15 days. Glycoside LCS-1208 had a therapeutic efficiency on melanoma B-16 for 7 days (TGI=91 - 58%). Thus, the study of relation «structure-activity» in a series of derivatives of N-glycosides of indolo[2,3-a]carbazoles allowed to select highly effective compound LCS-1208 for preclinical studies.

Breast cancer screening (breast examination in potentially healthy women for early, preclinical detection of malignancies) was introduced in the 60s last century in the United States, and then in the number of countries in the world. Many years of experience has shown important clinical and prognostic value of mammographic screening programs for increasing the proportion of carcinoma in situ and breast cancer stage I, which led to significant improvement in the long-term survival. The review presents the main stages of the screening programs, differences in the organization of screening in different countries, and also gives the definition of «screening age,» high-risk factors for breast cancer appearing and possible intensification of early detection programs. The existing screening methods have described, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as highlighted possible areas for screening programs.