Experimental Oncology

Today, methotrexate (MTX) is used in combination with other medicines to treat a wide range of malignancies. Despite its proven high efficacy, MTX often causes serious side effects, which may result in the need to reduce the dose of MTX or discontinue the drug altogether. This, in turn, can provoke the development of MTX resistance and cancer progression. Predicting the risk of MTX-induced toxicity is currently difficult due to the variability of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics in different patients, so the scientific literature is intensively searching for potential biomarkers...

BACKGROUND: To date, no significant clinical progress has been achieved in the treatment of brain malignant gliomas (MG), and the active search for non-invasive circulating biomarkers continues. The prognostic significance of the ratio of the main peripheral blood cell populations of patients with MG is evaluated. Considerable attention is paid to the secretome of platelets (Pt) of peripheral blood. AIM: To evaluate the indicators of the peripheral blood cell population ratios in patients with brain MG and to study the influence of the secretome of Pt (SPt) of the peripheral blood of patients with brain MG in cell cultures in vitro...

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) in young women remains a significant public health concern. While progress has been made in understanding the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of BC in this population, challenges persist. The identification and utilization of prognostic biomarkers offer valuable tools for tailoring treatment strategies and improving outcomes for BC patients. AIM: To evaluate the relationship between the expression of tumor-associated microRNAs and the clinical and pathological features of BC in young patients...

BACKGROUND: The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). At the same time, the mechanisms and features of the interaction between tumor cells and individual components of the TME in PCa remain not fully elucidated. The aim was to study the expression levels of tumor-associated miR-7-5p, miR-19a-3p, and miR-23b-3p in the PCa tissue and to analyze their relationship with the features of TME. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The work is based on the analysis of the results of the examination and treatment of 50 patients with PCa of stages II-IV...

BACKGROUND: The discovery of new markers for colorectal cancer (CRC) is of paramount importance for improving the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of this disease. CRC is the third most common cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Early detection and treatment are crucial for improving patient outcomes, but current screening methods are not foolproof. Additionally, there is a need for better prognostic markers to identify patients at high risk of recurrence or metastasis, who may benefit from more aggressive treatment...

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) stands out as the most prevalent cancer in women. The levels of miRNA expression before and after chemotherapy are considered a potential indicator for the prognosis of the disease. AIM: To study blood plasma miRNA levels in BC patients and to assess their correlation with the menopausal status, disease stage, and molecular BC subtype. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood plasma levels of 6 miRNAs (miRNA-25, miRNA-27, miRNA-155, miRNA-200, miRNA-335, and miRNA-497) were studied in 70 BC patients and 18 healthy individuals using RT-PCR...

BACKGROUND: SLAMF1/CD150 is an active player in B cell signaling networks in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). CD150-mediated signaling initiates through a homophilic CD150 binding, which spans the adjacent cells, or the interaction with the soluble CD150 isoform (sCD150). The expression of sCD150 isoform at the mRNA and protein levels ex vivo was confirmed. However, it is unclear whether sCD150 isoform present in the blood plasma of CLL patients is a factor in the constitutive activation of CD150+ cells...

BACKGROUND: In 2020, a sharp decrease in the number of new cancer cases was registered in Ukraine in the setting of the quarantine restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which contrasted with the previous trends. AIM: To study trends of cancer incidence rates in Ukraine in the recent decade and to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cancer detection in 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records on cancer cases diagnosed during 2010-2020 (n = 1,498,911) from the database of the National Cancer Registry of Ukraine were used; the data being submitted early in 2022...

BACKGROUND: The peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) is the most common subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). It constitutes approximately 25% of all PTCLs and accounts for more than 15% of all lymphomas. The results of the first Ukrainian prospective study of patients with PTCL-NOS are presented in the article. The aim of the study was to analyze the morbidity of PTCL patients and the treatment performed, to evaluate overall survival and progression-free survival, and to determine the factors that predict the treatment response...

BACKGROUND: The current studies demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection results in increasing complications incidence and the total risk of death in cancer patients. SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers oxidative stress representing one of the major factors of the inflammation contributing to the complicated course of the diseases including cancer. AIM: To assess the effect of hypoxia caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection on the redox status of blood in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)...

BACKGROUND: Radiation-induced dermatitis impairs the quality of life of cancer patients and may lead to the need of interrupting radiotherapy. The grade of dermatitis is subjectively assessed by the visual examination. There is an urgent need for both objective and quantitative methods for assessing the current grade of dermatitis and predicting its severity at an early stage of radiotherapy. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the advantages and limitations of infrared thermography for monitoring the current level of radiation-induced dermatitis and predicting its severity by quantitative analysis of the thermal field dynamics in the irradiated zone...

BACKGROUND: The development of human breast cancer (BC) is known to be closely related to disturbances in the mammary gland microbiota. Bacteria of the genus Bifidobacterium are an important component of normal breast microbiota and exert antitumor activity. The molecular-biological mechanisms of interaction between BC cells and microbiota members remain poorly studied yet. The aim of this study was to develop and optimize an experimental model system for the co-cultivation of BC cells with Bifidobacterium animalis in vitro...

Colorectal cancer exerts a very high level of liver metastases, even on primary diagnosis, with 80%-90% unresectable nodules. At the same time, the possibility of resection has a significant impact on survival: 5-year survival is 6%-10% without liver surgery and up to 30% upon resection of liver metastases. Finding ways to improve resectability is a topical search for doctors all over the world. One of the promising methods to convert unresectable liver metastases of colorectal cancer into resectable ones is a hepatic artery infusion, or intra-arterial chemotherapy allowing for the delivery of cytotoxic drugs directly to the common hepatic artery via catheter or pump with decreased systemic toxicity and increased local drug concentration...

The term Mixed Adeno-Neuro-Endocrine Carcinoma (MANEC) was introduced in 2010 by the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Digestive System. It refers to a neoplasm with dual epithelial and neuroendocrine differentiation, each component representing at least 30% of the tumor. It is an uncommon tumor accounting for < 3% of all colon and rectum malignancies. We report three cases of this extremely rare MANEC of the rectum. All three cases presented with hematochezia, variable constipation, and abdominal pain...

Nobel Symposium 175 was organized by Professor Richard Rosenquist Brandell of Karolinska Institutet and was supported by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The focus of the symposium was a discussion on the development of precision medicine in infectious and rare diseases, cancer, and complex diseases. Presentations and discussions concerned new technologies, bioinformatics, and new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches based on findings in basic research. Organization of precision medicine models and their implementation in medical practice at the national and international levels were also on the agenda...

With deep sadness, we announce that on November 29, 2023, at the age of 81, passed away an outstanding Ukrainian scientist in the field of biomaterials and sorption therapy, a member of the European and International Societies of Artificial Organs, a laureate of the State Prize of the USSR, an Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Volodymyr Gryhorovych NIKOLAEV.

With deep sadness, we announce that on December 10, 2023, at the age of 86 passed away an outstanding Ukrainian scientist in the field of oncology, analytical enzymology, and pharmacology, a Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine for Science and Technology, a member of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies, a member of the State Expert Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Volodymyr Oleksiyovych SHLYAKHOVENKO.

On June 14-16 2023, the 45th meeting of the General Assembly of Organization of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) dedicated to the 120th anniversary of the award of the first Nobel Prize in Physics for the discovery of radioactivity to Marie Skłodowska-Curie was held in Paris hosted by the Institut Curie. More than 130 leading specialized institutions and organizations that focus their efforts on finding ways and optimizing coordination to improve the quality of cancer care in Europe attended the OECI Oncology Days and the General Assembly...

This article briefly summarizes our long-term experience of research in the field of experimental and clinical radiation oncology unified by the key word "radiosensitivity". Consistently presented and interpreted here are the main results on biodosimetry of irradiation depending on doses and quality of ionizing radiation and determination of individual radiosensitivity of cancer patients. We justified the use of radiomitigators to reduce the frequency and severity of post-radiation complications in cancer patients, and for radiation protection of the general population...

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary malignant brain tumor in adults. The improvement of the efficacy of GBM treatment is an urgent problem encouraging the development of novel therapeutic strategies, in particular, immunotherapeutic modalities. With more understanding of the intimate interrelationships between the immune system and the mechanisms involved in cancer origin and progression, the skepticism related to the relevance of the immunotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of brain tumors is gradually decreasing...