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The study included 92 patients with invasive ductal breast cancer (T2-4N0-2M0-1). In 38 cases, tumor growth was unicentric while histologically identifiable ones as multicentric in 44. Multicentricity mostly occurred in cases of macroscopically-identifiable nodes located in the central segments of the breast. Clinically-identifiable nodes of multicentric tumor growth measured more than 3 cm. Multicentric tumors were mostly grade III, featured lower expression of sex hormone receptors and positive Her2 status.

The morphological signs of squamous-cell metaplasia were revealed in 65 out of 193 patients with varying bronchial mucosal changes. A follow-up of the patients indicated that in the group of patients with epithelial dysplasia without squamous-cell metaplasia, the prognosis was good in 65.6% of cases. In the group of patients with epithelial dysplasia and squamous-cell metaplasia, the prognosis was poor in 86.2% of cases.

This study involved 525 breast cancer (BC) patients of T2-4N0-2M0 stages at the age of 35 years and older. Significant differences in clinical and pathological characteristics between premenopausal and postmenopausal BC patients were found. Mostly marked differences were shown for positive lymph node correlation with distant metastasis, multicentric growth and local recurrence depending on menopause status. The prevalence of various morphological structures in primary tumors was appeared to be associated with different forms of tumor progression in pre- and postmenopausal women. We have studied polymorphisms in 15 genes involved in major cancer related pathways (apoptosis, interleukins, folate metabolism enzymes genes). We found that variant genotypes of MTHFR and DHFR genes were associated with an increased BC risk among premenopausal women while polymorphism in IL-18, p53 genes were associated with BC among postmenopausal women. These results demonstrate novel biological information, which points the different mechanisms contributed to breast cancer progression in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) and endogenous inhibitors (TIMP-1,-2) in tumor and blood serum from patients with squamous-cell laryngeal carcinoma were studied. Immunohistochemical investigation showed much higher MMP-9 expression (76.9%) and TIMP-1 (100%) in tumor tussue than MMP-2 (23.8%) and TIMP-2 (33.3%). Therefore, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels in blood serum alone were assayed. TIMP-1 levels in serum from patients were significantly higher than those in healthy subjects (p=0.023). High TIMP-1 levels in blood serum were recorded in patients with stage III laryngeal carcinoma and differed significantly from control (p=0.009). However, no correlation was found between them and MMP concentration in blood serum, on the one hand, and tumor size, on the other. High TIMP-1 levels in blood serum were recorded in patients free from metastasis to regional lymph nodes (124.5+39.5 ng/ml); however, they were lower than in those with such metastases (102.7+10.9 ng/ml) and significantly lower than in healthy subjects (p=0.023). There was a correlation between MMP-9 expression in tumor tissue, on the one hand, and involvement of regional lymph nodes, on the other, (p=0.054). In blood serum from patients showing tumor regression by 75-100% after radiotherapy, TIMP-1 levels were higher than in those with relatively lower response to the same treatment (p=0.072). Hence, assay of TIMP-1 levels in blood serum and MMP-9 concentration in tumor tissue may be used for assessment of tumor processes alongside standard procedures. Moreover, the former may be instrumental in predicting laryngeal response to radiotherapy.

We performed morphological examination of the adrenal glands from intact CBA/Lacy mice. Morphometry, histochemistry, and electron microscopy revealed predominance of functional activity of the right adrenal gland. This phenomenon was associated with adaptive state of the animals. The observed differences are probably related to specific pattern of functioning of paired organs determined during embryogenesis.

Cytological and histological studies of the thymus, bone marrow, peripheral blood, spleen, and lymph nodes in 6-9-month-old AKR/JY mice showed that the risk of thymic lymphoma in these animals increased with age. Generalization of the tumor process was observed in mice aged over 8 months and first involved the spleen, then the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and liver. A case of primary lymphoma in the spleen was detected.

The prognostic significance of stromal reaction in breast cancer patients has been identified. A reverse correlation between blast lymphocyte level in tumor and metastasis into the regional lymph nodes has been found. Patients with pronounced lympho-histiocytic infiltration receiving combined therapy are expected to have favorable prognosis.

It is shown that in spite of the absence of the marked inhibition of the tumour growth in the preparative period listeria preparations decreased the percentage of recurrances. Based on the results obtained a conclusion is drawn that injection of listeria preparations into the tumour for several days before its surgical removal may be an effective prophylactic means of the relapse development.

As a result of cytological investigations it was discovered that the millimeter range microwaves being applied once during one hour stimulated erythrocytopoiesis of intact mice and induced a change of the lymphocytes number in the blood. The reaction to the microwaves depends on the location of irradiation and animal initial state, which was estimated pertinent to the red blood cells and white blood cells number in the peripheric blood. These factors are of prognostic importance. For mice with initial white and red blood cells numbers less than 12 X 10(9) l and 8 X 10(12) l the change of erythrocytopoiesis in the left thigh and thorax bone marrow took place and lymphopenia developed due to the irradiation of hind left leg. For other animals the stimulation of erythrocytopoiesis in the right thigh bone marrow and lymphocytes was registered due to microwaves irradiation of the hind right leg. The microwave effect is considered as a combination of local and general changes. On the basis of quantitative analysis the preferable mechanism of microwaves action on the whole organism level is discussed.