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In 25 patients in the Division of tumors of the support-movement apparatus the osteoplastic operations were performed, using intraoperative cryodestruction, after excision of the giant cell tumor of the bone. During the patients observation follow-up postoperative complications, recurrences and metastases of the tumor were not revealed.

The article deals with a problem of combined use of interferon (laferon) and interleukin in patients with skin melanoma. Recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) was included into the worked-out scheme. Patients with primary-localized skin melanoma (T(2-4)N0M0) have been studied. Three groups were chosen. 901 patients of the control group underwent excision of tumor (e/t); 34 patients of the first study group (e/1) were given endolymphatic interferontherapy (ift); 35 patients of the second study group were subjected to excision of tumor followed by endolymphatic interferontherapy. One-year relapse-free survival among patients of the control group reached 57.6+/-1.6%, 1st study group--70.5+/-7.8% and 2nd study group--83.6+/-6.7%. Total one-year survival among patients of the control group was 92.1+/-0.9%, in the 1st study group--97.0+/-2.9%, in the 2nd study group--92.7+/-5.0%. Thus, the combined use of recombinant interferon (laferon and interleukin (ronkoleukin) in treatment schemes of malignant skin melanoma was proved to be perspective.

As many as 170 patients with giant cell tumour of the bone were examined in the Institute of Oncology department of tumours of the locomotorium. The diagnosis of giant cell tumour of the bone was made with a comprehensive approach to the patients pursued to include roentgenography, computerized tomography, biopsy involving histological study of the specimens taken.

Over the period of past five years, in the department of tumours of the locomotorium of the Institute of Oncology, 170 patients with giant cell tumor of the bone who ranged from 7 to 72 years old were examined. Of these, 152 patients were cured, 14 experienced recurrences of the tumour after the treatments administered, four patients died within different time periods after the treatment conducted as a result of metastizing of the tumour into different organs and systems (lungs, liver, bony skeleton).

We studied modifying potentialities of high temperatures in treatment regimens with adjuvant endolymphatic chemo- and interferontherapy of malignant melanoma of the skin. We had previously obtained enough evidence for expediency of adjuvant endolymphatic therapy of primary-localized melanoblastoma of the skin. Added to the preventive treatment regimens were sessions of local magnetothermia. The study was done in patients diagnosed as having primary-localized melanoma of the skin T(2-4) No Mo. A 3-year recurrence-free survival in the control group was (38.2 +/- 1.6)%, in the first study group--(54.2 +/- 5.8)%, in the second study group--(44.3 +/- 13.5)%. The general 3-year survival in the control group was (67.7 +/- 1.5)%, in the first study group--(70.8 +/- 5.5)%, in the second one--(91.7 +/- 5.7)%. In this way, the expediency has been proved of employment of local magnetothermia in treatment regimens to deal with malignant melanoma of the skin.

Hydroxilapatite-base ceramics was made use of in 70 cases in bone-plastic operations as a material to substitute bone defects following excision of osteal neoplasms. In all cases, the ceramic material was made contact with the bone bed. There were no ceramics-related adverse local or generalized reactions. Zones of a ceramics-to-bone contacts showed consolidation in 68 cases for up to 3 months as per X-ray techniques. No bone fracture was to be seen in the site of implantation or a fragmentation of the ceramic material employed. Based on the results obtained, the hydroxilapatite-base ceramics can be made use of as an alternative to auto- and allotransplants.

At the URIOP Department of Tumours of the Locomotor System, osseous plastic operations were performed with making use of hydroxilapatite-base porous ceramics in 60 patients with benign tumours of bone and tumour-like lesions of bone. Apart from surgery the patients underwent a complex of rehabilitative measures, such as remedial gymnastics, massage, designed to restore locomotor functions of the extremity. Time periods of medical rehabilitation of patients were found to have gotten reduced by 1 to 2 months on the average providing the multimodality treatments with remedial gymnastics and massage were administered.

In 59 patients with malignant skin melanoma, the effect of regional endolymphatic therapy on pathomorphosis of lymphogenic metastases and long-term results of treatment was studied. The essential morphologic changes at the sites of melanoma and higher indices of patients' survival in the group studied when compared to the control group have been noted.

The results of treatment of the patients with I-II stage skin melanoma (including 84 with I stage melanoma of skin of the extremities and trunk, 59--with metastases of melanoblastoma to the regional lymph nodes) who underwent endolymphatic chemotherapy in addition to the radical operation are presented. A statistically significant improval of the results was established when compared with those of the surgical treatment.

Patients with head and neck and locomotor system tumors received neutron therapy in the total doses of 4-8 and 12-14 Gy which was followed by a pronounced dose-dependent decrease in the serum thymus factor and total blood-lymphocyte levels. The latter changes were predominantly due to a decrease in the non-T-non-B cell concentration. Following the treatment, a rise in the level of circulating immune complexes and those of IgA and IgG was observed. Changes in the immune system proved less apparent in patients with locomotor system cancer who had been given 20 Gy of gamma-ray radiation.

Experience with 62 combined operations on patients with nonorganic new growths of the true pelvis is discussed. They accounted for 33.3% of 227 radical interventions undertaken for this disease. The ages of the patients ranged from 4 months to 64 years. Ten patients were admitted after exploratory laparotomies. Benign new growths were diagnosed in 14 and malignant new growths in 48 patients. Different variants of operative approaches were used. Most frequently the tumor was resected together with bones, iliac vessels, genitalia, and urinary bladder. Various complications were noted in 39 patients who were operated on. Hemorrhage was the most frequent and menacing complication--in 26 patients. Two patients died. Recurrences were found in 8 of a group of 60 patients discharge from the clinic. After combined operations for malignant nonorganic tumors of the true pelvis 3-year survival was 36.0%, 5-year survival was 29.4%.

Results are reported of the treatment of 82 patients with grade 1 melanoma of the skin of extremities and trunk. Endolymphatic chemotherapy was carried out after surgery. During the first postoperative year metastases to the regional lymph nodes developed in 15.7% of patients while in the control group of 333 patients metastases were found in 38.6%.

Results of treatment of 101 cases of soft tissue sarcoma are presented in the paper. Preoperative irradiation technique and radical program of treatment are described. Combined radiation and surgical treatment was given to 45 patients whereas conservative--to 56. Sixty-three cases received adjuvant combination chemotherapy. Response and three-year survival rates were compared to those in control group treated by photons. The results observed in patients of combined and conservative treatment groups who had been irradiated with fast neutrons proved significantly better than in controls. These data suggest vistas in application of fast neutron irradiation for the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.

The study deals with results of a clinical trial evaluating treatment efficacy of a 6 MeV neutron beam produced by Y-120 cyclotron (Kiev). Procedures of preoperative radiotherapy and radical treatment are discussed. Radiotherapy was administered to 52 patients suffering chondrosarcoma (30 cases), osteogenic sarcoma (15) or chordoma (7). Combined treatment (radiation + surgery) was given to 22 patients whereas neutron beam therapy--to 30. All patients with osteogenic sarcoma received adjuvant combination chemotherapy. Three-year survival rate was compared to that observed in controls in whom combined treatment had included gamma-therapy. A significant increase in three-year survival rate was observed for osteogenic sarcoma and chordoma whereas for chondrosarcoma the improvement in survival proved insignificant. The use of fast neutrons in combined treatment of bone tumors was considered promising.

The level of endogenous production of IL-2 by lymphocytes of lymph nodes regional to tumour and by mononuclear cells of peripheral blood, proliferative response of these cell to recombinant IL-2, as well as a modifying influence of autologous serum and actively proliferating bioptats of autologous tumours on enumerated parameters have been studied in cancer patients (tumours of the head and neck and locomotor system). Regional IL-2-dependent immunotherapy of malignant tumors with obligatory preliminary testing for individual sensitivity of the tumor bioptat to the influence of the RIL-2 and RIL-2 activated lymphocytes is shown to be promising.

The data are reported on the 3- and 5-year survival in 177 patients with Ewing's sarcoma, reticulosarcoma and myeloma. Better late results were gained under the repeat course of chemo-hormonal and radiation therapy. In male patients with Ewing's sarcoma the survival rate is found to be reliably higher; the prognosis is better with tumors located in flat bones (excluding the pelvis) and upper extremities, the age having no influence on issues. No correlation was found between the survival of patients with reticulosarcoma and their age and tumor localization, the prognosis being more favourable in aged subjects. Sex and age do not effect the prognosis in patients with melanoma, the results being better in case of a solitary myeloma, located in the spine, and worse--in pelvic bones.

Dysfunction of the thymus and the immune system in patients with melanoma was shown to be in direct correlation with tumor extent. The use of thymosin-like immunomodulator was followed by the most apparent recovery of the parameters studied in patients with localized melanoma resulting in improved clinical course of the disease. In cases of tumor spread into regional lymph nodes, immunologic disorders observed were identical to those registered prior to treatment. Tumor did not disseminate in patients retaining normal immune status.

The influence of various factors on the survival of 40 patients with sacral chordoma is considered. Irrespective of type of therapy, the 5-year survival after treatment of malignant chordoma was 31.5 +/- 14.6%, while in cases of benign chordoma it was 73.9 +/- 10.0%. The 10 year survival rates were 31.5 +/- 14.6 and 34.2 +/- 10.8%, respectively. The 5-year survival rates increased 3-fold after ablastic removal of tumor and by 37.9% after combination therapy (surgery + radiation). The age and sex differences had no significant prognostic value. Radical ablastic removal of sacral chordoma is of great prognostic value since it ensures favorable prognosis, irrespective of morphological type of tumor.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) production of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was studied in 9 healthy subjects and 19 patients with soft tissue sarcomas. Mean IL-2 production by PBL in 19 patients was significantly diminished as compared with the control. Surgery leads to an increase of IL-2 production, however, the levels observed in the control do not restore completely.

Suspension of primary and metastatic skin melanoma cells isolated by the mechanical and enzymic methods was preserved in ampullae in the medium 199 at 4 degrees C. Native cells and cell preparations stained with trypan-blue solution and studied by the scanning electron microscopy method for 12, 20, 36 months have demonstrated the ability to keep their vitality for 3 years. Mechanism of such a "natural" conservation of cells is not yet clear. It may be assumed that the above cells are genetically stimulated mutants able under definite conditions to initiate an active proliferation in healthy tissues. The cells in a similar state may be a promising model in the experimental oncology.

The general laws and clinico-morphologic peculiarities of the regression of cutaneous melanoma in 4 patients, which occurred spontaneously or under the influence of the local use of non-conventional methods of therapy are presented. It is shown that resorption of primary neoplasm is not the ultimate outcome of the tumour process, and because of the development of metastases, the prognosis remains unfavourable. Regression of a primary focus of cutaneous melanoma is estimated as one of the manifestations of the progression of tumour growth.

The time of life of 219 patients with primary malignant tumors of bones of the pelvis were analyzed in order to study the influence of different factors on the survival rate of the patients. It was shown that a considerable improvement of some results in the treatment of chondrosarcomas and chordomas was achieved after ablative removal of tumors, in reticulosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma--after a combined chemo-radial treatment with prophylactic courses of the therapy during 2 years. The combination of operation and radiotherapy for the treatment of chordomas gave a reliably higher survival of the patients within 5 years of observation. Prognosis in osteogenic sarcoma and angiosarcoma are extremely unfavorable regardless of the method of treatment.

The paper discusses the results of application of a simple and easily available method of measuring levels of large granule-containing lymphocytes for identification of risk for cancer during mass screenings and differential diagnosis of benign and malignant tumor before morphological examination.