Vol 23, No 2 (2021)

Prostate cancer (RPP) is a malignant neoplasm that arises from the epithelium of the prostate gland gland (PJ).

Thethiology and pathogenesis of this disease remain poorly studied. Many studies are aimed at studying diet, food, hormonal impact, as well as infections in the etiology of the RLPG. The prevalence of RPL depends on ethnic and geographical features. The highest incidence of African Americans living in the United States (60% higher than that of white Americans), the least high - in the Chinese living in China [1]. In addition to racial features, the risk factors of the RPG are considering the genetic predisposition, the age of men and nutritional features. The probability of developing a PJ tumor in a man who has one of the closest relatives of the first degree of kinship (father or brother) sick of the RLPG, is 1.8 times higher than in the population. If two relatives were sick or more (father and brother or both brothers), the risk of RPG increases in 5.51 and 7.71 times, respectively [2, 3]. African Americans have an increased risk of identifying RPG, as well as a greater probability of detecting aggressive RPG [4]. Also, the risk of RLPG is rising in men who use a large amount of animal fats [5].

This publication is the Russian translation of the Plain Language Summary (PLS) of the Cochrane Systematic Review: Lambin P, Ramaekers BLT, van Mastrigt GAPG, Van den Ende P, de Jong J, De Ruysscher DKM, Pijls-Johannesma M. Erythropoietin as an adjuvant treatment with (chemo) radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD006158. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006158.pub2

This publication is the Russian translation of the Plain Language Summary (PLS) of the Cochrane Systematic Review: Tonia T, Mettler A, Robert N, Schwarzer G, Seidenfeld J, Weingart O, Hyde C, Engert A, Bohlius J. Erythropoietin or darbepoetin for patients with cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 6. Art. No.: CD003407. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003407.pub5

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading cancers in terms of prevalence and mortality. Almost 1/4 of patients with CRC have metastases at the initial presentation. The survival rate of this group of patients remains low. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer patients have faced difficulties in getting diagnosis or treatment, which could potentially lead to an increase in late-stage tumors and mortality. This situation required changes in approaches to the treatment of cancer patients, such as replacing drugs with tablet forms, schemes with long intervals, and much more. It is known that about 50% of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer survive in satisfactory condition until the 3rd line drug therapy or longer. One of the main drugs for this category of patients is regorafenib, which, thanks to the tablet formulation, has become especially important in the COVID-19 pandemic. In numerous clinical studies, the drug showed an increase in patient overall survival and good safety profile. In addition, there is growing evidence of the effect of regorafenib on tumor sensitivity to treatment with platinum drugs, irinotecan, and EGFR inhibitors.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an extremely heterogeneous disease in terms of clinical manifestations, morphological changes, and expression of biomarkers, which determine the risk of subsequent development of an invasive breast cancer (BC). Diagnosis and treatment of DCIS prevents the development of invasive tumors (which reduces the potential risk of death from BC); however, the prognostic value of local treatment depends on the biological characteristics of its. The tumor grade, presence of comedonecrosis and expression of estrogen receptors are the key prognostic factors in DCIS for the treatment tactics and prognosis. The clinical symptoms of DCIS are very scarce, the most of tumors is diagnosed by screening mammography; the typical sign of DCIS is malignant microcalcifications or changes of breast architectonic. The sensitivity of mammography, ultrasound and MRI directly depend on the biological characteristics of DCIS. Surgical treatment (breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy) significantly reduces the risk of BC death in women with DCIS G2/G3, and radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery reduce the risk of local recurrence of non-invasive and invasive BC. The choice of the local treatment (breast-conserving surgery ± radiation therapy vs mastectomy) depend on such factors as: tumor size, localization, clear margins, and biological characteristics of DCIS. In contrast to invasive cancers, the negative margin in DCIS is more than 2 mm from the tumor. Regional lymph node involvement in DCIS occurs in less than 1% of cases; however, microinvasion is found in analyze the surgical specimen in 15% of patients, which raises the question about regional staging. Risk factors for microinvasion in DCIS are age less than 55 years, tumor lesion size more than 4.0 cm, DCIS grade G3, and tumor palpability. Adjuvant endocrine therapy with tamoxifen significantly reduces the 10-year risk of invasive recurrence by 51%, the risk of contralateral BC by 50% and the risk of death by 40%, but only for hormone-positive DCIS. HER2 overexpression is found in DCIS significantly often (up to 40% of cases) than in invasive BC, HER2+ status correlates with DCIS high grade G3, the presence of comedonecrosis and with increased risk of relapse (both non-invasive and invasive) but is not a reason for anti-HER2 therapy. DCIS low risk and DCIS high risk have not only different morphological characteristics, but also different models of biological behavior, which must be considered in the different choice of treatment tactics.

Background. The applying of immunotherapeutic approaches in cancer treatment requires a deep and comprehensive understanding of the tumor biological characteristics. In this regard, the study of the tumor immunophenotype is one of the leading scientific directions. The major histocompatibility complex molecules are considered to be the promising markers of the immunotherapy effectiveness prediciton.

Aim. To research tumor immunophenotype in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer (BC).

Materials and methods. The study included 99 patients with BC. Luminal cancer – 84.8% (n=83), Erb-B2 overexpressing (HER2+) subtype – 5.0% of cases (n=5), triple-negative BC – 10.2% (n=10). Stages: T1 (51.5%), T2 (44.4%), T3 (2.0%). Lymph node metastases (N+) were present in 39.4% (n=39) of cases. Grade of malignancy: 80.8% (G2). Samples of tumor tissue and bone marrow were examined. Immunophenotyping of the tumor was carried out on cryostat sections by the method of immunofluorescense. Antibodies to HLA-I, HLA-DR, CD71 were used and were directly conjugated to fluorochromes PE, FITC, PE-Cy5. The bone marrow was examined by a morphological method using light microscopy. Statistical data processing was performed using the IBM-SPSS statistics v2.1.

Results. In 50.8% (31/61) cases of luminal BC (LBC), the HLA-I molecule is absent on the membrane or is expressed by single tumor cells. A decrease in HLA-I expression levels in the luminal subtype was combined with the absence of HLA-DR antigens, which was found in 63.1% of cases. A higher frequency of HLA-I expression is observed in the Erb-B2 overexpressing BC, the differences are insignificant. Expression of CD71 was defected in 67.8% (40/59) of the studied samples of LBC. CD71 was expressed on the surface of most tumor cells (70%) in triple-negative BC. There were no statistically significant differences between the studied molecular subtypes of BC. Analysis of the luminal subtypes revealed that CD71 expression was observed much more often in luminal B subtype: 76.5% (n=26) and 75% (n=3) versus 52.4% (n=11). HLA-I expressing luminal cancer were characterized by higher levels of erythroid precursors (polychromatophilic normoblasts 9.0±0.9 and 5.8±0.8%, p=0.0017; oxyphilic normoblasts (7.9±0.7 and 5.3±0.6%, p=0.008), an increase in the amount of erythroid germ cells (17.7±1.5 and 11.6±1.5%, р=0.009) and an increased content of myelokaryocytes (93.1±17.1 thousand/µl versus 57.3±9.0 thousand/µl, p=0.083).

Conclusion. In LBC a decrease in the expression levels of HLA-I class molecules was noted in combination with the absence of HLA-DR antigens on the membrane of tumor cells, which was observed in more than half of the analyzed samples. The frequency of expression in triple-negative cancer is higher than in the luminal subtype. There were no statistically significant differences between molecular subtypes by the level of expression of HLA-I and II class molecules. Transferrin receptor expression has been reported in most cases of triple-negative BC subtype. The interconnection between the expression of HLA-I histocompatibility molecules and hematopoetic parameters in LBC has been established.

Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is characterized by an aggressive course, a high recurrence rate and fast progression. For a long time, the survival prognosis for the most patients suffering from this disease remained unfavorable. The situation changed with the appearance of chemoimmunotherapy in clinical practice. Chemotherapy based on durvalumab in comparison with the standard chemotherapy demonstrated the statistically and clinically significant increase in median overall survival in patients with previously untreated ES-SCLC in the CASPIAN international trial. This article deals with the case of the application of standard chemotherapy in combination with durvalumab as a first-line ES-SCLC therapy. The patient started receiving durvalumab therapy in June 2017 as a part of the CASPIAN international trial. In March 2021 the duration of therapy was 45 months, the patient had a complete regression of the disease.

Background. The problem of neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced (LA), borderline resectable (BR) and resectable pancreatic cancer (RPC) is being actively discussed at the present time, although the indications for its use have not been fully determined. In our work, we want to discuss the outcomes of using neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in these patients.

Materials and methods. From 2016 to 2020, 85 patients with pancreatic cancer were observed in the clinic (37 patients with LA cancer of the pancreas; 15 with BR cancer of the pancreas and 33 with RPC). Of these, men – 33 (38.8%), women – 52 (61.2%). The average age was 64 (31–83) years. All groups had GEMOX (41.2%) and FOLFIRINOX (58.8%) regimens. Increased CA 19-9 above normal had, in the LA group – 21 (56.6%); in the BR group – 9 (60%); and in the resectable group 26 (78.8%). From 3 to 6 courses of NACT were carried out, followed by computer tomography control and decision-making on treatment tactics.

Results. In the LA group, the GEMOX (n=15) and FOLFIRINOX (n=22) modes were used. When evaluating the results after 1 follow-up examination after 2.5 months. found: 2 patients died; progression – 14 patients (37.8%); remained inoperable – 16 patients (43.2%), of whom 9 received radiation therapy. Removal of the primary tumor was performed in 5 patients (13.9%). The average OS in this group was 15 months. Fifteen patients with BR pancreatic tumors were observed. NACT was carried out with the same regimens – GEMOX (n=7) and FOLFIRINOX (n=8) – for 2.5 months. When evaluating the results after 1 follow-up examination after 2.5 months was found: 1 (7.7%) patient died; progression was noted in 6 (40%) patients; in 1 (7.7%) patient, surgical treatment was not performed due to pronounced concomitant diseases. Surgical treatment was performed in 7 (46.7%) patients. 33 patients were prescribed NACT for RPC. The main criteria for prescribing NACT for formally resectable pancreatic cancer were a high CA 19-9 level (>100 IU/ml) [n=26 (75%)] and a large primary tumor [n=7 (25%)]. All patients received the same regimens for 3.3 months. up to 1 control. When evaluating the results, the following results were obtained: 1 (3%) patient died; 3 (9.3%) patients were not operated on due to refusal from surgical treatment; 7 patients (21.9%) were not operated on due to progression. Surgical treatment was performed in 22 (66.7%) patients; Whipple procedure in 17 patients, distal resection in 3 patients, total pancreatoduodenectomy in 2 patients. At the same time, complete morphological responce was noted in 2 (9%) patients, R0 resection in 19 (86%) patients, R1 – in 1 patient (4.5%). The median survival rate of the operated patients was 20.2 months (CI 13.2–27.2 months). Most patients (65.9%) had a high level of CA 19-9, which was studied in dynamics and used as a marker of the biological activity of the tumor.

Conclusion. Thus, we can claim that NACT is absolutely indicated for all patients with LA and BR pancreatic cancer, and its role in the selection of the most favorable in relation to the prognosis of patients is indisputable. Perioperative chemotherapy in patients with RPC is still controversial; however, having in mind the results in groups with LA and BR pancreatic cancer and the literature data, we dare to assume that for this issue it is a matter of time and future randomized trials. And here an important role can be played by the CA 19-9 level, which characterizes a biologically aggressive tumor, but again, prospective randomized studies are required to study this issue in more detail.

Aim. To assess the association between the carriage of minor allelic variants of 8 genes that encode key enzymes involved in the metabolism of anticancer drugs (DPYD, GSTP1, MTHFR, UGT1A1) and cell repair (XPC, ERCC1, TYMP, NQO1) and the severity of adverse drug events in patients with common gastrointestinal tumors.

Tasks. To study the frequency of minor allelic variants of the DPYD, GSTP1, MTHFR, UGT1A1, XPC, ERCC1, TYMP, NQO1 genes; to assess the frequency and severity of adverse drug events of chemotherapy treatment in the study population.

Materials and methods. For the period from October 2020 to April 2021, 56 patients (women – 29, men – 27) with verified malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract were included in a prospective clinical study as a part of the RSF grant No. 20-75-10158. The mean age was 62.3±11.4 years. Colon cancer was detected in 24 patients, tumors of the esophagus and stomach – in 19 patients, tumors of pancreas and biliary tract – in 13 patients. First-line palliative chemotherapy was given to 27 patients, adjuvant – 19 patients, neoadjuvant – 10 patients. All patients had not previously received cytotoxic or radiation treatment. Point nucleotide variants of genes DPYD, XPC, GSTP1, MTHFR, ERCC1, UGT1A1, TYMPS, NQO1 were determined by hybridization analysis on biological microchips. Differences in the tolerance of cytotoxic therapy (5-fluorouracil, platinum preparations, irinotecan) depending on the genotype were assessed using Fisher’s exact test.

Results. The average number of chemotherapy courses received was 4.2±2.6 (1–12). There was a statistically significant difference in the tolerability of chemotherapy in patients with minor allelic variants of the GSTP1 rs1695 (p=0.03), ERCC1 rs11615 (p=0.01), and UGT1A1 rs8175347 (p=0.003) genes.

Conclusion. The use of hybridization analysis on biological microchips to assess allelic variants responsible for the tolerability of cytotoxic therapy is reasonable and requires further prospective assessment.

The article discusses the place of CD38 antibodies in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Special emphasis is put of isatuximab. In 2020, isatuximab in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone was approved in Russia for the treatment of adult patients with MM who have received at least two lines therapies, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor. The published data from studies of isatuximab, demonstrating its clinical efficacy and safety in combination with standard treatment regimens for recurrent/refractory MM, are discussed.

Cervical cancer (CC) ranks fourth for cancer incidences in women after breast cancer, colorectal cancer and lung cancer. There is a steady increase in the incidence of invasive forms of CC in Russia. Over the past quarter of a century, the mortality rate of reproductive age group women with cervical cancer has increased by 2 times. The standard treatment options for cervical cancer progression were the regime of paclitaxel plus cisplatin (carboplatin). The addition of an antiangiogenic therapy (bevacizumab) to the standard chemotherapy regimen increases overall survival of only 4%. The response to other lines of chemotherapy does not exceed 10% after the therapy using the combination of paclitaxel + carboplatin + bevacizumab. The results of KEYNOTE-158 trial demonstrated objective responses in 91% of CC patients lasting for more than 6 months in case of application of pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks in cases of PD-L1 expression (CPS≥1) with acceptable toxicity. The presented clinical case of successful treatment using pembrolizumab in women with PD-L1 expression in metastatic CC has a beneficial effect on further accumulation of experience and could help to choose the right treatment options in order to increase the efficacy of the therapy and to increase the survival rates for this category of patients.

There is an increase in the prevalence of Candida fluco-R, there is a transition from strains of C. albicans to C. non-albicans. Diagnosis of invasive fungal infections is based on a clinical picture and risk factor assessment with subsequent retrospective confirmation of the diagnosis by a microbiological method. Echinocandines are the drugs of choice in the therapy of invasive/systemic mycoses in cancer patients.