Pioneer transcription factors constitute a heterogeneous group of regulatory proteins of animals, which, unlike other transcription factors, are able to recognize and bind target DNA sequences within closed chromatin. This binding can change the local chromatin structure and facilitate binding of other proteins, thus establishing competence for gene expression. The ability to bind silent genes in the closed environment makes the pioneer factors very useful in the processes leading to cardinal alteration of cell phenotype, such as differentiation in embryonic development or cell reprogramming. These proteins can remain bound to target sequences during mitotic division, and due to this probably take part in the maintenance of cellular memory. Apparently, pioneer transcription factors are active participants in carcinogenesis and maintenance of tumor cell phenotype, although their role in these processes needs additional research. It is reasonable to suppose that a further study will help to shed more light on the genetic processes in embryonic development, increase the efficiency of cell reprogramming and also develop new approaches to diagnostics and therapy of cancer diseases.

Determination of serum markets of bone resorption in patients, with renal cancer after radical surgery can improve the accuracy of early diagnosis of bone metastases, assess the extent of metastatic bone lesions, and monitoring of bisphosphonates treatment. These data suggest promising activity for tartrat-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP-5b) of early detection of bone metastasis.

High mortality from breast cancer is associated with the high heterogeneity of tumor and the frequent recurrences of the pathological process, which are due to the presence of tumor stem cells. The review considers the biological properties of tumor stem cells, the molecular mechanisms of their regulation, interaction with the microenvironment, and their role in the heterogeneity of the morphological and clinical forms of breast cancer.

The colorectal cancer (CC) is one of the most widespread type of cancer all over the world. It is confirmed that the screening procedures intended for timely detection of CC and adenomatous polyps, significantly decrease mortality. The colonoscopy and analysis offeces for occult blood are widely applied as screening procedures. However, they have a number of shortcomings. The studies of the last decade revealed number of genetic and epigenetic markers potentially permitting revealing patients with CC at early stages of development of disease. The article analyzes CC-specific microRNA and their possible interactions with different transcriptional factors. These factors, being integrated into the structure of so called network s with direct signal propagation, ensure special stability of all regulatory system. The derangement of functioning of these networks quite often results in pathological alterations.

The novel ideas of fundamental role of mitochondria in the maintenance of viability of malignant cells have been reviewed. The modern state of research is considered in detail, including: mitochondrial control of the cellular redox state, sites of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in inner mitochondrial membrane and antioxidant protection systems. Specificities of the structural-functional mitochondrial remodelling in malignant tumors, the mechanisms of the energy metabolism reprogramming, enhancement of the ROS production and adaptation to the hypoxic conditions and metabolic stress are analyzed. The available data including our research on transplanted tumors indicate that cytotoxic action of sodium dichloroacetate (the inhibitor of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase) depends on biological properties of tumors and intensity of structural-functional mitochondrial rearrangement. Dichloroacetate turned out to be effective for sarcoma 37, but not for Lewis lung carcinoma.

Cancer of the cervix uteri (CCU) ranks third in the incidence of malignancies in women. The choice of CCU treatment mainly depends on the extent of the tumor process, i.e., the stage of the disease. Determining the stage of CCU is based on the clinical classification of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) (2009) and has a number of substantial limitations in evaluating parametrial invasion, tumor spread to the pelvic wall, and involvement of regional lymph nodes and in determining the true tumor sizes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now the method of choice in staging invasive CCU. Multiparameter MRI will be able to enhance the efficiency of diagnosing microinvasive CCU as well (FIGO 2009), to plan surgical and/or chemoradiation treatment, to evaluate its efficiency, and to diagnose locally recurrent CCU.

to determine the specific features of the development of metachronous tumors and survival rates in patients with metachronous primary and multiple cancers after radiotherapy for the first tumor.

The concept of occult infection caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) is determined as the presence of HBV DNA in blood sera or liver with the absence of detectable HBsAg. The actuality of this problem is associated with the fact, that occult hepatitis B (OHB) can be transmitted during hemotransfusions, cause reactivation of chronic hepatitis B in immune compromised individuals, facilitate development of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Several different hypotheses of OHB immunopathogenesis have been proposed, including a low number of copies of HBV DNA, altered immune response of the macroorganism, genetic variability of the S gene, integration of viral DNA into host genome, infection of mononuclear cells of peripheral blood, presence of immune complexes that hide HBsAg, and interference by other viruses such as HCV and HIV. Molecular mechanisms of HBV virus in HBsAg-negative individuals are not fully understood, however, viral mutations seem a very significant factor. Approaches of OHB prophylaxis including use of a polyvalent vaccine, that allows vaccination against wild and mutant HBV viruses, are examined.

Various methods of radiofrequency ablation, using FOTEK-150 apparatus, were applied in 74 patients for pulmonary and pleural malignancies. Immediate positive effect was achieved in 92% observations, complications have occurred in 13% patients. It is expedient to use the method in patients, suffering pulmonary and pleural malignancies, when radical surgery is impossible. Radiofrequency ablation may be applied as a palliative method of treatment of pulmonary and pleural malignancies.

Biliary complications are one of the main complications after transplantation, especially after hepatic transplantation from living donor. Of 147 patients, in whom hepatic transplantation was conducted, in 40 biliary complications have had occur, including in 29 (72.5%) - biliary leak, and in 11 (27.5%) - biliary stricture. Twelve patients were reoperated: for biliary leak - 8, and biliary stricture - 4. In 9 patients biliary leak stopped spontaneously, in 7 - a drainage under ultrasonographic control was conducted, and in 5 - endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography. In 8 patients cholangiopancreaticography was conducted for biliary stricture in 3 - transcutaneous transhepatic cholangiography.

The changes in intrahepatic blood flow, occuring after embolization of right branch (ERB) of portal vein (PV) in 42 patients, to whom a major hepatic resection was planned for focal hepatic diseases, were analyzed. Together with cessation of blood flow along the PV embolized branch, there was noted the enhancement of the volume blood flow along the PV left branch by 226% on the third day after embolization with its subsequent enhancement by 337% comparing with initial one. Enhancement of a volume blood flow along right hepatic artery (HA) by 282% was noted on the third day after ERB PV with subsequent nonsignificant reduction, and a blood flow along the left hepatic artery branch did not change essentially. The blood flow enhancement in left hepatic lobe have promoted her regeneration and increase of volume of the organ residual planned.

Results of treatment of 18 patients for locally spread gastric cancer, in whom after combined gastrectomy gastroplasty was accomplished, using ileocecal intestinal segment (the main group), were presented. In a comparison group 20 patients were included, in whom after combined gastrectomy end-to-loop esophagojejunoanastomosis was formated. Early postoperative complications have occurred in the main group--in 7 (38.8%) patients, and in comparison group--in 6 (30%). Postoperatively 2 (11.1%) and 2 (10%) patients died, accordingly. Gastroplasty, using ileo-cecal intestinal segment, have promoted reduction of the remote postgastrectomy syndromes occurrence rate from 58.8 to 11.1%. In a comparison group median survival was 18.6 mo, and in the main--a survival mediana was not achieved, because the investigation still goes on.

Neoplasms of extrahepatic bile ducts are rare and represent about 2% of all malignant diseases. Their clinical manifestation is delayed, when they are in advanced stage and the opportunities for radical treatment are limited. The resectability rate of the tumors of the middle and distal part of the bile ducts is higher than the percentage of the neoplasms with perihilar localization. Improved methods for preoperative diagnostic and staging as well as the individualized therapeutic approach, including biliary drainage, use of contemporary surgical techniques and methods, selective embolization of portal vein, partial hepatectomy, resection of caudal lobe, lead to increased rate of radical operations and improved long-term results.

The problem of the surgical treatment of cancer of the esophagus-gastric transition is up to date until today and has caused disagreements between the surgeons. This is one of the most aggressive visceral tumors. Metastasis is very specific due to the specificity of lymph edema. We operated 213 patients for four years period, 162 of them male and 51 - female. Cancer cardia and lower third of the esophagus are seen in 163 of them. All carcinomas of the gastroesophageal transition are diagnosed as adenocarcinomas, which means there is an increase of this localization of the tumor. This distribution of cardiac carcinoma Sieber is almost equal in our series of patients. We operated 137 patients for three years period. Sieber 1 - 47 patients, Sieber 2 - 37 patients, Sieber 3 - 53 patients. The persentage raio is as follows: Sieber 1 - 34%, Sieber 2 - 27%, Sieber 3-39%.

Multivisceral resection for locally advanced gastric cancer is necessary to achieve R0-margins. This surgical option is accompanied by short- and long-term outcomes that still remain questionable.

Animal and clinical studies were conducted to evaluate the association between the blood DNA radiosensitivity, assessed by determining the original S-index ex vivo, and the response of gliomas to irradiation in vivo. Possible modifications of the latter after administration of iron-containing water (ICW) in rats were also explored. The study was performed on the rats with subcutaneously implanted experimental glioma-35. The tumors were locally X-irradiated with a single 15 Gy dose as a radiation therapy (RT). ICW (60-63 mg · Fe 2+/l) was administered as a drinking water for 3 days before treatment. The animals underwent blood sampling for analysis of the DNA concentration and leukocyte count. The DNA index was estimated 24 h after RT. The S-index was evaluated within 4 h before RT. The mean initial S-index in the blood samples of glioma-bearing rats was 0.73 ± 0.05. Addition of ICW ex vivo resulted in a significantly increased S-index in a half of the samples. In general, the irradiated rats, which had been given pretreatment with ICW and demonstrated an ex vivo increase of the S-index to > 1.0, showed the most marked inhibition of tumor progression and the smallest tumor volume 25 days after irradiation. They also exhibited the lowest rate of growth and the longest survival. Determination of the biochemical S-index and evaluation of its changes ex vivo caused by ICW may be predictive of the response of experimental glioma to irradiation with radiomodification. The S-index may serve as a predictive indicator in clinic of the efficient evaluation of RT in patients with glioma.

The oxidative status (ROS), markers activation expression (CD69), proliferation activity (Ki67), proapoptotic antigen (CD95) have been investigated on healthy donors and patients with prostatic gland cancer in human blood lymphocytes. The lymphocyte reaction in vitro on γ-irradiation at different doses (0.05-1.0 Gy) has been determined too. It was shown that in these two types of individuals the ROS content does not differ and the reaction on irradiation is not different either. Essential is the difference between the marker expression in lymphocytes of healthy donors and patients with tumour: in individuals with cancer the content of lymphocytes with CD69+ phenotype (in non active situation) and CD95+ increases, the expression of marker Ki67 decreases. The lymphocyte response to irradiation in healthy and tumour lymphocytes is distinguished. Irradiation at doses 0.05-10.0 Gy on tumour patients lymphocytes markers does not influence expression. In healthy donors' lymphocytes the expression of markers is changed considerably, the reaction depends on the marker type: expression of CD69 marker decreases (tendency); expression of Ki67 decreases too; it is unusual that the expression of CD95 changes--it decreases after irradiation at the doses of 0.05-1.0 Gy, then increases with dose. So this work shows the changes in tumour patients' blood lymphocytes in comparison with healthy donors' lymphocytes. The possible mechanisms of the observed phenomenon are discussed.

The quantitative method of determining the level of expression of immunoglobulin light chains on uncompensated data was suggested and used to examine disorders in light chain expression in various B-cell tumors. The average level of expression of the lambda isotype was 4 times higher than the level of expression of kappa isotype. The level of surface and cytoplasmic expression of LC IG varied within wide limits for different people, but there was a high degree of correlation between the levels of expression of kappa and lambda isotypes LC IG as well as between expression of the surface and cytoplasmic forms of each in isotype the same individual. In the majority of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas correlation between the expression of LC IG on the surface and in the cytoplasm of the cells was diminished. Expression of LC IG in CLL was significantly reduced on the surface of the cells and to a lesser extent--in the cytoplasm. In the case of marginal zone cell lymphoma, LC IG expression level was reduced on the surface of circulating cells and to a lesser extent--in the cytoplasm. In the case of mantle cell lymphoma and DLBCL, expression level of LC IG on the cell surface and in the cytoplasm was the same as in normal B-cells. However, in some cases DLBCL, no LC IG was expressed both on the surface and in the cytoplasm.