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Unlabelled: BACKGRAUND/AIM: Gene p53, or "cell genome keeper", has a preventive effect on the occurrence of genetic aberrations and prevents abnormal expansion of (tumor) cells. In gastric cancer cells in most cases we register high expression of mutated p53 gene, which correlates with prognosis and specific clinical-pathological characteristics of gastric cancer., Methods: Using the imunohistochemical method we determined the level of expression of p53 protein in 62 gastric cancers and 30 precancerous conditions (intestinal metaplasia of the stomach). We analyzed the relationship of the level of p53 expression and clinical pathological characteristics of gastric cancer., Results: Expression of p53 was positive in 42 (67.7%) tumor cases and in 7 (14.3%) cases of intestinal metaplasia. Expression of P53 and stomach cancer were in direct correlation (p = 0.000). Sensitivity for p53 in stomach cancer cases was 67.7% (42/62), and specifility was 76.7% (23/30). Expression of mutated p53 protein was in direct correlation with the invasion of lymph nodes (p = 0.034) and with invasion of blood vessels by carcinoma cells (p = 0.042)., Conclusion: There is a direct correlation between p53 expression and gastric cancer and it indicates the ability of carcinoma cells to invade blood vessels.

Introduction: It has been established that measurement of tumor volume, rather than its diameter, is a better indicator of the depth of tumor invasion and lymph node involvement. The present study evaluates the significance of tumor volume as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer., Material and Methods: This prospective clinical trail included 87 patients with gastric cacncer admitted to Surgery Clinic "Dr. Dragisa Misović" in Belgrade from 1998 to 2003. All patients were evaluated by standard diagnostic procedures, and after that underwent radical surgical treatment. Oncologic-surgical principles recommended by Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer were respected. Tumor volume was determined by measurement of specimens that had been obtained during surgery and by histopathological analysis. These criteria were analyzed and correlated with the lymph node status and clinicopathological factors., Results: Single-factor analysis showed that lymph node metastases correlated with larger tumor diameter, larger tumor volume, depth of tumor invasion, diffuse and low-grade differentiation of the intestinal type of gastric carcinoma. Using a linear correlation coefficient, it was found that there was a highly significant correlation of tumor volume and number of metastatic nodes in groups between lymph nodes r = 0.567; p < 0.0001 in drainage group 1, r = 0.511; p < 0.0001 in drainage group II, r = 0.579; p < 0.0001 in drainage group III. Also, there was highly significant correlation with the total number of metastatic nodes (r = 0.577; p < 0.0001) and significant correlation with the depth of tumor invasion and tumor diameter (p < 0.05). With 97% sensitivity and 88% specificity, "cut off" point was established by determining the tumor volume above which there were metastases into lymph nodes. In this study that volume was 2750 cmm., Conclusion: Tumor volume can be used as a valuable prognostic factor for advanced gastric cancer, and hopefully it will be calculated preoperatively by 3D-EUS volumetric analysis.

Introduction: Radiofrequency ablation is a new invasive procedure that is being increasingly used in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases. Resection as the only potential cure for colorectal liver metastases is limited by the size and the itrahepatic localization of lesions. Radiofrequency ablation may extend the limitations of classic surgery. In this work we analyzed the combination of surgical liver resection and radiofrequency ablation of liver metastases., Material and Methods: This study included 11 patients with colorectal metastases. Colon resection and radiofrequency ablation have been performed in five (5) patients, three (3) patients underwent liver resection and radiofrequency ablation, and in three (3) patients colon resection, liver resection and radiofrequency ablation were performed., Results: In our study group, there were 6 (54.54%) men and 5 (45.45%) women aged 55 to 66 years and 52 to 67 years of age, respectively. During operations, we treated 30 liver metastases, 2.72 metastses per patient. There were from 2 to 4 ablation metastases. The diameter of colorectal metastases was between 11 mm and 44 mm. Most of ablation metastases (12 or 40%) were between 2.1 cm and 3 cm in diameter. Only 10% of ablation metastases were over 40 mm in diameter., Discussion: The majority of patients with metastatic colorectal hepatic tumors are not candidates for surgical resection, due to tumor size, location and multifocality. However, we can treat advanced colorectal cancers and colorectal liver metastases with a combination of liver resection and radiofreqency ablation. In this way we can operate and give a chance to patients with multifocal metastases and metastases with a diametar over 40 mm., Conclusion: A combination of liver resection and radiofrequency ablation in treatment of advanced colorectal cancers with liver metastases is a good treatment modality which increases the number of operabile cases.

Introduction: In the last few years there have been arguments between the Japanese and West European surgeons about benefits of systematic lymphadenectomies in surgery of gastric cancer. In this paper we would like to point out effects of systematic lymphadenectomies on survival of patients with gastric carcinoma., Material and Methods: This investigation included two groups of patients. The first group of 126 patients with gastric carcinoma underwent peritumor lymphadenectomy D1. The second group of 114 patients with gastric carcinoma underwent more radical types of lympadenectomy (D2, D2+, D3). Survival analysis included investigation of the following: 1. depth of tumor invasion, 2. metastatic involvement of the lymph nodes 3. tumor stage, 4. tumor recurrence., Results: Most of examined patients presented with invasion and serosal and subserosal penetration (about 75% in both groups). More than 42% of lymph nodes had metastases and patients with systematic lymphadenctomy had better survival. Patients without subserosal invasion did not have metastatic lymph nodes in II, III, IV drianaged groups. There was no difference in regard to length of survival between the two analyzed group. 5-year survival rate was highest in stage I of gastric carcinoma (86%), but in stage IV 5-year survival rate was only 3.8%. Local recurrence (26%) and lymph node metastases (53%) were common causes of tumor recurrence in group with peritumor lymphadenectomy. In all groups of patients with advanced gastric cancer patients undergoing systematic lymphadenectomy presented with higher survival rate., Discussion: Patients with advanced gastric cancer presented with higher number of metastatic lymph nodes in III and IV drainaged groups. In this stage systematic lympadenectomy played the main role. In the group of early gastric cancer there were no patients with metastatic lymph nodes in drainaged groups., Conclusion: D2 lympahedenectomy is a standard procedure for a great number of patients with gastric carcinoma, with high survival rate. Only in the group of advanced gastric cancer, patients undergoing more radical types of lymphadenectomies (D2+, D3) presented with better survival rates.

Introduction: Formation of lymphatic metastasis is an important prognostic factor in treatment of gastric carcinoma. In this paper we would like to point to the importance of systematic lymphadenectomy in regard to extent of metastatic lymph node involvement in patients with gastric carcinoma., Material and Methods: This investigation included 114 patients with diagnosis of gastric carcinoma undergoing systematic lymphadenectomy. We analyzed metastatic lymph node involvement considering: 1. tumor localization; 2. histopathologic type; 3. depth of tumor invasion; 4. extent of lymph node resection; 5. stage of disease., Results: In the course of this study, 2100 lymph nodes were extracted by systematic lymphadenectomy (18.42 lymph nodes per patient on average). Out of this number, about 27% of lymph nodes were involved with metastasis, and 60% of positive lymph nodes belonged to the first, 25.7% to the second, 10.2% to the third and 3.8% to the fourth drainaged group. The most frequent localization (over 56%) of tumors was the distal third region of stomach. Histopathologically, most common type of carcinoma was intestinal carcinoma, with metastasis in first and second drainage group. A great number of patients have tumors with infiltration of the serosa. Those patients had metastases in lymph nodes in over 42%. Most patients (58%) belonged to IV stage of disease and presented with highest number of involved metastatic lymph nodes in all drainage groups., Discussion: In our patients high metastatic involvement of all four drainage groups of lymph nodes was established. Up to date standard lymphadenectomy (D1) which has been performed increased the length of survival of these patients., Conclusion: By systematic lymphadenectomy we removed a great number of metastatic lymph nodes with beneficial effect on survival of patients with gastric carcinoma.

Find of malignancies in solitary thyroid gland nodes represent an entity in itself in thyroid surgery and endocrinology because of frequency in occurrence and differential diagnosis of thyroid diseases. Similarities in clinical characteristics and differences in the histological structure and development of the disease, request quick and adequate application of all available diagnostic procedures in evaluation of disease. After all clinic methods of examination, surgery includes necessary range of extraction of tissue at benign changes while at malignant changes radical intervention on the gland is suggested and if it is necessary on the surrounding structures of the neck. "Biopsio ex tempore" still represents vital method in histological diagnosis and help in making decision about radically of operative procedure. Because of that, surgery represents at last diagnostic and therapy procedure. Data analysis shows the presence of carcinoma in solitary thyroid gland nodes in 15% of all cases.

Background/Aim. Multimodal approach to locally advanced rectal cancer treatment results in better disease outcome. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy improves disease local control, reduces risk of local recurrence and in the majority of patients with complete or substantial regression of the tumors significantly improves survival rates. According to the literature data, approximately 20% of patients had achieved complete histopathological response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate overall survival in rectal cancer patients treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy and sphincter preserving surgery. Methods. This retrospective study included 191 patients. Patients received preoperative radiation therapy and chemotherapy-chemoradiation therapy (CRT) followed by operation that favorized sphincter preservation with total mesorectal excision (TME) from June 2000 until December 2010. Diagnosis was established according to the following algorithm: patient history, digital rectal examiantion, colonoscopy with biopsy and histopathology verification, and preoperative clinical staging. Patients with tumors located below promontorium were included in the study and patients with metastatic disease and local recurrence were excluded from the study. For tumors located below the promontorium preoperative radiotherapy was used with total dose of 50.4 Gy, divided into daily doses of 1.8 Gy, during 28 days. Chemotherapy followed radiotherapy with 5- fluorouracil and folic acid (Leucovorin®) on days 1, 2, 10, 11, 20 and 21. Six to ten weeks after neoadjuvant therapy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to restage tumors and operation were performed. Results. Of all patients that received preopertive chemoradiation, 163 had radical sphincter preservig surgery and 28 patients had paliative operations. Histopathological examination of the specimens showed that the complete histopathological regression was achieved in 21.4% of the patients, downstaged was found in 63.2% of them and unchanged stage was found in 15.3% of the patients. The five-year survival rate was 63.3% and 50.5 % in the patients with pCR and patients with incomplete histopathological regression, respectively. Survival rates between two groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion. The preoperative chemoradiotherapy is very important in achieving optimal clinical care for patients with locally advanced rectal cancer.

Background/Aim. In the last two decades there has been a significant progress in rectal cancer surgery. Preoperative radiotherapy, the introduction of staplers and largely improved surgical techniques have greatly contributed to better treatment outcomes, primarily by reducing the frequency of early surgical complications and the rate of local recurrence. The aim of this study was to compare operative and postoperative results in the treatment of rectal cancer between the two groups of surgeons – those who are closely engaged in colorectal surgery and those who deal with these issues sporadically. Methods. This retrospective study included 146 patients who had underwent rectal cancer surgery at the Institute of Oncology of Vojvodina in the period from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2010. The patients were divided into two groups, the group N1 of 101 patients operated on by trained colorectal surgeons, and the group N2 of 45 patients operated on by surgeons without training in totalmesorectal excision (TME). Results. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy was received by 49 (33.56%) of the patients. A statistically significant difference between the two groups was noted in the duration of surgery and the need for blood transfusion during surgery. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 3 patients from the group N1 and in 10 patients from the group N2. Seven (4.79%) of the patients developed local recurrence after surgical treatment. There were significant differences in local recurrence rate and anastomotic leakage rate between the compared groups. Conclusion. It is necessary to continue education and training in surgery for rectal cancer to master new technologies and surgical techniques and to improve the results of surgical treatment.