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The review of literature on the use of tularemia live vaccine in clinical oncology is presented. The results of the investigation of tularemia live vaccine as a non-specific stimulator of natural immune and antitumor resistance of patients with endometrial cancer and inoperable lung cancer and its influence on the immunological status of these patients after immunization, during the process of combined treatment, and on long-term (up to 5 years) follow-up after vaccination are shown. A single immunization with tularemia live vaccine increases the main immunological indices in patients with endometrial cancer and inoperable lung cancer already in 2 to 3 weeks after vaccination and they remain during the whole term of follow-up. Moreover, the vaccine shows not only immunostimulating but immunomodulating effect as well and does not give any serious local or general complications. It is shown that due to these effects immunization of patients with tularemia live vaccine in 15 to 20 days before surgery or chemotherapy is followed by a significantly decreased frequency of postoperative complications and better survival. On the basis of the data obtained the authors recommend to use tularemia live vaccine in the complex treatment of those cancer patients who have deep decrease of immunological reactivity.

In this review we presented the data concerning the influence of tularemia live vaccine (TLV, produced in the USSR and Russia) on mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. The data show that rodents immunized with TLV are resistant to mutagen of any origin (chemical, physical, biological) independently of species (rats, mice, gray hamsters, guinea pigs). Exposure of immunized rodents to carcinogens decreased the incidence of tumors, prolonged the mean latency period of tumor development, and decreased the mean tumor weight. The most pronounced effect was observed when rodents were exposed to mutagens/carcinogens on day 15 after immunization. This universal antimutagenic/anticarcinogenic effect is associated with increased resistance of DNA of immunized rodents to genotoxic action of environmental agents, the influence on the process of metabolic activation of xenobiotics, and increased synthesis of interferon, catalase and superoxide dismutase. The problem of influence of vaccines against dangerous infections on mutagenesis and carcinogenesis is a topical issue because the best way of protection against dangerous infections in case of epidemic or terrorist act is vaccination.

The incidence of leukemia in children aged from 0 to 14 years in Armenia was analyzed for the period from 1991 to 2002. During 12 years the incidence of leukemia was not changed substantially. The crude rate of the incidence of leukemia was comparable with data of many countries. But at the same time a comparatively high male/female incidence ratio was registered, which was also comparable with incidence ratio in some of both developed and developing countries. It may be supposed that the incidence of leukemia in children in Armenia is not connected with parental exposure to chemicals.

Breast cancer (BC) incidence in women in Armenia was analyzed in the period from 1980 to 2000. During 20 years BC incidence was substantially increased along with mortality. The incidence increased up to 73%, and mortality increased up to 143%. Our data suggest that female BC in Armenia is significantly lower than in the most developed and some developing countries, but comparative mortality of patients with BC is much higher than in other countries.

We analyzed the incidence of male breast cancer in Armenia over the period of 20 years (1980-2000). The obtained data showed that, unlike female BC, male BC incidence also varies in Armenia as in most developed and developing countries, but without any regularity. The mean crude rate for the observed period is lower than in developed but comparable with developing countries. The most important peculiarity of male BC in Armenia is young age of patients.

Micronucleus levels in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells of patients with primary breast, lung, cervix uteri cancer, and patients with Hodgkin's disease were studied (n=59). Significantly increased number of micronuclei in cells of cancer patients was observed compared with healthy persons (n=45). The evaluation of micronuclei number in buccal mucosa cells shows genomic instability in somatic cells of humans.

The efficacy of cancer treatment in Armenia was evaluated based on the data of cancer incidence and mortality from 1987 till 2004 and this parameter was compared with the data of some countries (both developing and developed). It has been shown that, unlike in some randomly chosen countries, mentioned parameter substantially decreased in Armenia during 17 years although it was relatively high in 1987. The reason(s) of this substantial decline is(are) unknown. Further more detailed investigations in this area are certainly warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]