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Human lifespan is known to correlate positively with education level. In the present paper, it is explored whether there are significant differences in lifespan among those whose education may be reasonably rated as the highest possible, i.e. among scholars referred to different scientific disciplines. The publications where the lifespans of scholars were estimated against the general population are reviewed, and the estimates are compared with those derived from the Database of Persons Included in Encyclopedias (DBPE), which has been being developed by the authors since 2008 based on Wikipedia records. With all caveats associated with the peculiarities of the procedures of including biographic data in Wikipedia, the estimates derived from the latest version of DBPE correspond to earlier estimates and confirm the conclusions based on other data sources: scholars' mean age at death (MAD) and life expectancy (LE) steadily increased since the Medieval period up to the modern time, were higher than those of the general population, and where the highest among the scientific elite. An unexpected finding was that MAD and LE of economists were usually the highest, whereas those of the mathematicians were lowest compared with specialists in other research fields. The difference between the two extreme cases ranges from ca. 3 to 5 years in different historical periods. Further examination of the difference between the extremes may reveal what factors behind it may be at work generally, even though they manifest themselves less overtly in other cases.

Polymorphisms of neurotransmitter metabolism genes were studied in patients with prostate cancer (PC) characterized by either reduced or extended serum prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSADT) corresponding to unfavorable and favorable disease prognosis respectively. The 'unfavorable prognosis' group (40 cases) was defined by PSADT ≤ 2 months, whereas patients in the 'favorable prognosis' group (67 cases) had PSADT ≥ 30 months. The following gene polymorphisms known to be associated with neuropsychiatric disorders were investigated: a) the STin2 VNTR in the serotonin transporter SLC6A4 gene; b) the 30-bp VNTR in the monoamine oxidase A MAOA gene; c) the Val158Met polymorphism in the catechol-ortho-methyltransferase COMT gene; d) the promoter region C-521T polymorphism and the 48 VNTR in the third exon of the dopamine receptor DRD4 gene. The STin2 12R/10R variant of the SLC6A4 gene (OR = 2.278; 95% CI = 0.953-5.444) and the -521T/T homozygosity of the DRD4 gene (OR = 1.579; 95% CI = 0.663-3.761) tended to be overrepresented in PC patients with unfavorable disease prognosis. These gene variants are regarded as protective against schizophrenia, and the observed trend may be directly related to a reduced PC risk described for schizophrenia patients. These results warrant further investigation of the potential role of neurotransmitter metabolism gene polymorphisms in PC pathogenesis., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright: © 2021 Zharinov et al.)

Background: The antitumor and immunomodulating activities of melatonin are widely known. These activities are based upon the multifactorial mechanism of action on various links of carcinogenesis. In the present paper, the long-term results of the clinical use of melatonin in the combined treatment of patients with prostate cancer of various risk groups were evaluated., Materials and Methods: A retrospective study included 955 patients of various stages of prostate cancer (PCa) who received combined hormone radiation treatment from 2000 to 2019. Comprehensive statistical methods were used to analyze the overall survival rate of PCa patients treated with melatonin in various prognosis groups., Results: The overall survival rate of PCa patients with favorable and intermediate prognoses treated or not treated with melatonin was not statistically significantly different. In the poor prognosis group, the median overall survival in patients taking the drug was 153.5 months versus 64.0 months in patients not using it ( p < 0.0001). The 5-year overall survival rates in the research and control groups were 66.8 ± 1.9 and 53.7 ± 2.6 ( p < 0.0001) respectively. In a multivariate analysis, melatonin administration proved to be an independent prognostic factor and reduced the risk of death of PCa patients by more than twice ( p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: The multicomponent antitumor effect of melatonin is fully realized and clearly demonstrated in treatment of PCa patients with poor prognosis with a set of unfavorable factors of the tumor progression., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

The goal of this paper was to estimate the predictive value of kinetic parameters of tumor growth in 109 prostatic cancer (PCa) patients with the morphologically verified diagnosis. Results: The cell loss factor, calculated on the basis of Ki-67 values, and the PSA doubling time, proved to be an important prognostic parameter. A cumulative comparative analysis of these criteria, depending on the prevalence of the tumor process, indicates that the level of cell loss significantly decreases with increasing tumor stage ( p = 1*10 -5 ), and the growth rate of the tumor significantly increases ( p = 1*10 -6 ). In the multivariate prognostic model, the CLF is an independent predictor of tumor-specific survival along with the stage of PCa. Materials and methods: For each patient of the study group were as follows. The level of Ki-67 expression in biopsies of adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland was estimated. Also, in the selected group of patients, based on the available data on the kinetics of the prostatic specific antigen (PSA), the initial time of doubling of PSA was determined. The obtained values of the actual tumor growth rate and the cell loss factor (CLF) were compared with the parameters characterizing the tumor state (stage, Gleason score, PSA level at diagnosis) and tumor-specific survival rates. Conclusion: Inclusion of proliferative activity factors in nomograms and prognostic models will increase their prognostic value and practical significance. Further prospective studies are needed to analyze the actual growth rate of PCa and evaluate its proliferative activity., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Data on lifespan and some reasons of musicians' death of the XX century are presented in this article. The mean age of death (MAD) in male musicians (n=20 218) was 67,8 years, whereas the MAD in female ones was 71,5 years. «Classic» musicians both men and women lived longer than jazz, pop and variety music performing musicians (6,3 and 9,7 years longer respectively) and much longer then rock musicians (21,7 and 30,7 years longer, respectively). Among classic music interpreters, 10,8% of men and 21,5% of women survived into their 90 years' old; among jazz and variety musicians - 5,4 and 9,2% respectively; rock musicians barely survived to 90 years of age (0,4% in men and women). Male musicians of classic genre (9 100 persons) lived for 3,5 less then female musicians of the same genre (2 339). The MAD of jazz and variety musicians wasn't difference in men (7 974) and women (1 770) and the MAD in female rock musicians (254) was 5,5 years less as compared with male (3 144). Frequency of suicides, deaths by misadventure, murders and malignant tumors was maximum in rock musicians and minimally in «classics». All these events related to the music genre. The data of musicians of the XX century who have reached the age of 101 years old are presented in this article as well.

Despite the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serum level commonly uses as tumor marker in diagnosis of prostate cancer, it seems that PSA doubling time (PSADT) could be more useful indicator of tumor behavior and of prognosis for patients. The results of hormone and radiation therapy were evaluated for 912 prostate cancer having at least 2 PSA tests before the treatment was started. Clustering procedure (selection of homogenous group) was performed by using PSADT as the classification marker. The rate of PSADT was estimated for different dissemination rate, age, Gleasons's score and education level. PSADT index inversely correlated with the rate of prostate cancer dissemination, Gleason's score and the level of education were directly correlated with the age of patients. Survival time was longer and PSADT index was higher in "slow" tumor growing subgroups in local, local-advanced and metastatic prostate cancer patients than these in "fast" subgroups. The study confirmed the prognostic value of pretreatment PSADT in prostate cancer patients independently of cancer progression. No significant relationship exists between the authors and the companies/organizations whose products or services may be referenced in this article., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

The article presents a methodical approach for prediction of life expectancy for people diagnosed with prostate cancer based on the kinetic theory of aging of living systems. The life expectancy is calculated by solving the differential equation for the rate of aging for three different stage of life - «normal» life, life with prostate cancer and life after combination therapy for prostate cancer. The mathematical model of aging for each stage of life has its own parameters identified by the statistical analysis of healthcare data from the Zharinov's databank and Rosstat CDR NES databank. The core of the methodical approach is the statistical correlation between growth rate of the prostate specific antigen level (PSA-level) or the PSA doubling time (PSA DT) before therapy, and lifespan: the higher the PSA DT is, the greater lifespan. The patients were grouped under the «fast PSA DT» and «slow PSA DT» categories. The satisfactory matching between calculations and experiment is shown. The prediction error of group life expectancy is due to the completeness and reliability of the main data source. A detailed monitoring of the basic health indicators throughout the each person life in each analyzed group is required. The absence of this particular information makes it impossible to predict the individual life expectancy.

One of the risk factors for the development of malignant tumors, including prostate cancer, is an individual genetic predisposition due to the various unfavorable polymorphic variants of normal genes. The aim of the study was to com- pare the frequency of different genotypes of polymorphic vari- ants of genes CYPJA2, GSTT, GSTM, GSTP1 (xenobiotics detoxification), XRCC1, XRCC3,(DNA repair) and VDR, AR (transcription factors) in patients with prostate cancer and in control group to determine their association with genetic pre- disposition to this disease. According to the results obtained the rs1544410 AA genotype (VDR gene) and the presence of less than 20 CAG repeats in the 1st exon (AR gene) are the risk factors for the development of prostate cancer. The het- erozygous genotype 722 CT (XRCC3 gene) demonstrated the protective effect.

The article provides information on the mean age of death (MAD) those professionally involved in literary work (22 028 men and women 4 651) assigned to one of three categories: novelists, poets and writers-poets. Women any of the investigated categories authentically lived longer than men (p<0,02). Analysis of dynamics of mean age of death (MAD), starting from the 15th century BC to the end of the 20th century, showed that this ratio gradually increased but uneven among fiction writers and novelists, poets of both sexes, however, remained unchanged at poets and poetesses have declined. Among men the very old (90+ years) were 5,38 % and 3,01 % writers-poets, whereas among women - 12,35 and 8,96 %, respectively. Centenarians have surpassed 1,62 % of women novelists and 0,61 % poets, then among men - 0,31 % and 0,49 % of writers, novelists and poets, respectively. The frequency of violent deaths (homicide, suicide, accidents) is also varied and was highest among poets, novelists, poets have minimum-novelists occupied an intermediate position for these indicators. Histogram of MAD had 2 peakes type, characteristic for heterogeneous populations, with a sample of «writers» heterogeneity was weakly expressed, however in a sample of «poets» was very noticeable. Suggests that MAD, longevity, as well as the frequency of violent deaths are related to processes associated with creativity.

The study included 164 prostate cancer patients with a history of acute or chronic urinary retention. Conservative therapy or transurethral resection of the prostate were carried out to all patients as treatment for urinary retention. There was studied an influence of transurethral resection of the prostate on the survival of patients with prostate cancer and development of radiation complications following radiotherapy. Overall survival of prostate cancer patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate was significantly higher than in patients who had only conservative therapy as a treatment of dysuria. The frequency of radiation complications was lower in patients who had transurethral resection of the prostate prior radiation therapy.

The results of treatment of cancer patients have not undergone any significant changes in recent years. This is due to the fact that opportunities to improve the outcomes by developing radiation therapy equipment and op- timizing the dose delivery are largely exhausted. However, there is a proven, but practically not utilized way--the use of radiomodifiers. This paper presents the experience of more than 25 years of clinical use of radiomodification in the Russian Scientific Center of Radiology and Modern Surgery Technologies. Simplicity, avai- lability, and stability of the results allow considering the use of radiomodification as one of the possible ways to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy.

Current research confirms that the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is not just a protein required for liquefaction of the ejaculate but it plays biological role in the development of prostate cancer. Assessment of the PSA dynamics offers good opportunities for understanding the kinetics of growth of prostate tumors. The most frequently it is performed calculation of PSA doubling time (PSADT), a parameter that requires a logarithmic analysis and takes into account the exponential nature of tumor growth. The review shows modern clinical applications and evaluation of PSADT at all stages of prostate cancer development.

The data on mean age of death of 8,775 musicians (7,371 males and 1,404 females)--composers, conductors, singers, pianists, violinists, etc.) are presented in the paper. Women lived longer than men in any studied categories (p < 0.02). The 3 first places of long-livers among men were belonging to conductors (71.1 yrs., n = 1,435), players on chello (70.0 yrs, n = 260) and on violin (70.0; n = 735). Rock-musicians, and author's song singer lived less than other categories (45.0 yrs, n = 421; 54.0 yrs, n = 428, respectively). Among women leading long-livers were harp-players (80.9 yrs., n = 32), clavesin-players (79.9 yrs, n = 17), and conductors (79.6 yrs., n = 24). The mean age of death in women rock-musicians was 37.7 yrs. (n = 37), in author song's singers--49.6 yrs. (n = 67), in guitarists--54.4 yrs. (n = 9). Relative number of nonagenarians (90+) was much higher among women as compared to men. The values were as 43.75% of harp-players, 29.17% of conductors, 19.50% of violinists among women and nobody from rock-musicians and guitar players survived 90 yrs. In men, 7.30% violinists, 6.62% of conductors and 6.54% of cello-players survived 90+ years. Honors give advantage for survival--"People artists" men-composers survived 8.7 yrs longer than ordinary composers, whereas women-composers with this honor lived 18.1 yrs longer than non awarded composers. Opera singers ,"People artists"-men live longer 5.3 yrs, and women-by 6.6 yrs longer than their no-honored colleagues. For estrada singers these differences were 8.0 yrs for men and 20.1 yrs. for women.

The article presents data on mean age of death of 49 064 representatives of various creative professions: visual artists (painters, sculptors, architects, n = 8 458), musicians (composers, conductors, singers, pianists, violinists, etc. n = 7 883), writers and poets (n = 11 488), scientists (n = 21 235). The mean age of death among writers and poets was significantly (p < 0.001) less than that in visual artists, musicians and scientists whereas scientists lived longer than representatives of other categories (p < 0.001). Women lived longer than men of any studied categories (p < 0.02). It was shown that the mean age of death gradually but irregularly increased since the 1st century A. C. until the 20th century in any professional cohort. Visual artists-men in 20th century lived longer than in previous historical periods (p < 0.001). Scientists both females and males in 20th century lived longer then these in 19th century (p < 0.001). The first five places of long-livers among men belong to Nobel prize winners (78,8 yrs.), academicians (72,7 yrs.) and corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Sciences (71,7 yrs.), conductors (71,1 yrs.) and scientists (71,0 yrs.). Rock-musicians, author's song singer and poets lived less than other categories (43,6; 53,6 and 61,6 yrs. respectively). Among women leading long-livers were conductors (83,2 yrs.), harp-players (80,9 yrs.), academicians of the RAS (80,3 yrs.), clavesin-players (79,1 yrs.) and violinists (78,2 yrs.). Among women, less lived rock-musicians (37,6 yrs.), author's songs singers (51,4), horns and woodwinds instruments players (59,0 yrs.). Relative number of nonagenarians (90+) was much higher among women as compared to men. The values were as 43.75% of harp-players, 33.33% of conductors, 29.17% of architects, 20% of violinists and viola-players and 18.99% sculptors for women, and 16.67% of Nobel prize winners, 12.12% of conductors, 7.51% of academicians, 7.44% of violinists and 7.0% of scientists survived 90+ years among men. Centenarians were 8.33% of academicians and architects, 6.25% of harp-players and 4.22% of writers-poets among women, and only 0.76% of pianists, 0.45% of scientists and 0.42% of violinists were centenarians among men. Our data are in agreement with the opinion that high intellect and education directly correlate with longer life span and longevity.

There was investigated the relationship of lipid metabolism, humoral immunity, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and soluble receptors for TNF-alpha with the presence, severity and prognosis of the disease in 85 patients with morphologically verified diagnosis of prostate cancer. Connection with the dynamics of change in PSA as a major predictor of the disease was observed for concentration sRI and sRII to TNF, PSA baseline, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. During follow-up the relative risk of poor prognosis increased by 3 times, and death-in 8.7 times with increasing concentrations of soluble receptors for TNF. The concentration of soluble receptors for TNF may serve as an additional predictor of the presence and clinical course of disease in patients with prostate cancer.

Today vertebral hemangioma is not completely understood entity, neither its pathogenesis nor optimal treatment is determined. Nowadays in majority of clinics in this country ineffective radiotherapy remains the first-line treatment. We analyzed results of treatment of 205 patients (286 lesions) with aggressive hemangiomas operated in Department of Neurosurgery of Military Medical Academy and Department of Nuclear Medicine of of Russian Scientific Center of Radiological and Surgical Technologies (Saint-Petersburg, Russia) since 1999 till 2009. Percutaneus vertebroplasty was performed in 167 lesions, radiotherapy was applied in 119 aggressive hemangiomas. Vertebroplasty is more effective for treatment of aggressive hemangiomas in comparison with radiotherapy. Signs of hemangiomas aggression, indications for surgery, and tactics of management were determined. Use of percutaneous vertebroplasty for treatment of aggressive hemangiomas resulted in fast recovery of the patients. This procedure is minimally invasive, it reduces hospital stay and duration of recovery.

Unlabelled: Kinetic parameters of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) play a pivotal role in diagnostic and treatment of patients with prostate cancer (PCr). Assessment of PSA doubling time (PSADT) can be used for monitoring of treatment efficacy and predicting the outcomes of disease. The aim of the present paper is to analyze the PSADT in patients with different spread of PCr. Moreover, the initial PSADTs were studied with relation to overall survival. 336 PCr patients were included into the study. PSADT was measured usng two point method. Ill patients had localized PCr (T1-2N0M0), 90--regional-local PCr (T1-2N0M0) and 136 had generalized PCr (T1-4N1-2M1)., Results: Median PSADT in patients with generalized PCr amounted to 2,93 months and was significantly lower as compared to groups of patients with local and regional-local spread of disease--15,2 and 13,2 months respectively. Follow-up results revealed the link between PSADT and survival rates: the lower is PSADT, the worse are survival rates.

The paper discusses the effect of photography with near-infrared photography on survival of patients with prostate cancer (PC) after distant radio- (DRT) and hormonal therapy (January 2000 - June 2007). The control group (n=251) were treated with standard radio- and hormonal therapy alone. Besides, patients of the study group (n=308) received phototherapeutic treatment to prevent radiation-induced injuries of the urinary bladder and rectum. The groups were compared relatively to PC cell differentiation, DRT and hormonal treatment. Survival was evaluated (Caplan-Meyer); log-rank test was used to compare the results. Overall survival in the study group of patients with localized (T1-2N0 M0) and generalized (T1-4N0-1 M1) tumors did not differ from that of controls (p > or = 0.05). In patients with locally advanced tumors (T3-4N0-1 M0, T1-4N1 M0), significant differences in survival between controls and study group were recorded beginning from year 3 of the investigation: 5-year survival rates were 67% and 89%, respectively (p < or = 0.05).

In contrast with a previous work, we suggest that non-proliferating cells remainants in tumor are not depleted throughout its growth. Hence, two scenarios--exponential and logarithmic--are possible. They are essentially in good agreement with experimental data.

The dose-response of unstable chromosome exchanges (UCE) in lymphocytes of 4 cancer patients undergone whole-body fractionated gamma-rays exposure (at the daily dose of 0.115 Gy up to the total dose 1.15 Gy) was compared with corresponding dose-response for lymphocytes of the same patients, irradiated in vitro at the same dose range. In vivo irradiation yielded lower frequency of UCE on the dose unit than in vitro irradiation. It was shown that the in vivo dose-response curve gives more adequate dose estimation than in vitro one. This curve could be used for reconstruction of absorbed dose in the cases of analogous character of in-controlled irradiation of people.

A mathematical model of solid tumor growth is suggested. The external influence from the tumor-bearing organism is described separately for cell growth and apoptosis. The model is an ordinary differential equation which provides for use of a variety of dependences for both processes. A solution for a specific example of the processes is obtained in the form of a generalized logistic curve. Our results give clues for such experimental phenomena as spontaneous cessation of cell growth, dependence of life duration on insignificant variations in apoptosis, etc.

Proliferation parameters such as mitotic index, tumor growth rate and cell loss were identified in 1,048 squamous cervical carcinoma patients treated at the Center's Clinic (1951-1996). Mitotic indices ranged 0.2-5.1% (average 1.13 +/- 0.03%), Ki-67--4.1-97.8% (average 49.97 +/- 3.02%). A direct and significant correlation between the two latter parameters was established. Cell loss levels ranged 59-99.9% (average 97.2 +/- 0.002%). Our results suggest that the correlation between tumor growth rate and cell loss might be of the utmost importance among the other prognostic factors.

The efficacy of multimodality conservative treatment for prostate and bladder cancer and cervical carcinoma was improved due to integration of such modem modalities as intra-arterial chemotherapy, local hyperthermia and hyperglycemia and combination of local and systemic radiomodifiers. Our methods use criteria of actual survival and are intended to raise it.

Cyclooxygenase and particularly COX-2 expression impaired survival in patients operated on for endometrial adenocarcinoma of the uterus: 5-year overall and relapse-free survival in absence of expression was 92% and 88%, respectively, while in cases of distinct expression, it fell down to 52% and 48%, respectively (p = 0.0004; 0.0005). Similar correlations were observed for COX-1, although with lower significance (p = 0.02). Particularly unfavorable prognosis is associated with high expression of combination of COX-2 and COX-1. The end-results of radiotherapy were associated with proliferative levels of squamous cell cervical carcinoma: for Ki-67--below median of < or = 50%, 5-year survival rate was 77%, mean survival--80 months; for Ki-67 above median of > or = 50%, the indices were 47% and 47 months, respectively, (p = 0.002). There were similar correlations for mutated suppressor-gene 53: 67%--for absence of expression and 53%--for its presence (p = 0/03). Immunohistochemical markers COX-2, Ki-67 and p53 can be used as sole prognosticators and their predictive significance is higher than that of either stage (II or III) or cell differentiation grading.

Retrospective immunohistochemical assay of antigen Ki-67 in tumor tissue was carried out prior to and in the course of radiotherapy (TFD - 14-20Gy) in 89 patients with squamous cervical carcinoma. Index of proliferation, i.e. number of Ki-67-positive cells per 1,000 of all cells, was found. Prior to therapy, the index was on the average 49.7%, during irradiation it decreased and its mean value was 24%. There was a correlation between proliferation level tumor progression and the former influenced the immediate effect of radiotherapy. Ki-67 expression in cervical carcinoma exceeded the median. It correlated with unfavorable end-results and was followed by higher relapse incidence. No significant proliferation index difference was reported visa-vis histological pattern, tumor cell differentiation or age. Yet, the drop in proliferative activity during therapy was significant, regardless of outcome. Our results pointed to the high prognostic significance of proliferative activity as far as therapy and outcome were concerned.

Out of 80 patients with squamous cell cervical carcinoma (stage II-III), p53 expression was observed in 30% of tumors prior to treatment and 49% in the course of radiotherapy. A correlation between degree of p53 expression before treatment, on the one hand, and overall and recurrence-free survival, on the other, was identified: high expression of mutated gene-suppressor p53 was 53% while for absence or low expression, it rose to 67% (p=0.03). For overexpression, 20-month survival was 65%; absence--81% (p=0.01). Hence, p53 expression may be used as a predictive factor in radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma. No correlation was found between p53 expression, on the one hand, and such basal clinico-morphological parameters as stage, morphological pattern and tumor cell differentiation, on the other. HER2(3t) overexpression occurred in 2 (2.5%) which seems to point to its insignificant role in squamous cell cervical carcinoma. There was no relationship between c-myc expression and long-term results.

A cooperative study included 643 cervical carcinoma patients (stage II-III). Radiotherapy used such local and systemic radiomodifiers as DMSO-dissolved metronidazole, which inhibited allopurinol DNA reparations, and dipyridamol, an inductor of interferon synthesis. A 13-15% rise in survival matched the results of combined treatment for cervical carcinoma, yet the simplicity of operation, accessibility, high efficiency and stability of results of our modality made it quite competitive in therapy of the disease.

The data are presented on treatment of 131 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. Radiotherapy was received by 57, regional intraarterial chemotherapy (RIAT)--27. Radiotherapy was combined with RIAT and selective hyperglycemia (HG) in 18 cases. Local super high-frequency (SHF) hyperthermia was given additionally to another 29 patients. Radiotherapy alone was followed by primary clinical cure, a 9.6-months relapse-free period and 3-months survival (36.8%), mean survival time being 26 months. In the RIAT group, these indices were 29.6%, 10.8 mos, 51.9% and 36 mos, respectively. Combination of radiotherapy, RIAT and selective HG yielded significantly improved indices: complete response--44.4%, relapse-free period--13.6 mos, 3-year survival--66.7% and mean survival time--43 mos. After addition of SHF hyperthermia, complete response rose to 69.0%, relapse-free period--18.2 mos, 3-year survival--75.8% and mean survival time--61 mos. Joint use of radiotherapy, RIAT, HG and SHF hyperthermia caused more damage to tumor, stimulated complete response and increased 3-year survival and mean survival time.

The paper discusses the methods of complex treatment for invasive bladder cancer which includes radiation therapy, regional intraarterial chemotherapy with cisplatin drugs, selective hyperglycemia and local SHF-hyperthermia. Complete local response was reported in 18 (56%) out of 32 patients with stage II-IV tumors, partial--8 (25%), no response--6 (19%). The method appeared effective and safe; it offers good perspectives in bladder cancer treatment.

On peripheral lymphocytes of 5 cancer patients undergone wholebody therapeutic irradiation (at daily dose of 10 cGy up to total dose 50 cGy of 60Co gamma-rays) the dose response of unstable and stable chromosomal exchanges detected by FISH was compared with the dose response of the some aberrations in lymphocytes irradiated in vitro. The dose response fitted well to linear function. For dicentrics the lower slope of dose-response curve was found for in vivo irradiated lymphocytes as compared to the dose-response curve obtained for in vitro irradiated lymphocytes of the same patients. No difference between in vivo and in vitro irradiation of lymphocytes was found for translocations. The frequency of translocations increased faster with the dose than the frequency of dicentrics only in lymphocytes irradiated in vivo.

A recent theoretical result of Kendal (1998) enabled us to develop a survival model which allows for proliferation of tumor clonogenic cells in the course of fractionated radiotherapy. We explored this model during an analysis of clinical data on survival of 982 patients with cancer of the cervix uteri. The model provided a good description of survival patterns in different groups of patients. The estimated cure probability did not correlate with the rates of cell proliferation between exposures to radiation. Also, our results showed that this parameter cannot be estimated from survival data. Some light has been thrown on the relationship of cell proliferations taking place between exposures, on the one hand, and end-results of treatment for cancer of the cervix uteri, on the other.

On peripheral lymphocytes of eight cancer patients undergone whole-body therapeutic irradiation (at daily dose of 10 cGy up to total dose of 50 cGy of 60Co gamma-rays) the dose-response of unstable chromosome exchanges (dicentrics and centric rings) was studied. This dose response fitted well linear function. The lower slope of dose-response curve was found for in vivo irradiated lymphocytes as compared to the dose response curve obtained for in vitro irradiated lymphocytes of the same patients. This finding seems to provide evidence that in case of protracted irradiation of individuals an absorbed dose could be underestimated if for biological dosimetry an in vitro dose response curve for unstable chromosome aberrations is used as referent one.

An association between the presence of the activated form of Ha-ras-1 and c-myc genes and increased cellular radioresistance has been shown in several cell lines. The aim of this study was to determine whether such an association could be observed in clinical tumour biopsies. We examined 70 tumour specimens and 51 samples of peripheral blood obtained from untreated patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix mainly stage II and III. In addition to initial clinical tumour response to radiotherapy, radiosensitivity was also analysed by the subrenal capsule assay (SRCA). Mutations in exons 1 and 2 of the Ha-ras-1 gene were examined using PCR single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and direct sequencing; and restriction fragment length polymorphism of the Ha-ras-1 gene was analysed using Southern hybridisation. Eight (11%) out of 70 tumours contained mutations in exons 1 and 2 of the Ha-ras-1 gene. Eleven (22%) out of the 51 tumours displayed rearrangements of the Ha-ras-1 gene (six tumours (12%) showed alterations of allele length, one amplification and four (8%) loss of one Ha-ras-1 allele). In addition, 12 (17%) out of 70 patients demonstrated the presence of rare alleles. Only one of the 70 tumours contained an amplified c-myc gene. There was no significant correlation between either rearrangements of the structure of the Ha-ras-1 and/or c-myc genes or presence of rare alleles in tumours and tumour response to radiotherapy.

Transcatheter embolization of the internal iliac arteries because of chronic bleeding from unresectable carcinoma of the uterus was performed in 8 patients aged 36-67. Hemorrhage was brought under control in all cases by application of a spectrum of procedures: bilateral combined, distal and proximal occlusion using autoblood clots, Gelfoam, Ivalon and steel coils although there was one recurrence 5 months after treatment, no bleeding occurred during an 11 month-4 year follow-up. Trancatheter embolization proved effective in the management of chronic bleeding from unresectable carcinoma of the uterus.

A ten year experience gained in radiotherapy with radio modifiers of 480 patients with cancer of the cervix uteri and of 189 ones with endometrial cancer carried out at the Central Research Roentgeno-Radiological Institute of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences is analyzed. Local administration of metromidasole with dimethysulfoxide essentially enhanced the detrimental effect of radiation on the tumor. This is reflected in a higher incidence of local control in radiotherapy of patients with cancer of the cervix and corpus uteri. A reduced incidence and degree of radiation injury to organs adjacent to the uterus was observed.

The local use of MZ solved in DMSO makes it possible to reach high MZ concentrations (by order 6000-8000 mu g/g) in tumor tissue in the absence of a toxic effect of the drug resulting from its small doses. The results of investigation of radiation pathomorphosis show that the local use of MZ solved in DMSO enhances the damaging effect of radiation on a tumor. Some traits revealed in MZ diffusion (a raised concentration at the serous membrane) must undoubtedly lead to increased efficacy of radiation exposure in zones, responsible for local therapeutic failures. It will permit a considerable increase in the efficacy of radiation therapy of patients with cancer of the uterine body.

A procedure for choosing treatment for a cancer patient is suggested. The method was developed on the basis of data of a retrospective analysis of patient characteristics, type and results of treatment. It suggests the use of a computer and is aimed at assessment of a conventional function of survival for each treatment modality, comparison of these functions and choosing optimal therapeutic regimen with regard to patient characteristics. A method for experimental testing of the above procedure that does not require clinical trials is described.