With an account of the literature data that platinum drugs react with many cellular targets, including ATP and proteins, the authors suggested that disturbance of the function of energy-dependent ABC-transporters (markers of multidrug resistance, MDR) under the effect of platinum drugs could be a cause of increased efficacy of MDR agents (agents, MDR to which is developed by the classical mechanism) when used in combination with platinum drugs even in the treatment of multidrug resistant lung cancer. The cisplatin and carboplatin effect on accumulation of MDR doxorubicin in cells of non-small cell cancer was studied by flow cytometry with the use of biopsy specimens. The MDR phenotype of the tumors was determined by a change in doxorubicin intracellular accumulation under the action of the ABC-transporter(s)' inhibitors: verapamil and genistein (specific inhibitors of Pgp and MRP respectively) and sodium azide (an inhibitor of all energy-dependent ABC-transporters). The MDR phenotypes, i.e. Pgp-MRP+ or Pgp+MRP+, were detected in all the tumors investigated. Two types of changes in doxorubicin intracellular accumulation under the action of the inhibitors and the platinum drugs were shown: (a) an increase in doxorubicin cytoplasmic accumulation and (b) a change in subcellular distribution of the anthracycline (increased accumulation of doxorubicin in the cell nucleus and its higher binding to DNA). Cisplatin and carboplatin had an inhibitory effect on ABC-transporter(s) in all the tumors investigated but the effect of carboplatin was less pronounced. It was concluded that cisplatin and carboplatin stimulation of doxorubicin intracellular accumulation, as well as a change in subcellular distribution of the anthracycline under the action of the platinum drugs (increased doxorubicin accumulation in the cell nucleus) in multidrug resistant lung tumors could be at least partly explained by inhibition of the MDR transporter(s)' function. The results could provide a basis for the use of the sequential combination cisplatin (or carboplatin)-->doxorubicin in the treatment of multidrug resistant lung cancer.

Data on the influence of a new antitumor preparation chlofiden on the general contents of rat liver ribosomes and sarcoma 45 and their division on free and membrane of membrane bound and decrease of free ribosomes during tumor growth supposed synthesis of specific proteins bound are given in the paper. It was shown that in the liver of tumor bearing rats total and membrane bound ribosomes decreased and the level of free ribosomes increased. High contents of free ribosomes in sarcoma 45 may testify increase of intracellular protein synthesis including processes of cell growth and division as well as the tendency for increase. Chlofiden normalized total contents, increased free and decreased liver membrane bound ribosomes contents, during tumor growth supposed synthesis of specific proteins. Increase of free ribosomes and decrease of their specific radioactivity in sarcoma 45 testified membrane damage by chlofiden and inhibition of intracellular protein synthesis which are essential in cell division.

The delivery of "suicide" herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase gene (tk) into tumor cells, followed by treatment with synthetic nucleotide analogues (gancyclovir, acyclovir), is a perspective approach to cancer therapy. Serious limitations in employment of the existing means of gene delivery into target cells constitute the main obstacle for cancer gene therapy development. In the present work a possibility to use a nonviral gene delivery system is shown based on the employment of lysine rich peptide K8 and amphipathic peptide JTS-1 for transferring tk gene into human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Cationic peptide K8 forms compact complexes with plasmid DNA, and JTS-1 acts as a pH-dependent endosomal releasing agent. Transfection of HepG2 cells by tk expression vector coupled with K8/JTS-1 peptides, followed by acyclovir administration (50-100 micrograms/ml) for 24 h leads to cell cycle arrest in the G1/S checkpoint of some cells, which eventually die through apoptosis. Treatment of HepG2 cells with higher acyclovir concentration (200 micrograms/ml) additionally results in a nonspecific toxic effect. The above results demonstrate the efficacy of K8/JTS-1 delivery system for the "suicide" cancer gene therapy, and may be regarded as a basis for further elaboration of "suicide" cancer approaches in vivo.

Study of the influence of the antitumor preparation chlofiden on RNA synthesis by sarcoma 45 and liver cells was carried out using 14C-orotic acid. Chlofiden was shown to activate RNA transport from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and to reduce label incorporation into the nuclear and cytoplasmic RNA. Chlofiden increased the rate of RNA processes, which promoted some increase of label incorporation into low molecular RNA fraction of the nucleus and the cytoplasm. High and stable antitumor activity of chlofiden on sarcoma 45 was established.

The activities of three cytochrome P450 families involved in metabolic transformation of cyclophosphamide (CP) (CYP2B and CYP2C responsible for metabolic activation of CP and CYP3A responsible for inactivation of CP) have been investigated in lymphosarcoma and liver microsomes of tumor-bearing CBA mice. Two strains of mouse lymphosarcoma distinguished by their sensitivity to cytostatic action of CP were used in this study for implantation in mice femur muscle. There was certain relationship between CP resistance of lymphosarcoma and tumor P450s activity. CYP2B, CYP2C and CYP3A activities in the CP sensitive tumor were comparable to those in liver, and CYP2B, CYP2C were induced by phenobarbital and dexamethasone. CYP2B and CYP2C in the CP resistant tumor were inactive and only slightly induced by dexamethasone. CYP3A activity was lower than in LS tumor and unchanged during drug treatment. Implantation of LS and RLS tumor in mice caused different effects on P450 activities. LS insignificantly influenced liver CYP2B, CYP2C and CYP3A activities and their inducibility by phenobarbital and dexamethasone was similar to that obtained in liver of mice without tumor. At the same time, CYP2B and CYP2C activity in liver of RLS-bearing mice were essentially reduced, the activity CYP3A remained unchanged, and inducibility of CYP2B, CYP2C and CYP3A by phenobarbital and dexamethasone was similar to that in liver of mice without tumor. These results prove the role of cytochromes P450 activating CP in formation drug resistant phenotype of mice lymphosarcoma and suggest possibility of overcoming of this resistance using cytochrome P450 inducers.

Data on a new marker of multidrug resistance from the group of ABC-transporters--BCRP (breast cancer resistance protein) and in particular the data on the general characteristics of BCRP, spectrum of substrates for this transporter, data on the role of BCRP in human organism, pathways of inhibiting BCRP-dependent transport by pharmacological agents are presented. The data on BCRP expression in human normal tissues and tumor cells are considered in detail. Possible reasons of results inconsistency in evaluation of BCRP expression in different tumors and prognostic significance of BCRP in prediction of sensitivity to chemotherapy and aggressiveness of disease process are discussed.

The progeny of SK-UT-1B cells that survived gamma-irradiation with 4 Gy up to the 80th passage was examined. Descendants of irradiated cells lost p53 transactivation properties. Simultaneously, in the presence of nocodazole coordination between M and S phases was disrupted. Meanwhile, descendants of irradiated cells maintained the accurate spindle assembly checkpoint. These data suggest that p53 transactivation function may be required for coordination of M and S phases, rather than for spindle assembly checkpoint. Since it is known that p53 regulates both these processes on the basis of data obtained, we suggest that functions of p53 required for coordination of M and S-phases and for spindle assembly checkpoint are separated. Besides, the data obtained indicate that radiation-induced chromosomal rearrangements are associated with activation of DNA recombination process.

To evaluate efficacy and tolerance of glivek in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in patients who failed interferon-alpha (If-a) preparations.

The study results show that changes in electrophysiological indices of the vision organ in patients with mammary gland cancer and lymphogranulamatosis, who are receiving a standard antitumoral chemotherapy, are related with a toxic action of chemotherapeutic preparations produced on the functional condition of the vision-and-nerve apparatus and, in particular, on the photoreceptors as well as on the internal nuclear retinal layer. It was recommended, for the sake of improving the life quality of oncology patients, to evaluate, on the basis of electrophysiological indices, changes occurring in the vision organ in the process of treatment of the main disease and to correlate the treatment scheme to the obtained data.

Reviewed above is chemical composition of garlic and its biological Hypolipidemic, antioxidative, antibacterial and antitumorogenic properties of preparations were elucidated in experimental, clinical and epidemiological observations. It has been concluded that garlic are useful for prevention and combined treatment of most chronical diseases.

The effects of dicarbamine (r) and polytransretinoic acid (PTRA) on human melanoma MEL-6 transplanted into Balb/c nude female mice have been compared by histological and electron microscopic procedures. It was discovered that long-term administration of 1.5 mg/kg dicarbamine caused melanoma MEL-6 cells to undergo terminal differentiation. As a result, the number of melanosome-containing cells was 3-4 times and the number of melanosomes in them--5 times those in intact controls. Dicarbamine effect was double that of PTRA.

Translocation of cytomedins into the cell is determined by their interaction with cellular membranes. The investigation concerned membrane-associated free-radical reactions in the formed elements of blood incubated with epithalamin. The antioxidative effect of epithalamin on such elements as red blood cells and lymphocytes sampled from breast cancer patients manifested itself as enhanced activity of antioxidative enzymes and elevated concentrations of fat-soluble antioxidative vitamins in the membranes. These changes are likely to be brought about by the intensification of their regeneration from the oxidized forms. It is suggested that the stimulating effect of epithalamin on immunocompetent cells is due to its modulating influence on free-radical reactions. This effect gives epithalamin significant advantage over many immunotropic drugs and makes a case for its large-scale application for immunological rehabilitation of cancer patients.

Results of the study on the influence of new antitumor preparations chlofiden and bifolar on sarcoma 45 DNA synthesis and on mitotic activity are given. It was shown that bifolar and chlofiden led to inhibition of label incorporation into DNA (3H-thymidine). Inhibition of mitotic activity after injection of both preparations in toxic doses (DL50) was revealed. During injection of the bifolar functional character of changes was established that is mitotic activity of the preparation during injection was restored.

The in vitro effect of sanazole (AK-2123; N-(2'-methoxyethyl)-2-[3"-nitro-1"-triazolyl]acetamide) and metronidazole (1-beta-hydroxyethyl-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole) on phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated and spontaneous (without stimulation by PMA) production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by peritoneal and splenic murine macrophages was studied. ROS production was analyzed using fluorescent probe 2',7'-dichlorofluoresceine diacetate (DCFH-DA). An increase in the spontaneous production of ROS by macrophagal cells with therapeutic concentration of sanazole (0.6-1.25 mM) in the incubation medium was observed. At these concentrations metronidazole had no effect on spontaneous production of ROS by macrophagal cells. PMA-stimulated ROS production was inhibited by high concentrations (2.5-10 mM) of sanazole and metronidazole. The spontaneous generation of ROS by peritoneal macrophages was stimulated by sanazole at all tested concentrations (0.6-10 mM).

Combined action of a low intensive physical factor and a chemotherapeutic agent in ultralow doses against Lewis lung carcinoma was studied. Antitumor activity of low intensiwe electromagnetic field was expressed as inhibition of tumor growth at 60% compare to control. Ultra low doses of doxorubicin as well as its standard dose resulted in inhibition of tumor growth by 60-70% in comparison with control. Joint action of both factors leaded to increasing in the antitumor effect that reached such level of tumor growth inhibition as 85% relative to control.