Minimal breast cancer. Clinical characteristics and treatment results.

Out of 3718 breast cancer patients treated at Petrov Research Institute of Oncology 262 patients [7%] proved to have minimal (less than 1 cm in diameter) form of breast cancer. Treatment of minimal breast cancer provides favorable end-results (5-year survival 91.2%, 10-year survival--79.5%). Nevertheless, minimal forms of breast cancer are also characterized by the ability to regional (in 28.5% of cases) and distant (in 10.3% of cases) metastatic spread. Organ preserving operations (sectoral resection of one block with axillary-subclavicular fat) are often (18.5%) followed by local-regional recurrences of the disease. Application of adjuvant chemotherapy with Thio-TEPA in patients with minimal breast cancer with regional metastases decreases frequency of recurrences and distant metastases by 17.8%.

Different sensitivity of Zajdela hepatoma mitochondrial ATPase activity to uncouplers in digitonin-treated cells and isolated mitochondria.

Digitonin-treated Zajdela hepatoma cells and rat hepatocytes devoid of almost all cytosol but retaining intact mitochondria were found to represent a suitable system for direct measurement of mitochondrial ATPase activity. The enzyme activity in digitonin-treated Zajdela hepatoma cells in contrast to that of isolated coupled mitochondria was stimulated by uncouplers. No difference in response of mitochondrial ATPase activity to uncouplers in digitonin-treated hepatocytes and isolated liver mitochondria was found. It is concluded that uncoupler-insensitive mitochondrial ATPase activity does not occur in intact in situ tumor mitochondria but is acquired during the isolation of the organelles.

Carcinoembryonic antigen fraction in lung cancer.

Serum levels of a carcinoembryonic antigen fraction were measured in 195 patients with lung diseases by means of a radioimmunoassay technique. Overall sensitivity for lung cancer was 54.6% and specificity was 71.4%, but the carcinoembryonic antigen fraction was more frequently raised among patients with lung adenocarcinoma than in those bearing epidermoid or undifferentiated carcinomas. It is concluded that this radioimmunoassay technique is an useful adjunct in the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma and shows a good correlation with its clinical stage.

T-cell hybrids. IV. One of parental cell lines is dominant in determining membrane characteristics of hybrid cells.

Membrane characteristics of parental thymic lymphoma cells (BW5147, EL-4R) and their hybrids (BH2) derived by PEG-promoted cell fusion were compared. Isoelectric focusing of the cell populations, titration of membrane proton binding groups and quantitative examination of cell-substrate adhesiveness indicated that the BW5147 cells behaved as dominant in determining cell membrane characteristics of the BH2 hybrids.

Infectivity of avian myelocytomatosis virus MC29 in rats.

MC29 virus was tested for the ability to infect rat tissues in vivo. As a virus source the virus-productive chicken cell line PR-2 was used. Adult rats treated with the combination of dietary phenobarbital, 2-acetylaminofluorene and partial hepatectomy were injected with the viral preparation via the mesenteric vein. After a period of four months the presence of the viral genome in rat spleen and liver was detected by cocultivation of these tissues with chicken embryo cells or RAV-49 preinfected chicken cells followed by the inoculation of this material into the chickens. Tumors typical for MC29 virus infection occurred in the inoculated animals in 2-3 months after infection. The results clearly indicate the infectivity of the avian MC29 virus in adult rats.

Inverse correlation between estrogen receptor content and peroxidase activity in human mammary tumors.

Identification and characterization of cytoplasmic estrogen receptor gave a biochemical basis for mammary hormone dependence, nevertheless, hormone receptor determination is not enough to allow us a complete prediction of hormone dependence thus search for new biochemical markers is a goal for experimental oncologists. In the present communication we report an inverse correlation between peroxidase activity in the human breast tumor tissue and the percentage of positive estrogen receptor in a group of 50 patients. Thus preliminary interpretation can be done about the actual role of this enzyme in relation to hormone dependence.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against avian myeloblastosis virus.

Hybridomas were prepared by fusion of mouse myeloma cell line Sp2/0 with lymphocytes from mice immunized with avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV). The specificity of each monoclonal antibody was characterized by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using purified viral core proteins, immunoprecipitation of radioactively labeled virus (35S-methionine-labeled AMV, 125J-labeled AMV) and immunoblotting. One monoclonal antibody (IC11) which is of IgG1 subclass, and two other monoclonal antibodies (IF9 and IB8), both of IgG3 subclass, were directed against the p19 protein of AMV. The remaining eight monoclonal antibodies (most of them of IgM class) did not precipitate viral proteins under the experimental conditions used, except IIG12 hybridoma antibody which irregularly precipitated glycoprotein gp85. Since most of them (seven, including IIG12) gave positive reactions in RIA with antigenically unrelated influenza virus, these monoclonal antibodies were directed against virus components specified by chick cells (host cell antigen).

Energy deprivation of Zajdela hepatoma cells upon in vivo treatment with thiamphenicol.

In vivo inhibition of mitochondrial protein synthesis in Zajdela hepatoma by thiamphenicol accompanied by about 70% decrease in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase activity resulted in a marked inhibition of the tumor growth. Under similar conditions liver regeneration was not appreciably affected. Although the glycolytic capacity of Zajdela hepatoma cells increased after in vivo thiamphenicol treatment, the cellular contents and ratios of adenine nucleotides indicated energy deprivation of the treated cells.

Metastasizing fibrosarcomas in hamsters (BMH) after injection of B77 sarcoma virus transformed mouse cells.

Injection of virogenic mouse cells B77-1026 into newborn Syrian hamsters resulted in arising of progressively growing autochthonous fibrosarcomas. From hamster tumors five stable tumor cell lines (BMH/1--BMH/5) were established in vitro. All cells of the newly established tumor cell lines had hamster karyotype, they were able to grow in soft agar and did not contain rescuable B77 viral genome. BMH tumor cells injected into syngeneic newborn as well as young adult hamsters produced tumors at the site of application and metastasized frequently into viscera. From metastases in different organs further tumor cell lines and single cell clones were established in vitro. All these tumor cell lines and clones exhibited higher metastatic capacity than the parent cell lines.

Differences in the organization and methylation patterns of integrated avian sarcoma proviral DNA sequences in nonpermissive and permissive mammalian cells.

Four types of avian sarcoma virus (ASV)-transformed mammalian cells were analyzed for the presence of ASV-specific sequences in their genome DNA. A great variability in the number of proviral copies and their structure within the DNA of these lines was observed. In all cells tested gag and src sequences were present in a flexible arrangement. The greatest variation was detected within proviral sequences corresponding to pol and env regions. The number of integrated ASV proviral copies do not correlate with the capability of these cells to produce viral particles. Virus-producing (K2S and K12) and virogenic (XC) cells contain in their chromosomal DNA at least one complete proviral genome, whereas proviral sequences in helper-dependent nonvirogenic cells are substantially changed. Provirus expression level does not correlate with the number of integrated virus copies. In the non-virus-producing cells the proviral sequences are hypermethylated.

Cell surface protein and glycoprotein electrophoretic patterns in some human hemopoietic malignancies.

Surface proteins radiolabeled by lactoperoxidase catalyzed radioiodination and/or sialoglycoproteins tritium-labeled by sodium metaperiodate/NaB3H4 technique, obtained from neoplastic cells of more than 50 patients with malignant hemopoietic disease have been analyzed with acrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions (SDS-PAGE). Electrophoretic protein and glycoprotein patterns were essentially similar within the group of examined chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients with major surface glycoproteins gp44 and gp29,35. Glycoprotein gp29,35 corresponds by its electrophoretic mobility to Ia-like (HLA-DR antigen), which was identified on some CLL cells also by immunoprecipitation with a conventional anti-Ia antigen serum and subsequent electrophoretic analysis of immuno-precipitated antigen. Electrophoretic patterns of cell surface proteins and glycoproteins of CLL cells were markedly different from those of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML) cells which possessed a characteristic major cell surface glycoprotein gp95 (with relative molecular weight of 95-105k). This glycoprotein was markedly decreased or absent on examined CLL cells. Electrophoretic glycoprotein patterns revealed variations in the expression of several glycoproteins, as well as in the electrophoretic mobility of major glycoprotein gp95 also within the examined groups, particularly in acute myeloblastic leukemia.

Incidence of childhood tumors in Slovakia.

During the decade 1968-1977 a total of 1488 cases of neoplasms were registered in Slovakia in children aged 0-14 years giving an average annual age-specific rate of 120.7 per million. Tumors prevailed in boys with 131.2 in comparison with girls showing 109.7 incidence rate/10(6). The most common malignancies were leukemias (28.2%), tumors of nervous system (23.9%), lymphomas (14.9%) and Wilm's tumors of kidney (6.7%). The proportion of remaining histologic types was lower. The necessity of the use of standard international classification based on morphology for mutual international comparison of childhood tumors incidence rates as well as for other epidemiological investigations is emphasised.

Histoautoradiographic detection of DNA repair synthesis in mouse liver following dimethylnitrosamine treatment using whole-body application of labeled thymidine.

DNA repair synthesis following dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) treatment in mouse liver was detected in vivo by means of histoautoradiography. This phenomenon was more significant around the acinus center (practically in all hepatocytes) than around the portobiliary space. Besides this also a decrease in semiconservative DNA synthesis was observed. Another finding was an increase of the background over the liver sections in the groups with DMN due to the altered metabolism of tritiated thymidine. This effect responsible for the difficulties encountered with in vivo autoradiographic detection of the repair synthesis was eliminated by prolonging the time between the 3H-thymidine application and sacrificing the animals. Based on this method, it is possible to develop a short-term assay for determining mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of various compounds.

Treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children. Long-term results of two trials.

Eighty-eight children younger than 15 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia were treated with two similar protocols. Both regimens consist of multidrug combinations, with CNS prophylaxis. Sixty-four patients were enrolled on first protocol 0171 with vincristine and prednisone induction therapy. After remission induction patients were randomized on two arms: regimen A which consists of intensive courses of methotrexate with vincristine and prednisone reinductions and administration of cyclophosphamide. Regimen B is similar to regimen A, only courses of methotrexate are alternated with courses of 6-mercaptopurine during consolidation and intensification therapy. In maintenance phase both regimens have daily administration of 6-mercaptopurine and twice weekly administration of methotrexate, with vincristine and prednisone reinductions. The second protocol 0276/A is similar to regimen B of protocol 0171, but L-asparaginase is administered in the end of induction phase and total duration of therapy since induction of complete remission is prolonged from 2.5 to 4 years. Complete remission rate ranged from 92 to 96% in the patients achieving complete remission. In protocol 0171 actuarial proportion of children alive in complete remission for more than 10 years is 60% at present. The actual median survival of all children treated with protocol 0171 is 46+ months and actual median duration of complete remission is 43+ months. There was no significant difference between patients treated with methotrexate alone and those treated with combination of methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine during consolidation and intensification phase. In protocol 0171 the relapse rate was 28% and the death rate in complete remission was 15%. More than 70% of complete responders in protocol 0276 is in continuous complete remission from 2+ to 57+ months, relapse rate is only 4% at present and the death rate in complete remission is 9% in this protocol.

Differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cell lines induced by tumor-promoting phorbol ester (TPA). I. Changes of the morphology, cytochemistry and the surface differentiation antigens analyzed with monoclonal antibodies.

Human myeloid leukemia cell lines ML-1, ML-2, ML-3, promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 and histiocytic lymphoma cell line U-937 were induced to differentiate by 0.5-10 ng/ml (0.8-16 nM) 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). After 48-72 h of induction, changes of the morphology, cytochemistry and of the antigenic phenotype of induced and control cells were studied using a panel of monoclonal antibodies against granulocytic, monocytic, HLA-ABC and HLA-DR antigens in indirect immunofluorescence. Cells of the TPA-treated cultures acquired morphological, cytochemical and antigenic markers of monocytes/macrophages, as surface adherence, alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (alpha-NE) and acid phosphatase activity and the expression of monocytic antigens detected with monoclonal antibodies 63D3, FMC 17, B 44.1, B 52.1 and anti-Mol. During differentiation in vitro induced by TPA, also loss of HLA-DR antigens and diminution of antigen of cell activation were detected with antibodies L 243 and 4F2. The expression of granulocytic antigens was only slightly diminished and the expression of HLA-ABC antigens was not changed by TPA-treatment. There were differences in the percentage of cells induced to differentiate among the lines of different origin and even among the lines ML-1, ML-2 and ML-3, established from a single patient with acute myeloid leukemia. After treatment of cultures with 5 ng/ml TPA for 72 h DNA synthesis was inhibited to 60-80%.

Electrophoretic mobility profiles of mouse leukemias. II. Electrophoresis of thymic lymphoma, myeloid leukemia and reticulum sarcoma cells.

Electrophoretic mobility of cells from 21 primary mouse leukemias was investigated and compared with that of various normal mouse reference cells. Six thymic lymphomas, nine reticulum cell sarcomas, five myeloid leukemias and one stem-cell leukemia were examined. The mean AEM of cells from the group of primary thymic lymphomas (1.13 microns s-1 V-1 cm) was similar to that of reticulum cell sarcomas (1.15 microns s-1 V-1 cm) and significantly lower than that of the myeloid leukemias (1.20 microns s-1 V-1 cm). Since the examined cell suspensions were prepared from leukemic lymph nodes, the analysis was performed to investigate the possible admixture of normal LNC in the cell populations. Electrophoretograms of normal and leukemic lymph nodes were compared and the AEM of cells from leukemic lymph nodes was considered separately for two cell populations, one corresponding in size to normal LNC (6-9 microns in diameter) and the other to leukemic blast cells (10-16 microns in diameter). In the 6-9 microns cell subpopulations from leukemic lymph nodes, electrophoretically slow cells corresponding to B LNC were almost totally depleted (1%); also electrophoretically fast cells with the mean AEM of T LNC were fewer (45-57%) than in normal LNC populations. The leukemic cells 10-16 microns in diameter displayed mean AEM of 1.09 (thymic lymphomas), 1.12 (reticulum cell sarcomas) and 1.21 (myeloid leukemia) micron s-1 V-1 cm. The mean AEM of blast cells from thymic lymphomas and reticulum cell sarcomas was not significantly different; it was similar to that of blast cells prepared from normal mouse thymus (1.09 microns s-1 V-1 cm) on a density gradient. In contrast, the 10-16 microns cell populations from lymph nodes of mice with myeloid leukemias were significantly faster than blast cells from thymic lymphomas and reticulum cell sarcomas.

Influence of excess of retinoid on DMBA carcinogenesis.

This paper reports a study on the influence of excess of vitamin A palmitate on the induction and maintenance of oral tumors. Sixty four weanling Syrian hamsters were divided in four groups and painted three times a week, either with 0.5% DMBA or 15% vitamin A palmitate, singly or in combination. A possible mild immune response evoked by vitamin A palmitate is considered responsible for the delayed induction of the tumors. In all animals exposed to carcinogen + vitamin A the induced tumors were small in size and histologically verified as well differentiated epidermoid carcinomas. In control group with sole vitamin A palmitate application the cheek pouch showed considerably increased keratinization.

Acute phase reactant proteins in differential diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy.

The serum levels of five individual serum proteins, i.e. ceruloplasmin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, orosomucoid, haptoglobin and transferrin, were studied in 55 multiple myeloma (MM) patients, in 34 essential monoclonal gammopathy (EMG) patients, in 14 EMG patients excluded for active inflammatory process and in 14 healthy control subjects. Transferrin--negative acute phase reactant (APR)--was significantly decreased and the remaining proteins under study--positive APR--slightly increased in the EMG group compared with healthy controls. Transferrin and ceruloplasmin levels were significantly different when the MM was compared to the EMG group so that these parameters might be useful in differential diagnosis between both groups. In the MM clinical stage III, the differences are even more significant. In the IgG3 MM the APR levels seem to be more significantly changed than in the IgG1 and IgG2 MM. In EMG patients with active inflammatory process who were excluded ceruloplasmin, alpha 1-antitrypsin, orosomucoid and haptoglobin were significantly increased when compared with the EMG group.

Adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase activities in peripheral blood cells of patients with neoplastic diseases. I. Bronchogenic carcinoma.

By means of sensitive and specific radiochromatographic methods the activities of adenosine deaminase and purine nucleoside phosphorylase in peripheral blood cells of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma were estimated. It has been shown that purine nucleoside phosphorylase activity was two- to three-fold higher in lymphocytes of patients with epidermoid as well as other types of bronchogenic carcinoma in comparison with a group of healthy individuals. Adenosine deaminase activity in lymphocytes was elevated only in the group of patient with nonepidermoid carcinoma. The authors suggest that especially the estimation of purine phosphorylase activity in lymphocytes would be a useful laboratory test in the study of immune responsiveness of patients with bronchogenic carcinoma.

The role of NADP-dependent dehydrogenases in hydroxylation of tyrosine in hamster melanoma.

The activities of NADP-linked dehydrogenases in the cytosol of amelanotic, black melanotic and brown melanotic hamster melanoma are presented. It has been shown that the tyrosine to DOPA hydroxylation is stimulated by the NADPH produced in the reaction catalyzed by either isocitrate dehydrogenase or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The significance of NADPH in the hydroxylation of tyrosine to dopa in hamster melanoma is discussed.

About quantitative criteria of radiation pathomorphism in concentrated preoperative irradiation of rectum cancer.

Two groups of patients were involved in the study. In the first group (22 observations) radiation treatment was applied 4 times every other day with a single focal dose of 6 Gy (the total tumor dose 24-30 Gy, 1400-1600 NSD units, 70-85 TDF units). The period between the beginning of irradiation and surgery was usually 15-20 days. In the second group (12 observations) radiation was applied 4 times with a daily single dose of 5 Gy (total tumor dose 20 Gy, 1140 NSD units, 20 TDF units). Operation was performed 24-48 hours after the completion of radiation treatment. The so-called tumor damage index M +/- m was 36% +/- 4.8% in the first group, and 21% +/- 4.4% in the second group. The mitotic index decreased twice in the first group, and in the second group it dropped to zero. The obtained data demonstrate that in different schemes of radiation dose fractionation morphological changes observed in irradiated rectal adenocarcinomas are far from being similar. For objective evaluation of the changes different quantitative morphological criteria are needed.

CO2 laser for the treatment of invasive vulvar and vaginal cancer.

In a material of 21 patients including 7 primary and 6 recurrent vulvar carcinomas, 5 vaginal carcinomas, 1 urethral carcinoma and 2 preinvasive vulvar carcinomas operation was performed with a CO2-laser scalpel. In 9 radical and 3 partial vulvectomies no primary closing of the wounds was performed. In the remaining primary closing was performed. The operative bleeding and healing process with laser scalpel and electrosurgical scalpel using open wound technique were about the same. The surgical time was longer with the laser technique but the operative specimens were better preserved. Healing of the primary closed wounds were uncomplicated.

The functional role of the carbohydrate in human melanoma associated antigens. I. Antigen-antibody complex formation.

Messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNA) for tumor associated antigens (TAA) were isolated from human melanotic melanoma (HMMC-ShA, HMMC-WJP) and amelanotic melanoma (HMMC-Sr, HMMC-KM) cells. The melanoma cells were cultured in standard Eagle's MEM and in MEM supplemented with tunicamycin (Tu). The mRNAs were translated in vitro using wheat germ system. Using a standard immunodiffusion system, TAA from melanoma cells harvested from standard MEM differed from the TAA obtained from cells harvested from MEM supplemented with Tu, whereas, TAA pretreated with endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase resembled TAA of cells harvested from MEM supplemented with Tu. The translation products synthesized by mRNA of melanotic melanoma cells resembled TAA extracted directly with 3 M KCl from the cells, but differed from TAA isolated directly from the cells or synthesized by mRNA from amelanotic melanoma cells. Therefore, the melanotic melanoma differed from the amelanotic melanoma cells in their genetic expression. The TAA-immunological reactivities are modulated by a post-translation step regulating genetic expression.

Differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cell lines induced by tumor-promoting phorbol ester (TPA). II. Electrophoretic patterns of metabolically- and cell surface radiolabeled proteins and glycoproteins.

Electrophoretic patterns of cell surface proteins and cell surface sialogalactoproteins from human myeloid leukemia cell lines HL-60, ML-1, ML-2 and ML-3 before and after induction of morphological differentiation by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), have been compared. Minor quantitative cell surface protein alterations associated with TPA-induced differentiation have been observed as follows: decrease of a 150-160k glycoprotein on some TPA-induced myeloid cell lines, increase of a 50k glycoprotein and alteration of a 95k glycoprotein associated with the induction of differentiation by TPA. Electrophoretic patterns of 35S-methionine metabolically radiolabeled cell proteins revealed minor but distinct quantitative differences in several proteins, such as increased labeling of 180k, 160k and 130k proteins and decreased expression of 83k, 76k and 63k proteins on TPA-induced HL-60 cells. Two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of 35S-methionine metabolically radiolabeled cell proteins revealed at least 17 proteins more intensively labeled and 13 proteins with decreased intensity of labeling on TPA-induced HL-60 cells compared to uninduced HL-60 cells.

Clinical significance of histologic (Kiel) classification combined with immunologic definition of malignant lymphoma.

An actuarial survival (Kaplan and Meier) and complete remission (CR) rate were studied in 106 patients with malignant lymphoma (ML) in whom the histologic diagnosis (Kiel) was combined with the results of immunologic and cytochemical definition of tumor cells. There were 62 low grade (LG) and 44 high grade (HG) ML. Non-B cell malignancies constituted 42% of LG and 29.5% of HG tumors. Prognosis appeared to be related to the histological grade of malignancy and--only within the HG ML group--to the immunologic characteristics of tumor cells. The probability of 3-year survival of patients with HG B cell malignancies was 42%, with U cell tumors 25% and with T cell ML 11%. CR rate was 42% in B cell and 23% in non B cell HG ML. Immunological typing appears to be especially important in HG ML.

The role of target antigens coded by subregions of the mouse H-2 complex in the nature of growth of sarcoma I tumor allograft.

The nature of the development of tumor grafts of Sarcoma I in allogeneic mice is determined by the immunogenicity of membrane markers of tumor cells coded by the major H-2 system. Minor (non-H-2) systems fail to assert themselves in tumor transplantation. The role of various subregions of the H-2 system may already be followed in normal Sa I recipients: a more striking differentiation is achieved in hosts treated with xenogeneic antilymphocyte serum. Those presenting the strongest barrier were specificities coded by the entire region of the H-2 complex. Of the subregions of the H-2 system studied here, H-2K meant a stronger barrier to tumor growth than the H-2D region. When the tumor antigenic specificities of both H-2K and H-2D regions were extended to include also those of the H-21 regions, tumor growths were for the most part restricted; on the other hand, the inclusion in tumor antigen specificities coded by H-2KAB of the JE region specificities brought about a moderate stimulation in tumor growth. This differences in the fate of tumor allograft may be due to a quantitatively or qualitatively different development of the host's immune response against various tumor antigen specificities coded by subregions of the H-2 system or to a varying ability of the tumor grow across different barriers of the H-2 system.

Isolation of low molecular protein P-9 from nuclei of NK/Ly lymphoma and Guerin carcinoma.

Protein with molecular weight 9000 (protein-9) was found in nuclei of resting cells of NK/Ly lymphoma and Guerin carcinoma by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. Method of preparative isolation P-9 concluding in fractionation of nuclei from phenol extract by acetone at different pH and following electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel was made. Electrophoretically homogeneous preparation of protein P-9 from nuclei of NK/Ly lymphoma and Guerin carcinoma was obtained.

Comparative enhancement of hyperthermia lethality on tumor cells by procaine and lanthanum.

The effects of procaine and lanthanum during hyperthermia of tumor cells were studied by trypan-blue exclusion and by 86Rb release from previously labeled Ehrlich ascites cells. The results indicate that while procaine shows no changes of cell viability and 86Rb outflux, lanthanum alters both parameters in a very significant way.

New arylsulfonylhydrazones of substituted benzaldehydes as anticancer agents.

Nineteen new arylsulfonylhydrazones of substituted benzaldehydes have been prepared. The antineoplastic activity of these compounds has been assessed against murine lymphocytic leukemia P-388 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). The compounds investigated have not reached the criteria of good antitumor activity. However, marginal activity in P-388 system has been exhibited by one of the tested derivatives, while two others have demonstrated mild anticancer activity against EAC.

Three-year results of surgical and combined treatment of lung cancer with a preoperative radiotherapy.

In this paper the analysis of immediate results of clinical material is given which has been accumulated by participants of the joint investigation in some CMEA member countries (Project 3-9.1.1 of the Lung Cancer Program; Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, USSR, Czechoslovakia) with the aim to study the effectiveness of one of the variants of combined treatment of patients with differentiated forms of lung cancer. Combined treatment received 286 patients, 231 patients (control group) were treated surgically. It is concluded that the preoperative radiotherapy using the method of the intense concentrated course does not complicate the operation itself and is not reflected in the nature and frequencies of intraoperative complications. However, in combination with the subsequent surgical intervention, it significantly elevates the number of postoperative complications, particularly of those of purulent nature (bronchial fistula, intrapleural empyema) and also the lethality. The difference between the groups in this respect is particularly significant at State III of the disease. Late results were studied in 379 patients (in 221 of them after a combined treatment and in 158 after surgical treatment). For more than 1, 3 and 5 years survived 76.5, 49.4 and 34.48% (combined treatment) and 77.2, 41.2 and 20.7% (surgery), respectively. The differences between the groups in favor of the combined treatment are due to patients with Stage III planocellular carcinoma.