Purpose of the study. To evaluate treatment outcomes in patients with stage III–IV colon cancer residing in the Southern Federal District of the Russian Federation.

Patients and methods. A retrospective analysis was performed of the medical records of 200 patients with stage III–IV colon cancer who underwent treatment and follow-up at the National Medical Research Centre for Oncology between 2019 and 2024. Overall survival (OS) was assessed, as well as its association with sex, disease stage, primary tumor location, KRAS, NRAS, and BRAF mutation status, tumor microsatellite instability (MSI) status, and antitumor treatment strategy.

Results. The median follow-up from the time of presentation to the National Medical Research Centre for Oncology was 1.4 years. The 5‑year OS rate was 31 %, with a median overall survival of 3.4 years. The 5‑year OS rate was significantly associated with disease stage, reaching 46 % in patients with stage III disease and 18 % in those with stage IV disease (p = 0.00005). The presence of KRAS mutations (3‑year OS: 53 % in the wild-type group vs. 28 % in the mutant group), BRAF mutations (42.5 % vs. 18 %, respectively), and MSI status (67 % for MSI tumors vs. 42.5 % for microsatellite-stable [MSS] tumors) significantly influenced survival outcomes. Among patients with stage IV disease, survival was also associated with the type of targeted therapy administered. Improved survival was observed in patients receiving combined inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) compared with VEGF inhibitor-based therapy alone. The 3‑year OS rate was 66 % (median OS, 4.1 years) in the combined EGFR/VEGF inhibition group versus 31 % (median OS, 2.1 years) in the VEGF inhibitor group.

Conclusion. Nearly half of all colon cancer cases (47.6 %) were diagnosed at advanced stages, which are associated with an unfavorable prognosis, particularly in tumors harboring pathogenic mutations and exhibiting a microsatellite-stable phenotype. These findings underscore the importance of genetically and epigenetically guided therapeutic approaches aimed at identifying novel therapeutic targets and developing more effective treatment strategies.

Purpose of the study. To compare the immediate outcomes of robot-assisted and conventional laparoscopic surgery in patients with endometrial cancer and concomitant obesity, with a separate analysis of extreme obesity (BMI ≥50 kg/m²).

Patients and methods. This single-center retrospective comparative study included 343 patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m² who underwent minimally invasive surgery between 2021 and 2025: 162 (47,2 %) underwent conventional laparoscopy and 181 (52,3 %) underwent robot-assisted surgery. The following parameters were analyzed during the study: patient age, anthropometric parameters, degree of obesity, duration and extent of surgery, volume of blood loss, length of postoperative hospital stay, presence of complications, and cases of conversion.

Results. The robot-assisted group had a higher mean BMI (41,4 (30,0–72,9) vs 36,4 (30,0–55,7) kg/m²; p < 0.001) and a higher proportion of patients with extreme obesity (18.2 % vs 4.3 %; p < 0.001). Operative time and postoperative length of stay were lower in the robot-assisted group (110,0 (10–260) vs 121,1 (40–240) min, p = 0.027; 4,4 (2–8) vs 5,2 (1–11) days, p < 0.001. Mean blood loss was higher in the robotic group (89,3 (0–210) vs 66,0 (0–500) mL; p < 0.001), although absolute values remained low. Complication and conversion rates were comparable.

Conclusion. Robot-assisted surgery enabled minimally invasive treatment of patients with a substantially higher BMI and a greater prevalence of extreme obesity while providing shorter operative time and hospital stay without an increase in complications or conversions. The findings indicate the advantages of robot-assisted surgery in patients with endometrial cancer and concomitant obesity.

Purpose of the study. To evaluate the impact of different management strategies for regional nodal metastases on survival in patients with localized oral cavity cancer (cT1–2N0M0), based on data from the population-based cancer registry of Arkhangelsk Oblast and Nenets Autonomous Okrug (PCR AO and NAO) over the period 2010–2024.

Patients and methods. A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted including 204 patients from the Population-Based Cancer Registry of the Arkhangelsk Region and the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. According to the treatment strategy chosen, patients were allocated to four groups: 1) radical surgery of the primary tumor with prophylactic neck lymph node dissection (n = 63); 2) radical surgery of the primary tumor with neck lymph node dissection followed by adjuvant radiation/chemoradiation therapy (n = 38); 3) radiation/chemoradiation therapy as a standalone treatment (n = 69); 4) radical surgery directed to the primary tumor only, without regional lymph node treatment (n = 34). Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method, the log-rank test, and the Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results. The 5‑year cancer-specific survival rate in the overall cohort was 70.8 % (95 % CI, 63.2–77.1 %). After adjustment for stage, age, sex, morphology, place of residence, and calendar period, the surgery group with elective neck dissection demonstrated the most favorable prognosis. Compared with this reference group, omission of regional lymph node treatment was associated with a 2.9‑fold increase in the risk of death (HR = 2.90; 95 % CI, 1.01–8.37; p = 0.049), while definitive radiotherapy as a standalone modality was associated with a 3.24‑fold increase (HR = 3.24; 95 % CI, 1.42–7.38; p = 0.005). The risk in the adjuvant radiotherapy group did not differ significantly from that in the reference group (HR = 1.63; p = 0.276). Stage II disease (HR = 2.72; p = 0.013) and age 50–69 years (HR = 1.99; p = 0.023) were independent adverse prognostic factors.

Conclusion. The results of this population based study demonstrate that radical surgery of the primary tumor combined with prophylactic neck lymph node dissection is the optimal treatment strategy for patients with Stage I–II oral cavity cancer. Omission of regional lymph node treatment or the use of radiation therapy as a standalone method in routine clinical practice are associated with a statistically significant increase in the risk of disease specific mortality.

Purpose of the study. To determine the sex-specific features of the content of steroid hormones and their receptors in mitochondria isolated from tumor tissue and the resection line in patients with rectal cancer (RC), depending on the presence or absence of metastases.

Patients and methods. The study included 48 patients with RC: 24 men and 24 women. In each group, 12 patients had a localized form (stage T2–3N0M0) and 12 had a metastatic form (stage T2–3N1M0). The groups (men/women, with/without metastases) were comparable in age. The median patient age was 66 (range 58–73) years. Mitochondria were isolated from tumor cells and the resection line of the rectum by differential centrifugation. The levels of estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), free estriol (fE3), testosterone (T), progesterone (P4), cortisol, cholesterol, and receptors (ERα, ERβ, RA, RP4) were determined using ELISA kits (Cusabio, China). Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica 10 software.

Results. Opposite sex-dependent changes in the hormonal profile during metastasis were established. In men with metastases, mitochondrial levels of testosterone, cholesterol, and receptors (RA, RP4, ERα) were 1.7–4.5‑fold higher, while free estriol was 1.6‑fold lower. In women, metastases were associated with a 2.5–9.6‑fold decrease in mitochondrial testosterone, ERα, and ERβ levels against a background of a 2.3‑fold increase in free estriol and an 8‑fold increase in cholesterol. In mitochondria from the resection line, the metastatic process partially neutralized the initial sex differences.

Conclusion. In metastatic RC, opposite programs of mitochondrial adaptation are activated in men and women. In women, metastasis is associated with a decrease in androgen and estrogen signaling against a background of high estriol, while in men, it is linked to the enhancement of the androgen pathway and synthetic processes. A partial leveling of sex differences in the steroid profile of the resection line is observed, reflecting a systemic metabolic reprogramming that supports an aggressive tumor phenotype. The study findings suggest that mitochondrial biomarkers may have potential for predicting the development of RC; however, further validation in clinical studies is required.

Purpose of the study. Determination of the acute toxicity of the corynane indole alkaloid isolated from P. hybridus (L.) and the newly synthesized compound curcumoberberine compared with the plant secondary metabolite (PSM) berberine.

Materials and methods. A total of 85 outbred mice weighing 25–30 g were divided into 17 groups of 5 animals each and administered a single intraperitoneal injection of aqueous solutions of berberine and curcumoberberine or corinan dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) at increasing doses. Control groups received physiological saline and DMSO. The mice were observed for 14 days, with signs of intoxication and mortality recorded. Deceased mice were necropsied, and macroscopic and histological examinations of their organs were performed. Toxicometric parameters (LD₅₀, LD₁₆, LD₈₄) were calculated using the Litchfield-Wilcoxon method.

Results. Mice treated with berberine at doses of 35–100 mg/kg died within 1–2 days after administration, showing signs of hypodynamia, dyspnea, and in some cases, convulsions. Necropsy of these animals revealed hyperemia of internal organs, focal hemorrhages in the epicardium, dystrophic changes in cardiomyocytes, focal dystrophy of nephrotic tubules in the kidneys, fatty degeneration of hepatocytes, and focal small areas of atelectasis in the lungs. A berberine dose of 20 mg/kg had no adverse effects on the mice; all survived the 2‑week observation period. Administration of curcumoberberine at doses of 150–200 mg/kg led to animal death within 1–2 days. Mice receiving lower doses survived for 14 days without signs of intoxication. Administration of corinan at the maximum dose used (200 mg/kg) did not cause mortality in any mice. The LD₅₀ was 27.5 mg/kg for berberine and 173.2 mg/kg for curcumoberberine. The LD₅₀ for corinan could not be calculated as all animals survived.

Conclusion. Among the studied PSMs, the indole alkaloid corinan exhibits low acute toxicity following a single intraperitoneal administration. Berberine demonstrates the highest acute toxicity, while curcumoberberine occupies an intermediate position.

Breast cancer (BC) ranks first in cancer incidence and mortality among women, with a trend toward an increasingly younger age at diagnosis. Advances in specialized cancer treatment have improved survival outcomes but are associated with substantial physical and psychological impairments that reduce patients’ quality of life. The clinical and socioeconomic significance of this problem necessitates the development of rehabilitation programs addressing the full spectrum of disabling complications.

Purpose of the study. To consolidate therapeutic and methodological approaches to the rehabilitation of patients with BC aimed at restoring functional status and quality of life following anticancer treatment.

Materials and methods. Russian and international publications indexed in PubMed, eLIBRARY, and CyberLeninka from 2005 to 2026 were analyzed. The results of randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, and current guidelines (ASCO, NCCN, and the Russian Ministry of Health) on the use of physical rehabilitation, physiotherapy, psychological, nutritional, and other interventions in rehabilitation programs for patients with breast cancer were reviewed.

Results. Based on an analysis of international experience and the clinical practice of the Department of Medical Rehabilitation and Restorative Technologies of the A. Tsyb Medical Radiological Research Center, strategic approaches to the rehabilitation of patients with breast cancer were systematized. Multidisciplinary rehabilitation was shown to be highly effective in reducing the risk of persistent complications associated with specialized cancer treatment and accelerating patients’ social reintegration.

Conclusion. The rehabilitation paradigm for breast cancer is based on a multimodal approach combining functional adaptation through physical rehabilitation, advanced physiotherapy, aesthetic medicine, and psychosocial support. The transition to preventive interdisciplinary strategies initiated at the time of diagnosis is essential for restoring patients’ quality of life.

Рак поджелудочной железы (РПЖ) является одним из наиболее агрессивных видов злокачественной патологии. Пятилетняя общая выживаемость при данном заболевании составляет около 6 %, медиана жизни – 13,6 мес. Несмотря на совершенствование хирургических подходов и лекарственной терапии происходит неуклонное снижение уровня пятилетней выживаемости. На сегодняшний день полное излечение может быть достигнуто только радикальным хирургическим удалением опухоли при начальных стадиях заболевания. Вовлечение в процесс критически важных структур брюшной полости существенно осложняет выполнение хирургического вмешательства. В таких случаях неоадъювантная терапия может повысить вероятность достижения резекции R0. С точки зрения типа излучения, используемого в предоперационных условиях, стереотаксическая лучевая терапия тела (SBRT) является альтернативой традиционной фракционированной лучевой терапии. Она обеспечивает удобство, сводя к минимуму длительные перерывы в системной терапии и имеет благоприятный профиль токсичности.

Приведено описание клинического наблюдения пациента, начиная с амбулаторного этапа оказания медицинской помощи до момента контрольного обследования после проведенного комплекса лечения. Продемонстрирован клинический случай эффективного применения стереотаксической лучевой терапии в комбинации с внутриартериальной химиоэмболизацией в комплексе лечения пациента с местнораспространенным РПЖ. Статья представляет ценность для онкологов и радиотерапевтов, поскольку демонстрирует высокую эффективность комплексной терапии местнораспространенного РПЖ.