Vol 6, No 1 (2019)

This review is devoted to modern notions about autoantibodies (AAb) as one of classes of tumor biomarkers. Principles of humoral response by way of autoantibodies to different tumor-associated proteins in the process of malignant tumor progression are considered. During carcinogenesis self-proteins may become overexpressed, mutant, undergo posttranslational modification, localize abnormally, degrade aberrantly, becoming immunogenic and, as a result, be recognized by immune system as allogeneic. Advantages of AAb as biomarkers over its ligands – tumor antigens – are discussed.

The modern concept of therapy for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma including surgical treatment, must take into account the achievements of molecular biology and modern staging principles. A detailed understanding of the molecular genetic (genetic and epigenetic) disorders underlying the pathogenesis of cholangiocarcinoma is important, which will improve the results of surgical treatment and expand the possibilities of personalized (targeted) therapy. Based on new data on cholangiocarcinogenesis, molecular profiling of bile duct tumors may be most appropriate for the selection of treatment in cases refractory to standard therapy. Current potential target therapy targets include endothelial growth factor receptors, fibroblast growth factor, MET tyrosine kinase, PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation. The review considers the molecular-genetic aspects underlying the pathogenesis and modern principles of staging intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

The expected effect of androgen-deprivation therapy is one of the important criteria when choosing therapy in patients with prostate cancer. No less significant factor is the time of its implementation. The study showed that high expression of androgen receptors (AR) in the tumor tissue against the background of low estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression is characteristic of patients in whom the effect of androgen-deprivation therapy was observed for 12 months. A set of parameters has been identified that makes it possible to predict the duration of response to androgen-deprivation therapy in patients with prostate cancer, which include the patient’s age, testosterone level, prostate specific antigen, expression level of AR, ERα. These data allow us to consider these parameters as additional informative markers, to predict not only the expected effect, but also its duration.