It is prescribed to live
Cancer patients are saved by domestic know-how
Svetlana Belyaeva, "Search"
Statistics show that about half a million Russians are diagnosed with cancer every year. At the same time, mutations in genes are detected in half of the patients, which means that there is a higher risk of disease progression and metastasis formation.
Previously, there was no specific treatment for such patients. But now, thanks to the introduction of the developments of Russian scientists into medical practice, the prognosis looks quite favorable.
Leading oncologists attended the press conference in TASS devoted to the issues of genetic predisposition to oncological diseases and methods for treating cancer taking into account new clinical studies.
Candidate of Medical Sciences, Head of the Center for Innovative Radiological and Regenerative Technologies of the FSBI "NMIC of Radiology" Peter Shegai spoke about mutations that provoke cancer, the causes of their occurrence in DNA and the benefits of molecular genetic diagnostics.
He noted that genetic disorders play a key role in the carcinogenesis and formation of a tumor as a cancerous neoplasm. As a result of the appearance of pathogenic mutations that stimulate the development of tumors, as well as gene oncosuppressors, which should, in theory, protect the body, a malignant transformation of the cell occurs. Peter Shegai recalled that the tumor has a heterogeneous nature. Moreover, in the same organ, tumors can be different at the molecular level. Genetic studies make it possible to identify the molecular features of each tumor, which makes it possible to choose an individual targeted therapy, determine the prognosis of the course of the disease, including the risk of its development in relatives, and take timely measures.
In addition, targeted therapy allows you to form the most "friendly" treatment and rehabilitation strategy for the patient.
Having discovered a mutation in a gene, specialists resort to one of the most advanced methods in the prevention and treatment of cancer – immunogenetic therapy. It means the effect on the immune system with the help of immunogenetic drugs.
Dmitry Yudin, a researcher at the FMBA of Russia, a doctor at the P.A. Herzen Institute of Medical Sciences, stressed the importance of oncoimmunoprophylaxis. This is a whole range of measures aimed at maintaining, prolonging life and creating its decent quality for patients who have received the full range of standard chemoradiotherapy or surgical treatment.
"Our global mission is to make patients know that upon completion of treatment, there is hope that the disease will not return and the former high–quality life will be possible," Dmitry Yudin recalled.
Academician Andrey Reshetnikov, Director of the First Sechenov Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, spoke about the active development of immuno–oncology (or oncoimmunotherapy), whose task is to restore the immunological status and activity of all elements of antitumor immunity.
"The problems of immunity and stress are directly related. And since the XXI century is characterized by the presence of prolonged and chronic stress, this leads to a decrease in general immunity, including anti–oncological," the scientist explained.
Oncoimmunotherapy is based on the use of genetically engineered drugs. Back in the 1990s, a hybrid molecule, a tumor necrosis factor, was invented in the USSR, which activates a person's own antitumor immunity. It is considered the know-how of our country, on its basis, an immunogenetic drug containing tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in combination with immune proteins thymosin and interferon has been developed using genetic engineering methods.
A study was conducted in the Moscow oncorehabilitation clinic to evaluate the effectiveness of this drug. The study involved two groups of patients who completed a course of combined antitumor therapy. The head physician of the clinic, Candidate of medical Sciences Pavel Shabalkin, noted that the drug has a direct antitumor effect, binds to receptors on the surface of a tumor cell, causes the death of vessels feeding the tumor, activates the immune system.
According to Peter Shabalkin, there were three cases of progression in the study group compared to 11 in the control group over two years. It turned out that the drug reduces the risk of progression or recurrence of cancer by more than three times.
According to academician Andrey Reshetnikov, after undergoing immunotherapy, the physical and social activity of cancer patients increases by 20%.
The scientist paid special attention to the issues of improving the quality of life after treatment.
"What is quality of life? Speaking in scientific terms, this is an integral characteristic of the physical, psychological, socio-emotional state of the patient, which is assessed based on his subjective perception. That is, it is the general well–being, the patient's ability to self-serve, maintain physical, social, emotional activity, working capacity and social contacts at all stages of the disease," the academician noted.
Historically, the problem of quality of life has been investigated since 1949. Even then, American scientists raised the question that it was necessary not only to treat the patient, but also to assess his psychological and social status later.
In 2014-2015, a large sociological study of patients who were treated with domestic genetically engineered recombinant drugs TNF-alpha and interferon gamma was conducted. The study revealed a minimal number of side effects that passed almost without a trace.
"There are no complications after these drugs, as after chemotherapy. The patients noted tangible improvements," the scientist stressed.
According to the academician, today people with oncological diseases are offered comprehensive treatment, including continuous examination of the body and therapy with the use of gene drugs.
"Thanks to this approach to treatment, social and physical activity, as well as working capacity in patients increase by a fifth. At the same time, if there is an increase in all indicators from 15 to 40%, the indicator of limited social contacts, on the contrary, decreased by 17%," Andrey Reshetnikov noted.
According to the professor of the Department of Oncology of the Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute named after M.F.Vladimirsky Lali Kogonia, modern methods of gene therapy can be successfully applied even in the treatment of patients with late stages of cancer.
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