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Biological drugs mostly differ from classical agents in their molecular mass, complex three-dimensional structure, molecular heterogeneity and imunogenity. Moreover, the most important aspect of these agents is their capability of targeting specific signal molecules, consequently causing no or less damage to the non-targeted tissue. Hence, this fact led to widely accepted belief that biopharmaceutical drugs are among the safest on … Preberite več >>

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is as rare in Slovenia as in other Western countries. Given the etiopathogenetic interdependence of viral infection, neoplastic transformation and host immune response, nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a unique tumor model which can be studied from different perspectives. The complexity of nasopharyngeal anatomy and relationships of the nasopharynx to adjacent tissues has a decisive role in specifying treatment possibilities, … Preberite več >>

Breast cancer is a serious health care problem, since it is the most common type of cancer in women and a leading cause of death from cancer. A diagnostic approach using triple assess­ment of breast cancer has been introduced in many institutions worldwide, including Slovenia. It encompasses clinical examination, mammography and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), which allows the aspiration … Preberite več >>

Oncologists in foreign countries have been gradually abandoning routine check-ups of cancer patients in long-term remission because, even today, there is insufficient evidence of the effect of such check-ups on patients’ survival and quality of life. In order to shed light on their difficulties, 148 patients were surveyed who had been in remission for more than five years after a … Preberite več >>

Cancer of the ovary is the major killer among gynaecologic cancers. Early diagnosis is generally made by chance rather than by making use of refined scientific methods. Early detection of ovarian carcinoma and identification of borderline tumors would help us improve the currently low 5-year survival in these patients. Nonspecific diagnostic procedures are reviewed. Serum CA 125 assay and ultrasound … Preberite več >>

The gastrinoma was first described by the surgeons Zollinger and Ellison in 1955. The basic characteristics of this disease include an endocrine gastrin-secreting tumor of the gastrointestinal tract, gastric hypersecretion and recurrent gastric, duodenal and jejunal ulcers. The author reports on a 49-year-old female patient in whom a duodenal ulcer and two liver tumors, 10 and 6 cm in diameter, … Preberite več >>

The etiology of ovarian cancer is unknown. Some women, however, seem to be at great risk for the development of this serious disease, which is the major killer among gynaecologic malignancies. The tumor most frequently arises from the superficial ovarian epithelium. A variety of histologic types of ovarian cancer can be identified: serous, mucinous, endometrioid, clear-cell, mixed, undifferentiated, unclassified and … Preberite več >>

Breast cancer is treated by various methods depending on whether we have to deal with primary cancer or recurrence, which may be either locoregional or systemic. In the majority of primary breast cancers, a combination treatment including surgery, irradiation and drug therapy is used. Operative treatment of primary cancer can be either breast-preserving, or radical, i. e. consisting of complete … Preberite več >>

The tumor marker CA 125 was detected in the sera of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer using high levels of labeled monoclonal antibodies. The paper lists the tissues in which CA 125 was found both in normal conditions and during tumor degeneration. Body fluids  which normally contain CA 125 levels are presented, as well as various factors responsible for elevated … Preberite več >>

Malignant tumors are the second most common cause of death in children under 15 years, after injuries. While cancer of the epithelial origin is most common in adults, leukemia and embryonal tumors of mesenchymal tissue occur most frequently in children. The fact that the latter respond better to chemotherapy and that the bone marrow of children regenerates mor easily, account … Preberite več >>

Mammography – a method of radiological imaging of the breast is described, giving details on the equipment, technique and technical requirements for mammography proposed by the European Community. Indications and contradictions for the investigation are discussed.… Preberite več >>

The most frequent sign of endometrial cancer is postmenopausal bleeding. In the early can­cer stages, some women show no symptoms of the disease. Clinical examination reveals especially advanced forms of cancer while early forms are revealed by hysteroscopy and curet­tage, which is still the golden standard for diagnosing this disease. Ultrasound allows a fairly reliable evaluation of the affection of … Preberite več >>