The increase in cancer cases is undoubtedly affecting the development of new therapeutic approaches. Polymeric nanoparticles are of great interest. Due to their relatively small size, the possibility of incorporating into them medicinal substances and the ease with which their physicochemical properties may be manipulated, they are being used as anticancer drug delivery systems. The aim of this review is to focus on the use of nanoscale polymeric particles in the treatment of colorectal cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and glioblastoma multiforme, and to consider their potential use in cancer gene therapy. According to several reports, the use of polymer nanoparticles as drug carriers is promising in solid tumors. With their application, it is possible to precisely deliver medicinal substances to the tumor structure, to overcome the blood–brain barrier in the case of brain tumors, to reduce the side effects of anticancer agents on normal cells and to achieve a therapeutic effect with a lower drug dose. Additionally, a number of reports indicate that they can also be used in combination with other methods of cancer treatment, mainly radiotherapy.

Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is a specialized structure essential for proper vision, which is constantly exposed to oxidative damage. With aging, this damage accumulates within the RPE cells, causing various diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Numerous antioxidant substances are used to prevent this process in humans, including lutein. This study aims to determine the differences in the expression patterns of pyroptosis genes in senescent human retinal pigment epithelial cell line ARPE-19 exposed to lutein. Changes in the expression of pyroptosis-related genes were assessed by oligonucleotide microarrays, and the results were validated by real-time RT-qPCR. The microarray analysis showed seven transcripts were differentially expressed both in the H2O2-treated cells versus the controls and in the lutein/H2O2-treated cells compared to the H2O2-treated cells (FC > 2.0). Depending on the used lutein, H2O2, or co-treatment of ARPE-19 cells, statistically significant differences in the expression of TXNIP, CXCL8, BAX, and CASP1 genes were confirmed by the RT-qPCR (p < 0.05). A STRING database analysis showed that the proteins encoded by the analyzed genes form a strong interaction network (p < 0.001). These data indicate that lutein modulates the expression level of pyroptosis-related genes, which may be useful for the development of new methods preventing pyroptosis pathway activation in the future.

Genes associated with the TGFβ isoforms are involved in a number of different cancers, and their effect on the progression of brain tumors is also being discussed. Using an oligonucleotide microarray method, we assessed differences in expression patterns of genes in astrocytic brain tumor sections from 43 patients at different stages of disease. Quantitative mRNA assessment of the three TGFβ isoforms was also performed by real-time RT-qPCR. Oligonucleotide microarray data were analyzed using the PL-Grid Infrastructure. The microarray analysis showed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) increase in TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 expression in G3/G4 stage relative to G2, whereas real-time RT-qPCR validation confirmed this change only for the TGFβ2 isoform (p < 0.05). The oligonucleotide microarray method allowed the identification of 16 differential genes associated with TGFβ isoforms. Analysis of the STRING database showed that the proteins encoded by the analyzed genes form a strong interaction network (p < 0.001), and a significant number of proteins are involved in carcinogenesis. Differences in expression patterns of transcripts associated with TGFβ isoforms confirm that they play a role in astrocytic brain tumor transformation. Quantitative assessment of TGFβ2 mRNA may be a valuable method to complement the diagnostic process in the future.

Introduction. The Cervical Cancer (CC) Prevention Programme includes 3 phases: basic (Pap smear collection), diagnostic (Pap smear evaluation) and in-depth (colposcopy/biopsy in case of abnormal smear test findings). The Programme service providers are subject to an external audit and this publication's objective is to analyse its results from 2016 and the first half of 2017. Materials and methods. The audit of the Programme performance in the period 01.01.2016-30.06.2017 was carried out by external auditors by way of personal visits to the offices of the service providers and by way of direct data retrieval. The audit covered 12% (198) of the basic phase, 100% (66) of the diagnostic phase and 100% (62) of the in-depth phase facilities. The Polish National Health Fund (NHF) did not make available the routinely collected data for the purpose of audit. Audit data collected in the developed protocols were analysed. Results. The number of Pap smears (2,028,988) and the number of colposcopies (13,636) outside the Programme was, respectively, more than two and three times higher than in the Programme (cytology-801,640, colposcopy-3929). The performance of the procedures (Programme vs outside the Programme) was highly variable depending on the provider. The percentage of Pap smears unsuitable for evaluation did not differ significantly between gynaecologists and midwives. All audited cytological laboratories carried out rescreening of samples. Biopsy was not performed in 11% (2016) and 15% (2017) of colposcopy laboratories. Inaccuracies were found in 19% (61) of the audit protocols. Discussion. Significantly higher number of procedures performed outside the Programme results from lower renumeration of procedures within the Programme. Variable provider's preferences in the mode of procedures execution indicates that with the use of appropriate organisational solutions it would be possible to reduce opportunistic screening, which is of unknown quality. The quality of Pap smear sample collection in the case of gynaecologists and midwives is the same, but the number of primary care provider (PCP) facilities where midwives collect smears is very limited. The inaccuracies noted in the audit protocols indicate that the lack of access to data collected by the National Health Fund decreased the quality of the audit carried out and the reliability of the data obtained. Conclusions. Restoring full access to data collected by the NHF is crucial for the Programme audit quality. Measures should be implemented to reduce opportunistic screening and shift the stream of tests to the Programme (both at the basic and at the in-depth phase), and to increase the availability of tests in PCP facilities through training for midwives.