Introduction. Ovarian cancer (OC) is the third most common gynecological cancer with the worst prognosis and highest mortality rate. The progression of OC can be accompanied by the detrimental functions of the components of the tumor microenvironment, including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs).The purpose of the study to analyze distribution and morphological phenotype of TAMs in tumor tissue of patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC).Material and methods. Formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue sections were obtained from ovarian cancer patients after tumor resection. The protein expression of general macrophage marker CD68 and M2-like markers CD206, CD163 and stabilin-1, belonging to scavenger receptors, was analysed by immunohistochemical staining in tumor tissue. Histological assessment of TAM distribution was performed by pathologist. Immunofluorescent analysis/confocal microscopy was applied to establish the co-expression of CD68 with the main macrophage scavenger receptors.Results. We were able to find giant CD 68-positive macrophages with foamy cytoplasm in ovarian tumor tissue. The accumulation of these tams was specific only for patients with advanced stage (IIIC and IV stages). The presence of foamlike tams had a statistical tendency to be associated with ovarian cancer progression, including metastasis and recurrence. The distribution of stabilin-1-positive macrophages was matched to CD68 expression in almost all cases, as was shown by IHC. Confocal microscopy confirmed that stabilin-1 was expressed in at least 50 % of giant tams. If analysis of tumor samples also demonstrated co-expression of other scavenger receptors, CD163 and CD36, in foam-like cells. Similar to IHC, in most samples the expression of CD206 in tams of foam-like morphology was limited.Conclusion. For the first time we demonstrated the accumulation of giant macrophages with fluffy foam cytoplasm in the tumor tissue of treated patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Such macrophages express diverse scavenger receptors (stabilin-1, CD163, CD 36), thus indicating a high clearance activity of giant TAMs.

Background. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) of the small bowel are rare and slow-growing tumors arising from intraepithelial endocrine cells that synthesize serotonin. Diagnosis of these tumors poses a signifcant challenge because they are often not diagnosed until an advanced stage, since the tumor may be asymptomatic or accompanied by non-specifc gastrointestinal complaints. Approximately 40 % of patients develop carcinoid syndrome due to hormonal activity of NETs. Surgery is the mainstay treatment of locoregional small bowel NETs. The fve-year survival rate of patients is about 85 %, with a median rate of 9.3 years. Case description. The female patient complained of facial redness and, to a lesser extent, redness of the skin of the trunk, accompanied by a feeling of heat, severe headache, lacrimation, and general feeling of weakness. The patient unsuccessfully received symptomatic treatment prescribed by various specialists (gynecologist, therapist, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, etc.) for 14 years. Based on the comprehensive examination, NET of the small bowel was diagnosed. The patient underwent radical surgery (pT2N1M0, stage IIIB, G2), but taking into account the unfavorable prognostic factors (metastases in the mesenteric lymph node, presence of carcinoid syndrome, elevated biochemical markers, Ki67 level = 6 %, presence of somatostatin receptors of 2 and 5 types in 60 % of tumor cells), the patient was further treated with somatostatin analogues. Conclusion. When small bowel NETs are suspected, especially with the evidence of carcinoid syndrome, every effort should be made to confrm the diagnosis using a combination of anatomical and functional tumor imaging with biochemical markers.

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Background. Currently, in the study of prostate cancer, much attention is given to specific molecular patterns reflecting the biological potential of the tumor. Of most interest is analysis of the proteins of chimeric genes in a tumor. Aim of study is analysis of peculiarities of ERG and PBOV1 proteins expression in tumor cells and correlation of them with the prognostic parameters of the disease in patients. Materials and Methods. The group of study consisted of 85 patients diagnosed with prostatic carcinoma (stage II-III of the disease, T1-3N1-2M0), after radical prostatectomy. No specific preoperative treatment was given. Histological examination was conducted using a standard method, and immunohistochemical one – with use of an automatic stainer. Morphological characteristics of the tumor, of distant regional lymph nodes and of seminal vesicles were evaluated. Correlation between the histological and expression parameters of tumor and occurrence of distant metastases was studied. Results. Correlation was found between parameters of expression of the studied proteins with such variant of tumor progression as hematogenic metastasis. A higher percentage of expression of ERG and PBOV1markers in cells of prostate carcinoma correlates with a lower degree of tumor differentiation and with a poor prognosis for the course of the disease. Conclusion. The results of the conducted research demonstrate significance of ERG and PBOV1 proteins as additional prognostic factors in patients with prostate carcinoma, and probably may be used for evaluation of prognosis of the disease in selection of the management tactics for the given category of patients.