A comprehensive assessment of potential hazard caused by organic compounds in biochar for agricultural use.

Great attention has been paid to using biochar as soil conditioner and bio-accumulator. Nevertheless, biochar application in agriculture might cause a potential hazard to ecosystems, considering that toxic organic pollutants present in biochar may enter the environment. European Biochar Certificate (EBC) set certain criteria for biochar production. Achieving the EBC established values of the molar ratio of H/Corg <0.7 and O/Corg <0.4, does not ensure that biochar will not cause phytotoxicity. The results of root growth inhibition of Sinapis alba were in the range of 9% (eucalyptus wood biochar) to 82% (maize biochar). Phytotoxicity of biochar was possibly caused by the presence of water-soluble organic compounds. In total, 62 organic compounds were identified in the leachate from noncertified biochar and 35 organic compounds in the leachate from certified biochar. Biochar safety, in terms of the presence of organic compounds, can be recognised by the evaluation of the ratio of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC). Biochar with the highest phytotoxicity showed the ratio between OC/EC > 0.1, inhibition of Sinapis alba <30% was observed with OC/EC < 0.02. To achieve Sinapis alba inhibition <20%, these parameters should be met: volatile matter (VM) <30%; concentration of OC < 4%; aromaticity ratio AL/AR < 0.35.

[The role of PET in the diagnosis and prediction of the treatment response in patients with cervical carcinoma treated with radiotherapy--results of pilot study]. / Význam PET v diagnostice a predikci lécebné odpovedi karcinomu cervixu u pacientek lécených radioterapií--výsledky pilotní studie.

BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography (PET) is used to distinguish between benign and malign tumours, to diagnose relapse or post-therapeutic changes and recentlyto predict treatment response. PET is also a complementary method to determine target volumes in radiotherapy. Using the PET in routine oncology practice can change disease management and improve treatment outcomes of cancer patients. We performed a pilot study to validate the role of PET in staging and in radiotherapy treatment planning of cervical carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between March 2005 and May 2007, 51 patients with cervical carcinoma were treated with combination of external beam radiotherapy and HDR brachytherapy, with or without concomitant cisplatin. The lymphatic nodes treatment field size was determined by PET/CT fusion. Treatment results were evaluated by PET 3 and 9 months after completion of radiotherapy. RESULTS: The difference in the results of PET and CT was evaluated in this study. In 32 cases (62.75%) the results of initial PET and CT were identical, in 14 cases (27.45%) the nodal involvement was more extensive according to PET, in 5 cases (9.8%) the nodal involvement was more extensive according to CT. Comparing the results of PET done before and 3 months after the treatment, we found stable disease in 3 cases (5.88%), progression of disease in 4 cases (7.84%), partial regression in 3 cases (5.88 %) and in 35 cases (68.63 %) both PET scans were negative. There should not occur any false positive results caused by inflammatory reaction persisting 3 months after radiotherapy, as was confirmed by repeating PET 9 months after the treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirmed the important role of PET in diagnosis and treatment of cervical carcinoma and for determination of target volumes in radiotherapy. The predictive value of PET has not yet been validated in our study. PET was integrated into the standard staging of cervical carcinoma in Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute.

[Therapeutic approaches for breast carcinoma]. / Lécebné postupy u karcinomu prsu.

With increasing incidence of breast cancer its prevalence also increases. Improvement of therapeutic approaches recently introduced led to improved treatment outcomes. The introduction of taxanes into the adjuvant treatment prolongs the overall survival (OS) of the patients. Third generation of aromatase inhibitors appear better than tamoxifen in the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women. New anticancer drugs in combination with bevacizumab and trastuzumab have brought new possibilities in treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer: their use apparently increases the rate of treatment response and overall survival.

[Immediate breast reconstruction and radiotherapy]. / Okamzitá rekonstrukce prsu a radioterapie.

Immediate breast reconstruction has become widespread in breast cancer patients since the eighties of the last century. Now the criteria for adjuvant chest wall radiotherapy are changing as the problem of interference between reconstruction and radiotherapy appears. The irradiation of a reconstructed breast increases complication rate and worsens long-term cosmetic results. If radiotherapy is needed, it should be given regardless of reconstruction and delayed, instead immediate, breast reconstruction is preferable. However, the necessity of radiotherapy is rather difficult to predict before surgery as the criteria arise from the definitive histopathologic examination. Consequently, the former reconstruction enthusiasm has been moderated. Oncologists should be familiar with immediate reconstruction issues in order to provide their patients with realistic information and not hinder reduction of negative esthetic side effects of oncological treatment. A survey of the most important literature concerning this issue is presented in the article.

[Gene expression profiling in prediction of tumor response to neoadjuvant concomitant chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal carcinoma: pilot study]. / Vyuzitie profilov génovej expresie k stanoveniu odpovedi k neoadjuvantnej konkomitantnej chemorádioterapii u pacientov s karcinómom rekta: pilotná stúdia.

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant concomitant chemoradiotherapy has become a standard treatment of locally advanced rectal adenocarcinomas (LARA). It can reduce tumor volume, thus increases a feasibility of sphincter-sparing surgery, shows less acute toxicity, improves local control rate. It is based on fluoropyrimidines (5-fluorouracil, capecitabine) with concurrent radiotherapy. The aim of the study was to evaluate the capability of gene expression method to identify nonresponders (NR) pretherapeutically. METHODS AND RESULTS: 17 patients with LARA, clinical stage II, III according to IUCC were enrolled into our pilot study. Response to therapy was determined clinically by transrectal ultrasonography and CT/MRI before and after therapy and histopathologically by TRG (tumor regression grade) according to Mandard. Patients with TRG 1-2 were included to responders group (R) and patients with TRG 4-5 composed NR group. Gene expression levels of 440 genes were obtained by low-density oligonucleotide microarrays. Gene expression data analysis based on SAM (Significance Analysis of Microarrays) and t-test methods identified 8 genes (RB1, RBBP4, HYOUI, JUNB, MDM4, CANX, MMP2, TCF7L2) significantly upregulated in NR. CONCLUSIONS: Validation of identified changes on the mRNA level (Real-Time PCR) and on protein level (immunohistochemistry) is ongoing. We suggest that low-density oligonucleotide microarray technology could contribute to individualize the therapy of patients with LARA.

[The impact of PET in radiotherapy of the cervical carcinoma--results of pilot study]. / Význam PET v radioterapii karcinomu delozního hrdla--výsledky pilotní studie.

OBJECTIVE: Positron emission tomography (PET) is a complementary method to determine target volumes in radiotherapy. Daily using of PET in the oncology praxis can change treatment strategy and improve its outcome. Results of this pilot study show the role of PET in staging of cervical carcinoma and in the radiotherapeutic planning. METHODS: Between March 2005 and May 2007, 51 patients with cervical carcinoma were treated with combination of external beam radiotherapy and HDR brachytherapy, with or without concomitant cisplatin. The lymphatic nodes treatment field size was determined by PET/CT fusion. RESULTS: The difference in the results of PET and CT was evaluated in this study. In 32 cases (62.75%) the results of PET and CT were identical, in 14 cases (27.45%) the nodal involvement was more extensive according to PET, in 5 cases (9.8%) the nodal involvement was more extensive according to CT. PET results 3 months after treatment were as follows: in 3 cases (5.88%) stable disease, in 35 cases (68.63%) negative, in 4 cases (7.84%), progression of disease, in 3 cases (5.88%) partial regression. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirmed the important role of PET in diagnosis and treatment of cervical carcinoma and in determination of target volumes in radiotherapy. PET was found to be a standard staging examination of cervical carcinoma in Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute.

The impact of PET with 18FDG in radiotherapy treatment planning and in the prediction in patients with cervix carcinoma: results of pilot study.

Positron emission tomography (PET) is used to distinguish between benign and malign tumors, to diagnose relapse or post-therapeutic changes. Lately, PET is used to predict the treatment response. and also a complementary method to determine target volumes in radiotherapy. Daily using of PET in the oncology praxis can change treatment strategy and improve its outcome. Results of this pilot study show the role of PET with 8-F-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)FDG) for staging of cervical carcinoma and in the radiotherapeutic planning. Between March 2005 and May 2007, 51 patients with cervical carcinoma were treated with combination of external beam radiotherapy and HDR brachytherapy, with or without concomitant cisplatin. The lymphatic nodes treatment field size was determined by PET/CT fusion. Treatment results were evaluated by PET 3 and 9 months after treatment. The differences in the results of PET and CT were evaluated in this study. In 32 cases (62.75%) the results of PET and CT were identical, in 14 cases (27.45%) the nodal involvement was more extensive according to PET, in 5 cases (9.8%) the nodal involvement was more extensive according to CT. PET results 3 months after treatment were as follows: in 3 cases (5.88%) stable disease, in 35 cases (68.63 %) negative, in 4 cases (7.84%), progression of disease, in 3 cases (5.88 %) partial regression. There were no false positive results caused by inflammatory reaction persisting 3 months after radiotherapy, as was confirmed by repeating PET 9 months after treatment. The results of this study confirmed the important role of PET in diagnosis and treatment of cervical carcinoma and in determination of target volumes in radiotherapy. PET was found to be a standard staging examination of cervical carcinoma in Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute. The predictive value of PET has not yet been validated.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids of marine origin induce adiponectin in mice fed a high-fat diet.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Diets rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), protect against insulin resistance and obesity in rodents and increase insulin sensitivity in healthy humans. We tested whether the anti-diabetic effects of EPA and DHA involve enhanced production of the endogenous insulin sensitiser, adiponectin. METHODS: We studied the effects, in an obesity-promoting high-fat diet, of partial replacement of vegetable oils by EPA/DHA concentrate (6% EPA, 51% DHA) over a 5-week period in adult male C57BL/6J mice that either had free access to food or had their food intake restricted by 30%. At the end of the treatment, systemic markers of lipid and glucose metabolism and full-length adiponectin and leptin were measured. Adiponectin (Adipoq) and leptin (Lep) gene expression in dorsolumbar and epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) and isolated adipocytes was quantified and adipokine production from WAT explants evaluated. RESULTS: In mice with free access to food, plasma triacylglycerols, NEFA, and insulin levels were lower in the presence of EPA/DHA, while glucose and leptin levels were not significantly altered. Food restriction decreased plasma triacylglycerols, glucose, insulin and leptin, but not adiponectin. EPA/DHA increased plasma adiponectin levels, independent of food intake, reflecting the stimulation of Adipoq expression in adipocytes and the release of adiponectin from WAT, particularly from epididymal fat. Expression of Lep and the release of leptin from WAT, while being extremely sensitive to caloric restriction, was unaltered by EPA/DHA. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Intake of diets rich in EPA and DHA leads to elevated systemic concentrations of adiponectin, largely independent of food intake or adiposity and explain, to some extent, their anti-diabetic effects.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids of marine origin upregulate mitochondrial biogenesis and induce beta-oxidation in white fat.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces adipose tissue mass, preferentially in the abdomen. The more pronounced effect of marine-derived eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids on adiposity, compared with their precursor alpha-linolenic acid, may be mediated by changes in gene expression and metabolism in white fat. METHODS: The effects of EPA/DHA concentrate (6% EPA, 51% DHA) admixed to form two types of high-fat diet were studied in C57BL/6J mice. Oligonucleotide microarrays, cDNA PCR subtraction and quantitative real-time RT-PCR were used to characterise gene expression. Mitochondrial proteins were quantified using immunoblots. Fatty acid oxidation and synthesis were measured in adipose tissue fragments. RESULTS: Expression screens revealed upregulation of genes for mitochondrial proteins, predominantly in epididymal fat when EPA/DHA concentrate was admixed to a semisynthetic high-fat diet rich in alpha-linolenic acid. This was associated with a three-fold stimulation of the expression of genes encoding regulatory factors for mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative metabolism (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha [Ppargc1a, also known as Pgc1alpha] and nuclear respiratory factor-1 [Nrf1] respectively). Expression of genes for carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A and fatty acid oxidation was increased in epididymal but not subcutaneous fat. In the former depot, lipogenesis was depressed. Similar changes in adipose gene expression were detected after replacement of as little as 15% of lipids in the composite high-fat diet with EPA/DHA concentrate, while the development of obesity was reduced. The expression of Ppargc1a and Nrf1 was also stimulated by n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in 3T3-L1 cells. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The anti-adipogenic effect of EPA/DHA may involve a metabolic switch in adipocytes that includes enhancement of beta-oxidation and upregulation of mitochondrial biogenesis.

Pilot study of sole conformal peroperative interstitial brachyradiotherapy of early stage breast carcinoma using high-dose rate afterloading.

In this study of high-dose-rate brachyradiotherapy to the lumpectomy site as the sole radiation are documented a three-dimensional treatment planning and preliminary results of accelerated partial- breast irradiation. From March 2002 to July 2004 25 patients were prospectively included in this study. Six patients were excluded becuase of definitive histology of lobular carcinoma or positive margin. The median age was 63.2 years (range: 44-77 years). Median follow-up of all patients is 11 months (range: 3-25 months) with a minimum follow-up of 3 months. Radiation was delivered using the high-dose-rate remote afterloader VariSource with [192]Ir source. The patients received radiation twice a day at least 6 hours apart for a total of 10 fractions over five days with a single dose of 3.4 Gy. The total dose was 34.0 Gy prescribed as a minimum peripheral dose to match or minimally exceed the volume defined by the surgical clips as seen on CT scans. Freehand technique allows conformal placement of the catheters to the shape of the lumpectomy cavity. We use the method of geometric optimalisation which allows the calculations of dose distribution in relation to target. At a median follow-up of 11 months none of patients developed in-field breast recurrences, one patient had out-of-field recurrences. There were no regional nodal recurrences. At each patient, there was calculated target volume size in cm3 (median 91.3 cm3) dose volume histogram (DVH), dose homogenity index (DHI). Median DHI was 0.42. Median volume of breast tissue getting 100% of the prescription dose, V(100), is 87%; and V(150) 48.5%. We have noticed two treatment complications: hematoma and abscess in the place of tumorous bed after exstirpation. At last follow-up, patients rated the overall cosmetic outcome excellent. This method is suitable just for patients with histologically confirmed small tumors (<3 cm in diameter) without negative prognostic factors for local recurrence (age at least 40 years, negative surgical margins, nodal involvement - maximum three positive nodes without extracapsular extension).

[Adjuvant radiotherapy in the therapy of uterine cancer in the first clinical stage]. / Adjuvantní radioterapie v lécbe karcinomu delozního tela 1. klinického stadia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to find the influence of the postoperative radiotherapy on local control and overall survival in patients with carcinoma of the uterus. Endometrial carcinoma is the most frequent gynecologic malignity. Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy are used in the treatment of this disease. The optimal cure strategy has not been established yet. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Department of Radiation Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno. METHODS: We followed up 246 patients with the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma. All patients were in clinical stage 1. Median of the age was 60 years. Every patient underwent radical hysterectomy and adnexectomy. Most of them had adjuvant radiotherapy. Combined radiotherapy was used (external beam radiotherapy and brachyradiotherapy). Some of patients underwent only external beam radiotherapy, other had only brachytherapy. We used Kaplan-Meier survival function and methods of Statistica. RESULTS: The median of the follow up was 8.3 years. Local recurrence was proved in 16 cases. The time to the local relapse was 3.2 years. Dissemination occurred in 12 patients. The time to the progression was 5.9 years. Five-year DFS was 80.9%, five-year overall survival was 82.9%. Patients, who had risk factors, were proved to suffer from worse overall survival. The adjuvant radiotherapy improved the local, and the distant control in the group of patients with risk factors. CONCLUSION: The influence of the radiotherapy on the local control was proved in many studies, the influence on the overall survival was not statistically significant. Temporally there is the option not to apply adjuvant radiotherapy. Our study shows the important benefit of the adjuvant treatment in cases of endometrial carcinoma and risk factors.

Role of energy charge and AMP-activated protein kinase in adipocytes in the control of body fat stores.

As indicated by in vitro studies, both lipogenesis and lipolysis in adipocytes depend on the cellular ATP levels. Ectopic expression of mitochondrial uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in the white adipose tissue of the aP2-Ucp1 transgenic mice reduced obesity induced by genetic or dietary manipulations. Furthermore, respiratory uncoupling lowered the cellular energy charge in adipocytes, while the synthesis of fatty acids (FA) was inhibited and their oxidation increased. Importantly, the complex metabolic changes triggered by ectopic UCP1 were associated with the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a metabolic master switch, in adipocytes. Effects of several typical treatments that reduce adiposity, such as administration of leptin, beta-adrenoceptor agonists, bezafibrate, dietary n-3 polyunsaturated FA or fasting, can be compared with a phenotype of the aP2-Ucp1 mice. These situations generally lead to the upregulation of mitochondrial UCPs and suppression of the cellular energy charge and FA synthesis in adipocytes. On the other hand, FA oxidation is increased. Moreover, it has been shown that AMPK in adipocytes can be activated by adipocyte-derived hormones leptin and adiponectin, and also by insulin-sensitizes thiazolidinediones. Thus, it is evident that metabolism of adipose tissue itself is important for the control of body fat content and that the cellular energy charge and AMPK are involved in the control of lipid metabolism in adipocytes. The reciprocal link between synthesis and oxidation of FA in adipocytes represents a prospective target for the new treatment strategies aimed at reducing obesity.

[Conservative treatment for the penis carcinoma]. / Konzervativní lécba karcinomu penisu.

No explicit recommendation has been determined in a treatment for the verified squamous cell penis carcinoma till now. The application of ionizing radiation is included in traditional treatment methods for this disease, in addition to surgical operations and chemotherapy cure. It is possible to apply external radiotherapy or brachy-radiotherapy (a moulage or an intersticial application) as well as their combination. In individual cases it is possible to use chemo-radiotherapy. In the case of the localized tumor a curative radiotherapy can be used as it is more save towards this organ. Radiotherapy has its place in the neoadjuvans treatment with the goal to reduce the disease extent. It can be also used as an adjuvans--postoperatively and paliatively. This review is describing principles of the radiotherapy treatment for this disease.

Energy metabolism of adipose tissue--physiological aspects and target in obesity treatment.

Body fat content is controlled, at least in part, by energy charge of adipocytes. In vitro studies indicated that lipogenesis as well as lipolysis depend on cellular ATP levels. Respiratory uncoupling may, through the depression of ATP synthesis, control lipid metabolism of adipose cells. Expression of some uncoupling proteins (UCP2 and UCP5) as well as other protonophoric transporters can be detected in the adipose tissue. Expression of other UCPs (UCP1 and UCP3) can be induced by pharmacological treatments that reduce adiposity. A negative correlation between the accumulation of fat and the expression of UCP2 in adipocytes was also found. Ectopic expression of UCP1 in the white fat of aP2-Ucp1 transgenic mice mitigated obesity induced by genetic or dietary factors. In these mice, changes in lipid metabolism of adipocytes were associated with the depression of intracellular energy charge. Recent data show that AMP-activated protein kinase may be involved in the complex changes elicited by respiratory uncoupling in adipocytes. Changes in energy metabolism of adipose tissue may mediate effects of treatments directed against adiposity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance.

[Concomitant chemoradiotherapy of tumors of the head and neck]. / Konkomitantní chemoradioterapie nádoru hlavy a krku.

Head and neck carcinomas represent a histopathologically variable group of tumors with different location. Treatment strategy is similar for most of them. Surgery followed with radiotherapy or chemotherapy is a standard treatment. Radiotherapy becomes the main treatment modality in locally progressive or inoperable tumors. Prognostic outcome is rather poor. Use of different fractionation radiotherapy schemes combined with chemotherapy is aimed to improve the treatment results. Results of recent metaanalyses have shown that concomitant chemoradiotherapy can improve overall survival of patients with locally progressive or inoperable disease.

[Role of concomitant chemoradiotherapy in the treatment algorithm for rectal carcinoma]. / Postavení konkomitantní chemoradioterapie v lécebném algoritmu u rektálního karcinomu.

The article summarizes practical guidelines for the management of rectal cancer. Colorectal cancer alone accounts for about 100,000 death in Europe and 75,000 in the US each year. The current cornerstones of treatment are surgery, radiotherapy (for rectal cancer only) and chemotherapy. At diagnosis the most important factor predicting treatment outcome is the stage of disease. Patients with rectal carcinoma should be classified according to the stage of the disease, including endorectal ultrasound and biopsy of the lesion. Five years after diagnosis, survival reaches about 50%. For early stage disease, surgery remains the standard treatment, but patients with lymph node-negative T3 or T4 lesions or with any lymph node-positive cancer should receive adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy following the surgery. Pelvic radiation therapy decreases local recurrence; the addition of systemic chemotherapy further enhances local control and improves the survival. In patients with T3 or T4 rectal carcinoma the pre-operative therapy (radiation therapy combined with systemic chemotherapy) has potential advantages, including the decreased tumor, less acute toxicity compared with postoperative therapy, increased radio sensitivity due to more oxygenated cells, and enhanced sphincter preservation.

[Adverse effects of concomitant chemoradiotherapy and their prevention and treatment]. / Nezádoucí úcinky konkomitantn chemoradioterapie a moznosti jejich ovlivnení.

Concomitant chemoradiotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of malignancies. Concomitant chemoradiotherapy improves the local control and overall survival compare to separate treatment modalities. Combined treatment leads to higher toxicity. Most frequent side effects during concomitant chemoradiotherapy are diarrhoea, mucositis, skin reactions and haematologic toxicity. Optimal combination of treatment modalities, fractionation and dosage of radiotherapy, modern planning techniques and use of radioprotective drugs could decrease the treatment toxicity.

Treatment of uterine sarcoma. A survey of 49 patients.

PURPOSE: Surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are employed in the treatment of uterine sarcoma. We claim to evaluate the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of uterine sarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report a retrospective study of 49 patients with uterine sarcoma treated from 1990-1999 at Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute in Brno. All 49 patients had surgery, 19 (38.7%) had adjuvant radiotherapy and 25 (51%) had chemotherapy. Using the FIGO classification: 71.4% had stage I, 6.1% stage II, 16.3%, stage III and 6.1% stage IVa disease. 42.9% of tumors were mixed Müllerian tumors, 34.7% leiomyosarcomas and 22.4% endometrial stromal sarcomas. 12 cases (24.5%) had a local recurrence, 7 (14.3%) had hematogenous dissemination. There was an increased disease free interval (DFI) for patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy (p = 0.005). The DFI was favourably influenced by the stage of the disease. Of 12 patients with a local recurrence only one had postoperative radiotherapy. Radiotherapy had an impact on overall survival (OS). The five-year OS probability was 51.6% without radiotherapy and 88.9% with radiotherapy (p = 0.0066). CONCLUSION: We conclude that postoperative radiotherapy in our series of patients diagnosed with uterine sarcoma has an impact on locoregional and disease-free progression intervals (LRFI, DFI) and overall survival (OS). The most important prognostic factor is the extend of the disease (stage). Stage I patients have a significantly better survival.

[Diagnosis and therapy of pancreatic tumors]. / Komplexní diagnostika a terapie nádoru slinivky brisní.

Pancreatic tumours belong among oncological diseases with a very poor prognosis. The total five-year survival is 1-2%. Surgical resection with a curative intention increases the probability of five-year survival to 10-20%. However only some 10% tumours are diagnosed in the resectable stage. The reason is the low specificity of initial symptoms. Earlier diagnosis and improvement of survival could be promoted by improvement of imaging methods and endoscopic techniques. Improvement of therapeutic results in selected indications can be achieved by adjuvant treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, possibly their combination). Treatment of inoperable stages of the disease is focused in particular on improvement of the quality of the patient's life. Its aim is specially to mitigate pain and reduce the consumption of analgesics, to ensure bile derivation or release the passage through the digestive tract. This can lead also to improvement of the patient's general condition. Despite advances in molecular biology of pancreatic cancer the results of systemic treatment remain unsatisfactory in advanced tumours. Nevertheless therapeutic nihilism must not prevail nowadays. It is necessary to use new findings in diagnosis and therapy. Patients with this disease should be included in clinical trials investigating optimal therapeutic procedures.

[Concomitant radiochemotherapy in rectal tumors]. / Konkomitantní radiochemoterapie nádoru konecníku.

Requirements for improved cancer control led to the testing of the combined-modality therapy for many types of cancer. This review attempts to analyse possibilities of the simultaneous application of both strategies in the treatment of rectal cancer. Postoperative radiochemotherapy has been shown to be effective in rectum carcinomas. Preoperative combined-modality therapy can ensure downstaging (T3, T4). Operation was carried out 4 to 6 weeks after the end of preoperative therapy.