The development of new express methods for the analysis of the efficacy of anticancer therapy on the cellular level is highly desirable for the analysis of chemotherapeutic agent performance. In this paper we suggest the use of parameters of cell morphology determined by holographic microscopy and tomography for the effective label free quantitative analysis of cell viability under antitumor chemotherapy and thus of cytostatic agent efficacy. As shown, measured phase shifts and cell morphology change dramatically as a result of chemotherapy and depend strongly on the cell type and agent applied. Experimentally, a comparative analysis of the antitumor efficacy of the two cytostatics, cisplatin and dioxadet, that are commonly used for chemotherapy of disseminated ovarian carcinoma has been performed. The experiments were carried out on the Wistar rat model. An essential difference in the morphology of cells, both normal (erythrocytes) and cancerous, present in ascitic fluid taken from the non-treated group of rats and the groups treated with either dioxadet or cisplatin, has been observed. The results obtained can be interpreted as an indication of the antitumor performance of both cytostatics at the cellular level and as a demonstration of the higher efficacy of therapy with dioxadet as compared to that with cisplatin. Differences in cell morphology are suggested to be applied as quantitative markers of cell viability and cytostatic agent efficacy. The conclusions made are supported by a comparison with the results of recent experiments based on survival rates of laboratory animals treated with these agents.

Dioxadet and cisplatin show similar efficacy in the CIPC route. Compared with CIPC IP chemotherapy by chemoperfusions is more effective for both the drugs. Dioxadet in HIPEC showed highest survival benefit whereas largest effect during NIPEC is achieved with cisplatin.

The purpose of this work was to study changes in the level of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in the blood of young and old rats in the normal state and with induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups—young (3 months), old (20 months), intact, or with testosterone-induced BPH. Groups with BPH were subjected to surgical castration and administration of testosterone esters at a dose of 25 mg/kg for a total of 7 injections for 20 days. In intact animals, the level of cfDNA in old rats (2.00±0.14 ng/μl) was significantly higher than that in the young (1.02±0.30 ng/μl). The body and the prostate weights of old rats were 1.6 and 1.4 times larger than those of the young, without an increase in the prostate index (PI). The testosterone level in the blood of young rats was 1.6 times higher than that of old (6.20±0.93 nmol/l vs. 3.77±0.55 nmol/l; NS). In animals with BPH, the level of cfDNA in old rats (3.14±0.76 ng/μl) was significantly higher than that in young rats (0.80±0.14 ng/μl). The body and the prostate weights in old rats were 1.8 and 2.3 times larger, than those in young rats, with an increase in the PI. The level of testosterone in the blood of young (15.76±0.51 nmol/l) and old (16.99±1.1 nmol/l) rats was not significantly different. Morphological signs of BPH were observed in the prostate of both young and old rats. During the induction of BPH in the experiment, according to the level of cfDNA, cell death processes have not changed significantly in young rats but significantly increased in old rats. A similar trend was observed in the group of intact animals. The obtained data indicate that apoptosis processes are enhanced during the development of BPH despite the growth of tissues in the prostate itself.

Aims: The aim of the experiments was to find out the factors on which age-related sensitivity to the occurrence of BPH depends. Methods: 45 male Wistar rats aged 3 and 24 months were used. In each age group there were intact rats and animals with induced BPH (by surgical castration + testosterone injections, 25 mg/kg x 7). On the 36th day of the experiment, blood was taken from rats to determine serum testosterone, cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose; then the animals were autopsied, their prostates were weighed, and their morphology was studied. Results: Young mature intact rats had much higher testosterone levels (6.2±0.93 nmol/l) than old intact (3.8±0.55 nmol/l), while the ratio of prostate weight was inverse. The weight of the prostate and prostatic index in old rats with induced BPH was significantly higher not only in comparison with the old intact rats but also with young animals after BPH induction. Morphologically, the inflammatory foci were determined not only in the prostates of old rats, which induced BPH, but also in intact animals. Besides in old intact rats, the foci of prostate hyperplasia were often noted. Conclusions: Our experimental model indicates the important role of non-bacterial prostatitis in the pathogenesis of BPH. No metabolic disorders in BPH induction were revealed. The sensitivity of the prostate of old rats to BPH development is increasing despite the low concentrations of testosterone in the body. Age sensitivity to BPH is probably determined by a higher expression of androgen receptors in old animals.