Presented article is a review of domestic and foreign literature on the application of radiomodifying drugs with electron-affinic properties (metronidazole and its derivatives) with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of radiation therapy. The mechanism of action and properties of the electron-affinic drugs of is described. Special attention is paid to the creation of a new medicinal form of metronidazole with the hydrogel-based biopolymer and its inclusion in combined treatment of resectable and locally advanced rectal cancer.

Total mesorectal excision is the “golden standard” of surgical treatment for rectal cancer. Development of endoscopic technologies allowed to implement the benefits of minimally invasive surgery in early rectal cancer treatment, decrease morbidity and mortality, improve functional outcome and quality of life. Oncological safety of this method is still a subject for discussion due to lack of lymph node harvest. Endoscopic operations for early rectal cancer are being actively implemented in daily practice, but lack of experience does not allow to include this method in national clinical prac-tice guidelines.

 Analysis of latest trials, comparing treatment schemes including chemotherapy with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies or bevacizumab is presented in this article. The data in these trials is inconsistent, but detailed analysis of FIRE-3 trial allows to distinguish a wild-type RAS patient group that benefits most from chemotherapy with cetuximab or panitumumab as 1st line metastatic colorectal cancer treatment. A final analysis of this patient group in CALGB/SWOG 80 405 trial is pending. The RAS analysis is pivotal for choice of 1st line chemotherapy.

During the last 5 years the prognosis of metastatic colorectal cancer patients improved significantly. This results not only from increased amount of surgery for metastatic disease and use of targeted drugs in first-line treatment, but also from increased number of patients receiving effective second- and third-line chemotherapy. Currently a minimum of 7 treatment groups can be distinguished depending on prior first-line chemo- and targeted therapy. Consequentially we have less evidence-based data to guide the treatment choice for next treatment lines. This article discusses the choice of targeted drugs in combination with second-line chemotherapy.

Aim. Examination of efficacy of the double-lumen “pipe in pipe” drainage set mounted in the cavity of the lesser pelvis by the method developed by the authors for conservative treatment of colorectal anastomotic leak.

Material and methods. Data have been analyzed for 124 patients operated in two surgeries of the base No.2 of the Republican Clinical Onco- logic Dispensary of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tatarstan, whose surgery was completed with formation of colorectal anastomo- sis; aspirating drainage of the cavity of the lesser pelvis was performed with double-lumen drainage of the authors’ design, mounted in the retroperitoneal part of the cavity of the lesser pelvis through a puncture in the anterior abdominal wall. No patient was applied a preventive intestinal stoma.

Results. 4 (3.2 %) out of 124 patients died after surgeries. 21 (16.9 %) patients experienced colorectal anastomotic leak, which was resolved in a conservative manner in all patients.

Conclusion. Our data allow us to speak about the efficacy of this technique of drainage of the cavity of the lesser pelvis in colorectal anastomotic leak.

The aim of this study was to investigate clinical pecuiliarities of ovarian tumors in colon cancer patients and determination of complex diagnostic methods.

Subject and methods. Russian N.N.  Blokhin Cancer Research Center archives were used for retrospective study, patients, who underwent treatment during 1989–2013  were included. Colon cancer patients with ovarian metastases and with synchronous or metachronous tumors were included.

Results. 141 patients were included: 91 patients had colon cancer with ovarian metastases (group 1) and 50 patients had synchronous or metachronous ovarian tumours (group 2). Ovarian tumors were diagnosed during the 1 year in 74 (81.3 %) patients in group 1 and in 23 (46 %) in group 2. Patients in group 2 less frequently had children (9 (18.0 %) vs 5 (5.5 + 2.3 %), р < 0.05), family history of cancer (3 (6 %) vs 16 (17.6 %), р < 0.05) and concomitant diseases. Median CA 125 level in group 1 was 64.96 ng/ml and 180 ng/ml in group 2. Ovarian tumors had solid and cystic structure during US examination in 66 (73 %) patients in group 1 and 31 (62 %) patients in group 2 had solid ovarian tumors on US examination.

Conclusions. The differential diagnostics of primary and metastatic ovarian tumors must include CEA, CA 19–9 and CA 125 serum levels and pelvic US.

Long-term results of conservative squamous-cell rectal cancer treatment (12 cm above anal verge) are presented in the article. Squamous-cell rectal cancer is a rare disease with only 73 cases described in the literature. Patient received a novel chemoradiotherapy scheme. Complete response was achieved and no surgery performed. Patient is disease-free and has good quality of life with 4 years followup.