October is traditionally considered breast cancer awareness month. This is the most common malignant tumor among women. The effectiveness of breast cancer treatment depends on the stage at which the disease is detected. So, if breast cancer is detected on the I stage, it is possible to cure the disease in 95% of women, on the II stage — in 80%, on the III stage — it is only possible to treat this form of cancer in half of the patients. Therefore, self-examination and regular preventive examinations (USG, mammography) are extremely important for the early diagnosis of breast cancer.
Risk factors for breast cancer are age, genetics (complicated family history), absence of pregnancy, late first pregnancy, early menstruation, radiation exposure, obesity, harmful habits (alcohol abuse).
In the fight against breast cancer, the development of cell biology can help. The novel methods of treatment of breast cancer include chemotherapy aimed at destroying cancer stem cells, as well as the application of cells as carriers of chemotherapy directly to the malignant clone. In metastatic breast cancer, the same method of treatment is experimentally used as in the case of leukemia – high-dose chemotherapy with transplantation of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells. The latter can be obtained from bone marrow, peripheral or umbilical cord blood.
First transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells in breast cancer was described in 1996. Transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells, according to scientists, in case of breast cancer, should not only restore the immunity of patients destroyed by high-dose chemotherapy, but also achieve the effect of “transplant against cancer”. Among other innovative methods of treating breast cancer, immunotherapy using genetically modified T-lymphocytes is also being developed. Umbilical cord blood can serve as a source for obtaining CAR-T cells.
In Ukraine, the Institute of Cell Therapy joins international initiatives in the prevention of breast cancer, urging all women to undergo prophylactic examinations. Institute of Cell Therapy Cryobank from 2003 р. in accordance with international standards, provides the opportunity to preserve umbilical cord blood, umbilical cord, and placenta collected during childbirth. From perinatal tissues innovative cell preparations are made for wide application in medical practice.
