Founded on July 7, 1960. Its basic research areas are:
- studying biology of tumour cell and its microenvironment in molecular and cellular mechanisms of oncogenesis to correct 'tumour – organism' interrelations;
- studying molecular and cellular markers of initiation, promotion and progression to develop methods of early and differential diagnostics of malignant growth;
- determining molecular aspects of pharmacocorrection of oncogenesis and formation of malignant-cell drug resistance, alongside with epigenetic approaches to its modification, with the account being taken of environtment effects;
- studying nanoparticles and nanocopmposites effects on the metabolism of normal and tumour cells; developing approaches to target therapies and sorption detoxication.
R. E. Kavetsky's world-famous concept 'Interrelations of organism and tumour' gave an impetus to numerous science schools at the Institute: 'Cytology of tumor growth' (NAS Acad. V. G. Pinchuk); 'Studies of leukosogenesis mechanisms' (NAS Acad. Z. A. Butenko); 'Human tumor genetics' (Prof. K. P. Ganina); 'Biotherapy. Natural anticancer substances' (NAS Corr. Memb. D. G. Zatula); 'Immunology of malignant growth' (Prof. Yu. A. Umansky). Lately, schools 'Molecular fundamentals and medico-biological problems of pharmacoresistance' (NAS Acad. V. F. Chekhun) and 'Fundamental mechanisms, means and methods of detoxication sorption therapies' (Prof. V. G. Nikolayev) have originated and advanced. Today the Institute is a major center of research into the most relevant problems of experimental pathology, biotechnology and molecular oncology.
Major achievements and developments:
It was discovered that in the formation of cytostatics resistance a special role is played by deregulation of micro-DNA, which controls the expression of reparation genes, transport and aportosis inducers.
The method of photodynamic therapy of tumors was improved, using a second-generation sensitizer; this makes it the most effective among new medical approaches.
Novel enterosorbents were produced on polymethilsiloxan basis. Their physical and chemical properties make them useful support preparations in long chemotherapies.
'Ceruloplasmin' preparation reducing intoxication, maintaining oxygen homeostasis, immune status and hemopoiesis has been developed and employed in combined treatment of cancer patients. It won the 2008 State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology.
Anticancer autovacccine to prevent recurrences and metastases (the Certificate N11/03-3002000) has been developed and registered in Ukraine.
A new method for producing nanocomposite containing ferromagnetic and anticancer preparations in liposomal fractions was worked out; it proved the possibility of applying nanotechnologies in clinical oncology.
Database 'Molecular aspects of clinical oncology' has been constructed on the basis of HTML-files of direct or consecutive access to be used in research and clinical practice.
