Cellular and molecular basis of malignant and cardiovascular diseases-clinical implications

Cancer and cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in Serbia. Molecular biomedical approach to these diseases profoundly deepens the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of their origin and points to new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in clinical practice.Oxidative stress is a key pathogenetic factor for these diseases, so the project deals with antioxidant (AO) status and mechanisms of AO regulation in patients with breast and endometrial cancer; in gastrointestinal diseases, in nonmalignant and malignant diseases of the urinary tract (including the Balkans endemic nephropathy (BEN); in acute coronary syndrome.We shall study:-activity and expression of AO enzymes, lipid peroxidation and GSH concentration;-NRf2 transcription factor, which has special significance for the constitutive and inducible expression of AO enzyme as a central regulator of oxidative stress, impairment in expression of adhesion molecules, apoptosis and cell cycle proteins.Assuming that study will show an increased oxidative stress and impaired cell regulation, the results need to clarify the role of "up" and "down" regulation of AO enzymes in the development and progression of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, which will have implications for the identification of new markers of these diseases. These results will enable the improvement of medical approaches by development of diagnostic procedures, new therapies and preventive strategies.