Synergy between dendritic cell-based vaccine and anti-CD137 monoclonal antibody in the treatment of mouse renal cell carcinoma

Therapeutic efficacy of dendritic cell-based vaccine for renal cell carcinoma remains limited. In this study, we investigated whether anti-CD137 monoclonal antibody is capable of potentiating anti-tumor effect of dendritic cellbased vaccine. Experimental study. Research laboratory. Balb/c mice [8-10 weeks old]. A renal cell carcinoma model was established by subcutaneous injection of Renca tumor cells into Balb/c mice on day 0. After three days, tumor-bearing mice were treated with Renca tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells [i.e., dendritic cell-based vaccine], anti-CD137 monoclonal antibody, or combination of Renca tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells with anti-CD137 monoclonal antibody. Mice were killed on day 20 after tumor cell inoculation, and spleens were harvested for analysis of anti-tumor immune responses. The anti-tumor immune responses were analyzed by measuring proliferation and activity of T cells, which have the ability to kill tumor cells. The anti-tumor effect was assessed by measuring tumor size. The combination therapy with Renca tumor lysatepulsed dendritic cells and anti-CD137 antibody significantly increased T-cell proliferation and activity, and significantly inhibited tumor growth, compared with a single treatment with Renca tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells or anti-CD137 antibody. These results suggest that combination therapy can enhance anti-tumor effect by increasing T-cell proliferation and activity

Attentive problem in the clinic about acute obstructive anuria at upper urinary tract / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To improve the understanding of acute obstructive anuria at upper urinary tract in order to cope properly with corresponding clinical problems.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical problems of acute obstructive anuria at upper urinary tract in 55 patients was summarized and analysed. Anuria, lumbago, edema and progressive increase of blood creatinine and ureal nitrogen were the main bases of diagnosis. B-typed ultrasonography and plain film of abdomen (KUB) were the first choice in examinations. The treatment principles lied in prompt removal of obstruction as well as effective prevention and treatment of infection to protect renal function to maximum extent.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Forty-three cases (78.2%) recovered normal renal function. Ten cases (18.2%) still had azotemia three months after treatment. Two cases gave up treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The reason of tumor for anuria should be paid attention to. The first choice in treatments is ureteral intubation by cystoscope. Diuretic should be used cautiously.</p>

Significance and limitations of f/tPSA in differential diagnosis of prostate cancer with tPSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study significance and limitations of the ratio of free to total prostate specific antigen (f/t PSA) in differential diagnosis between prostate cancer and benign prostatehyperplasia (BPH) with total PSA (tPSA) levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We analysed retrospectively 180 prostate cancer and BPH patients who were diagnosed and treated in our hospital from October 1998 to October 2002 and had serum tPSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml. Of the 180 patients, 36 (20%) were histologically confirmed as prostate cancer and 144 (80%) BPH. The tPSA and free PSA (fPSA) in serum were measured by micropartical enzyme immunoassay. Prostate volume was measured by transabdominal ultrasonography. We chose Student's t-test for comparison between prostate cancer and BPH groups. The correlation between prostate volume and f/t PSA was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean values of tPSA and f/t PSA were 6.75 ng/ml and 0.17 in patients with prostate cancer, 6.48 ng/ml and 0.25 in patients with BPH. The mean value of tPSA wasn't significantly different between patients with prostate cancer and BPH (P > 0.05). However, the mean value of f/t PSA of patients with prostate cancer was significantly lower than that of patients with BPH (P < 0.01). Furthermore, there were significant and positive correlation between prostate volume and f/t PSA in both groups with prostate cancer and BPH (prostate cancer group's correlation coefficient (r = 0.50, P < 0.01); BPH group (r = 0.24, P < 0.01). There was significant difference in f/t PSA between prostate cancer and BPH patients with prostate volumes more than 40 cm(3) (P < 0.05), but not between these two groups with prostate volumes more than 40 cm(3) (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The f/t PSA is significant in differential diagnosis between prostate cancer and BPH with tPSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml. But prostate volume has an effect on f/tPSA. The f/tPSA has diagnostic value of differentiation only when the prostate volume is less than 40 cm(3).</p>