Diagnostic value of intraoperative ultrasonography in assessing thoracic recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes in patients with esophageal cancer.

Backgroud: The incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury has increased due to RLN lymph node dissection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of intraoperative ultrasonography (IU) to detect RLN nodal metastases in esophageal cancer patients.

Methods: Sixty patients with esophageal cancer underwent IU, computed tomography (CT), and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) to assess for RLN nodal metastasis.

[Effect of PLGA nanoparticles conjugated with anti-OX40/anti-AFP mAbs on cytotoxicity of CTL cells against hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of anti-OX40 and anti-AFP antibodies conjugated onto poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide)-nanoparticles (PLGA-NPs) on the cytotoxic activity of AFP158-166; -specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) against hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro.

Methods: PLGA-NPs were prepared by oil-in-water single emulsion solvent evaporation method and covalently conjugated with anti-OX40 and anti-AFP monoclonal antibodies. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized for the characterization of the surface morphology and estimation of the size of the PLGA-NPs.

PLGA-nanoparticle mediated delivery of anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody enhances anti-tumor cytotoxic T cell responses.

OX40 (CD134) is a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor expressed mainly on activated T cells and transmits a potent costimulatory signal once engaged. Agonistic anti-OX40 monoclonal antibody (mAb) enhances tumor immune response leading to therapeutic effects in mouse tumor models. However, when tested in phase I clinical trials it did not show objective clinical activity in cancer patients.