Limited dose monoclonal IL-2R antibody induction protocol after primary kidney transplantation.

This study prospectively compared immunoprophylaxis with a single intraoperative dose (2 mg/kg) of monoclonal interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) antibody vs. noninduction in kidney transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus (FK 506), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and a prednisone-based immunosuppression regimen. One hundred recipients of first-kidney transplant were enrolled into the study to receive either anti-IL-2R monoclonal antibody, daclizumab (2 mg/kg intraoperatively, limited anti-IL-2R) or no induction (control).

Human renal cell cancer proliferation in tissue culture is tonically inhibited by opioid growth factor.

Purpose: Peptide growth factors alter cellular events by binding to specific receptors. One group of peptides, the endogenous opioids, is important in the growth of normal and neoplastic tissue. [Met5]enkephalin, also termed opioid growth factor (OGF), is a tonically active inhibitory factor that interacts with the OGF receptor, OGFr, formerly identified as Greek zeta (zeta) and appears to be autocrine produced by human cancer cells.

Improved detection of recurrent bladder cancer using the Bard BTA stat Test.

Objectives: To evaluate the BTA stat Test in the detection of recurrent bladder cancer.

Methods: Sensitivity and specificity were determined using frozen voided urine samples from patients with recurrent bladder cancer, volunteers, patients with nonurologic conditions, and patients with a history of bladder cancer but free of disease. Results of cytology and the original BTA Test were compared with the sensitivity of the BTA stat Test in a large subgroup of the patients with cancer.