Abstract: Provided are vaccines, methods of making the vaccines and methods for administering the vaccines for immunotherapy of an individual bearing, or at risk for developing, solid nonlymphoid tumor. The vaccine comprises an immunotherapeutic composition and tumor-associated antigen, and may further comprise one or more of an immunomodulator or a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. A method of immunotherapy of an individual comprises administering to the individual an amount of the vaccine effective to suppress a TH2 response, and to induce a TH1 response against solid nonlymphoid tumor, in an individual having a TH2/TH1 imbalance.

Abstract: Provided are one or more polynucleotides, and a method for inhibiting tumor progression in an individual comprising administering to the individual a therapeutically effective amount of the one or more polynucleotides. The one or more polynucleotides comprise FasL sense polynucleotide, or FasL antisense, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Provided are compositions and assay kits comprising functionalized nanocrystals having extending therefrom a plurality of polynucleotide strands of known sequence; wherein primary dots are used to operably link to a molecular probe, and secondary dots comprise a plurality of polynucleotide strands which are complemetary to the plurality of polynucleotide strands of the primary dots. Also provided is a method for detecting the presence or absence of target molecule in a sample comprising operably linking primary dots to molecular probe, contacting the complex formed with the sample, contacting the sample with successive additions of secondary dots and primary dots. If target molecule is present in the sample, the primary dots and secondary dots will form dendrimers that can be detected by fluorescence emission.

Abstract: A fluorescence cube comprising a housing; an exciter filter which allows passage of an incident light comprising a spectral range of from about 200 nanometers to about 400 nanometers; and either a beam splitter or a dichroic mirror which directs the incident light in a desired direction, and which transmits an emitted light in a desired direction. Also disclosed is a method of using the fluorescence cube for acquiring multicolor fluorescence images, the method comprising fluorescence labeling of a substrate with more than one species of water-soluble nanocrystals; and imaging the labeled substrate with a detection system comprising the fluorescence cube by exposing the labeled substrate to an incident light comprising an excitation spectral range, and detecting a transmitted light comprising an emission spectral range.

Abstract: A method for screening for a pro-tumor immune response according to the present invention, the method comprises: contacting a clinical sample with one or more detector molecules for detecting, and then determining the amount of, mononuclear cell phenotype in the sample; and (b) comparing the amount of mononuclear cell phenotype determined in the sample to a reference value for the mononuclear cell phenotype; wherein a significant difference in the amount of mononuclear cell phenotype determined as compared to the reference value may be an indicator of the presence of a pro-tumor immune response. Also provided are assay kits for determining an amount of mononuclear cell phenotype in performing the methods according to the present invention.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for tolerizing shed antigen-specific B cells involved in an immune complex-mediated disease progression. The composition comprises a substantially non-immunogenic carrier molecule to which is linked carbohydrate chains containing a suppressive amount of a repeated, antigenic carbohydrate determinant derived from a shed antigen of interest. In a method of tolerizing shed antigen-specific B cells involved in an immune complex-mediated disease progression, administered to an individual is a therapeutically effective amount of the composition which, when contacting the shed antigen-specific B cells, induces tolerization of the shed antigen-specific B cells.

Abstract: A method for treating a pro-tumor immune response in an individual having, or suspected of having, a pro-tumor immune response, by administering a therapeutically effective amount of an immunotherapeutic composition which binds to a determinant on B cells, resulting in B cell depletion including of B cells that may be involved in promotion of tumor progression. Also provided are immunotherapeutic compositions which can be used for treating a pro-tumor immune response.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising functionalized nanocrystal-labeled nucleobases that are produced by operably linking a nucleobase to a functionalized nanocrystal via reactive functionalities. Also provided are kits comprising a plurality of species of functionalized nanocrystal-labeled nucleobases. The functionalized nanocrystal-labeled nucleobases may be added to a strand synthesis reaction under suitable conditions to be incorporated into one or more strands synthesized in the reaction.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fluorescence detection of lipid membranes using lipophilic, functionalized nanocrystals; and lipid membranes labeled by the lipophilic, functionalized nanocrystals. The method comprises contacting an effective amount of lipophilic, functionalized nanocrystals with the lipid membranes; exposing the labeled lipid membranes to an excitation light suitable for exciting the functionalized nanocrystals present in the labeled lipid membranes to emit a fluorescence emission. Also provided is a composition comprising a functionalized nanocrystal which is bound to a substrate in a living tissue.

Abstract: Provided is a system and continuous flow process for producing monodisperse semiconductor nanocrystals comprising reservoirs for the starting materials, a mixing path in which the starting materials are mixed, a first reactor in which the mixture of starting materials is mixed with a coordinating solvent and in which nucleation of particles occurs, a second reactor in which controlled growth of the nanocrystals occurs, and a growth termination path in which the growth of the nanocrystals is halted.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic separation device comprising a container having one or more outer surfaces; at least one magnetic sheet; and a physical coupler that is used to detachably secure the container to the magnetic sheet.

Abstract: Provided are compositions comprising water-soluble, functionalized nanocrystals. The water-soluble functionalized nanocrystals comprise quantum dots capped with a layer of a capping compound, and further comprise, by operably linking and in a successive manner, one or more additional compounds. The one or more additional compounds is comprised of at least a diaminocarboxylic acid which is operatively linked to the capping compound, and may further comprise an amino acid, an affinity ligand, or a combination thereof. Also provided are methods of using the functionalized nanocrystals having an affinity ligand to detect the presence or absence of a target substrate in a sample.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetic separation device comprising a container having one or more outer surfaces; at least one flexible magnetic sheet; and a non-permanent adhesive that is used to detachably secure an outer surface of the container to a flexible magnetic sheet.

Abstract: Provided for use in site-directed chemotherapy are compositions comprising chemotherapeutic agents targeted to either arrested metastatic cells via a cell-surface marker associated with metastasis; or are targeted to type 1 endothelial cells of the tissue comprising the organ site at which metastatic cells arrest such that (a) any arrested metastatic tumor cells are then exposed to the chemotherapeutic agent, and/or (b) the endothelial cells are altered thereby inhibiting the ability of the metastatic tumor cells to arrest, survive or proliferate in that site. Also provided are methods of site-directed chemotherapy of metastatic cells of non-lymphoid tumor origin. Site-directed chemotherapy comprises introducing a therapeutically effective amount of a chemotherapeutic agent directly into a vascular access of the organ having, or suspected of having, arrested metastatic cells thereby concentrating the therapy in the prometastatic territories of the treated organ.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the measurement of cell-associated interleukin-2 receptor .alpha. (IL-2R.alpha.) expression in solid non-lymphoid tumors, and the use of such measurement In prognosing the metastatic potential of the tumor, diagnosing the metastatic localization of non-lymphoid tumor, and aiding the monitoring of efficacy of anticancer therapy against metastatic cells of non-lymphoid tumor. The present invention also relates to the use of T-cell receptor (tumor specific TCR.beta. idiotype) in monitoring the efficacy of anticancer therapy against non-lymphoid tumors.