Abstract: A method for selecting treatment options for patients is provided. The method comprises a procedure for selecting patients that should not be placed on Active Surveillance (AS) but receive active treatment even though the morphologic analysis of the patient's biopsy may show a Gleason score that would traditionally have placed the patient in AS without any further treatment. In accordance with one embodiment, the patient is selected for active treatment if a biomarker associated with prostate cancer is detected. In yet a further embodiment, the patient is selected for additional treatment if the biomarker's concentration is determined to be higher in the benign section of the tissue sample than in the cancerous section. In another embodiment, biochemical recurrence is predicted identifying patients for treatment.

Abstract: The present invention concerns preventative, therapeutic, and diagnostic methods and compositions involving UC markers, such as UC 28, for cancer. It includes methods and compositions for targeting cancer cells using a differentiation agent in combination with a therapeutic agent targeted to cells that differentially express a UC marker after exposure to the differentiation agent. The invention also includes methods of inducing immune responses against UC markers, as well as antibodies that recognize UC markers, which may be employed for therapeutic and diagnostic methods.

Abstract: A neural network is used in a system to detect abnormalities in cells, including cancer in bladder tissue cells. The system has an image analysis system for generating data representative of imaging variables from an image of stained cells. The set of data is provided to a neural network which has been trained to detect abnormalities from known tissue cells with respect to the data from the same set of imaging variables. A conventional sigmoid-activated neural network, or alternatively, a hybrid neural network having a combination of sigmoid, gaussian and sinusoidal activation functions may be utilized. The trained neural network applies a set of weight factors obtained during training to the data to classify the unknown tissue cell as normal or abnormal.

Abstract: A method for screening individuals at risk for prostate cancer progression is disclosed. The method is useful for evaluating cells from patients at risk for recurrence of prostate cancer following surgery for prostate cancer. Specifically, the method uses specific Markovian nuclear texture factors, alone or in combination with other biomarkers, to determine whether the cancer will progress or lose organ confinement. In addition, methods of predicting the development of fatal metastatic disease by statistical analysis of selected biomarkers is also disclosed. The invention also contemplates a method that uses a neural network to analyze and interpret cell morphology data. Utilizing Markovian factors and other biomarkers as parameters, the network is first trained with a sets of cell data from known progressors and known non-progressors. The trained network is then used to predict prostate cancer progression in patient samples.

Abstract: A method for screening individuals at risk for the loss of organ confinement in prostate cancer is disclosed. The method is useful for evaluating cells from patients at risk for recurrence of prostate cancer following surgery for prostate cancer. Specifically, the method uses specific Markovian nuclear texture features, alone or in combination with other biomarkers, to determine whether the cancer will progress or lose organ confinement. In addition, methods of predicting the development of fatal metastatic disease by statistical analysis of selected biomarkers is also disclosed. The invention also contemplates a method that uses a neural network to analyze and interpret cell morphology data. Utilizing Markovian factors and other biomarkers as parameters, the network is first trained with a sets of cell data from known progressors and known non-progressors. The trained network is then used to predict the loss of organ confinement by evaluating patient samples.

Abstract: A method for selectively inducing expression of biomarkers for urologic cancers, including prostate and bladder cancer, is disclosed. Tumor cells are cultured using a low shear rotational three-dimensional technique under conditions effective to induce said selective expression. The method is useful for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: The compounds 2-(5-methylthiomethyl-2-furyl)-2-hydroxy-3-keto-4- dihydroxyethylbutyrolactone and 2-(5-methoxymethyl-2- furyl)-2-furyl(-2-hydroxy-3-keto-4-dihydroxyethylbutyrolactone and pharmaceutical compositions containing them are useful to regulate the immune response in mammals.

Abstract: Thermally polymerized copolyamino acids are used to microencapsulate a chemotherapeutic compound for more efficient drug delivery.

Abstract: It has now been discovered that the acid catalyzed Michael reaction products of ascorbic acid and certain selected ketones are useful for their therapeutic activity. More specifically the useful reaction products of the invention are those obtained by reactions of ascorbic acid with .alpha.,.beta. unsaturated alicyclic diketones containing from 5 to 7 carbon atoms.The preferred compounds of the invention may be represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein n is 1, 2 or 3. The ability of the compounds of this invention to stimulate an immune response has been established by a number of art recognized tests.

Abstract: Treatment of inflammation in mammals utilizing selected ketobutyrolactones and furylbutyrolactones. Treatment is applicable to both acute or chronic inflammation. Antiviral activity of methylfurylbutyrolactone is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for assaying circulating immune complexes comprisescontacting the circulating immune complexes in solution in serum with a staphylococcal protein-A linked to a detectable label, whereby a CIC-protein-A-label complex is formed,selectively precipitating the CIC-SPA-label complex by contacting the complex with polyethylene glycol,separating the precipitated CIC-SPA-label complex from the serum,measuring the quantity of the label in the precipitated CIC-protein-A-label complexcomparing the measured quantity of label with at least one standard prepared by subjecting a solution containing a known amount of CIC or functional equivalent material to the same assay. The method requires only a single precipitation step and in a preferred embodiment the formation of the CIC-SPA-label complex may be formed in a single step.

Abstract: Compositions containing compounds which exhibit immunomodulatory properties can be used as immunostimulants or immunosuppressants in humans and animals.