Method and composition for inhibiting cancer cell growth
First Claim
1. In a method of treating cancer cells whose extracellular environment contains 1–
- 8 mM urea, by exposing said cells to a weakly basic anti-cancer compound which is effective in inhibiting the growth of said cells, an improvement comprising(a) exposing the cells to a composition containing a urease enzyme, and(b) by step (a), reducing the amount of said anti-cancer compound required to produce a given extent of inhibition in the growth of said cells, when the cells are exposed to the anti-cancer agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improvements in methods of treating cancer with weakly basic anti-cancer compounds are provided. In one aspect, the invention provides an improvement in a method of treating cancer cells whose extracellular environment contains 1–8 mM urea, by exposing the cells to a weakly basic anti-cancer compound which is effective in inhibiting the growth of the cells. The improvement includes (a) exposing the cells to a urease enzyme composition and, (b) by step (a), reducing the amount of anti-cancer compound required to produce a given extent of inhibition in the growth of the cells when the cells are exposed to the anti-cancer agent. Methods of potentiating the specific therapeutic activity of a weakly basic anti-cancer compound in the treatment of a given mammalian cancer which is responsive to the compound are provided as are pharmaceutical compositions for use in intravenous administration to a subject are also provided.
11 Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a method of treating cancer cells whose extracellular environment contains 1–
- 8 mM urea, by exposing said cells to a weakly basic anti-cancer compound which is effective in inhibiting the growth of said cells, an improvement comprising
(a) exposing the cells to a composition containing a urease enzyme, and (b) by step (a), reducing the amount of said anti-cancer compound required to produce a given extent of inhibition in the growth of said cells, when the cells are exposed to the anti-cancer agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- 8 mM urea, by exposing said cells to a weakly basic anti-cancer compound which is effective in inhibiting the growth of said cells, an improvement comprising
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11. A method of treating a cancer that is responsive to a selected weakly basic anti-tumor compound in mammalian subject, comprising:
administering to the subject, such weakly basic anti-cancer compound and an amount of a urease enzyme composition sufficient to potentiate the therapeutic effect of the compound with respect to the therapeutic effect obtained in the absence of said urease composition administration. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- 19. In a subject having a solid tumor a method of enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of a weakly basic anti-tumor compound whose effectiveness is reduced by a higher intracellular/lower extracellular pH gradient in a solid tumor, comprising administering to the subject receiving said anti-tumor compound, an amount of urease effective to reduce or reverse the higher intracellular/lower extracellular pH gradient in a solid tumor.
Specification