Therapy-enhancing glucan

• US 8,323,644 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biotec BetaGlucans AS (Lallemand Inc.), Sloan-Kettering Institute For Cancer Research (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)
• Original Assignee: Biotec Pharmacon ASA, Sloan-Kettering Institute For Cancer Research (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center)
• Inventors: Cheung, Nai-Kong V., Engstad, Rolf Einar
• Primary Examiner(s): CANELLA, KAREN A
• Application Number:
  US12/161,285
• Publication Number:
  US 20090004201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,148 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 424/130.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2039/542 oral/gastrointestinal
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2039/55511 Organic adjuvants
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/716 Glucans
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/0011 Cancer antigens
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/001104 Epidermal growth factor receptors [EGFR]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/001106 Her-2/neu/ErbB2, Her-3/ErbB3 or Her 4/ErbB4
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/001113 CD22, BL-CAM, siglec-2 or sialic acid- binding Ig-related lectin 2
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/001124 CD20
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/001129 Molecules with a "CD" designation not provided for elsewhere
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/001171 Gangliosides, e.g. GM2, GD2 or GD3
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/39 characterised by the immunostimulating additives, e.g. chemical adjuvants
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 39/39558 against tumor tissues, cells, antigens
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/00 Antiinfectives, i.e. antibiotics, antiseptics, chemotherapeutics
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/3084 against tumour-associated gangliosides
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 5/00 Compositions of polysaccharides or of their derivatives not provided for in groups C08L1/00 or C08L3/00

Abstract

A therapeutic composition for treatment of cancer in a mammal is disclosed. The composition comprises an effective amount of a yeast beta-glucan composition which is suitable for oral administration and for absorption through the gastrointestinal tract of the mammal. The above therapeutic composition may further comprise antitumor antibodies or cancer vaccine composition, wherein the antitumor activities of the antitumor antibodies or the cancer vaccine composition are enhanced by the yeast glucan.

Claims

1. A method of treating cancer in a subject, comprising administering to the subject:

(a) an antitumor antibody that binds to cancer cells expressing an antigen selected from the group consisting of CD20, CD22, CD25, HER2, EGFR, GD2, and GD3; and

(b) a composition comprising an effective amount of a β

-glucan, wherein the β

-glucan enhances the anti-tumor activity of said antibody, wherein the β

-glucan comprises a β

-1,3 backbone and at least one β

-1,3 side chain of two or more glucose units linked to the backbone by β

-1,6 glycosidic bonds, and wherein the β

-glucan has a molecular weight from about 6 kDa to about 30 kDa.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the β

-glucan is isolated from yeast.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the β

-glucan is isolated from Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the β

-glucan is a particulate or soluble glucan, capable of inducing cytokines.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody or complement-activating antibody.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the antibody is capable of activating an antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the β

-glucan is administered orally or intravenously.

8. A method of treating cancer in a subject, comprising administering to the subject:

(a) an antitumor antibody that binds to cancer cells of neuroblastoma, melanoma, non-Hodgkin'"'"'s lymphoma, breast cancer, Epstein-Barr related lymphoma, Hodgkin'"'"'s lymphoma, and epidermoid carcinoma; and

(b) a composition comprising an effective amount of a β

-glucan, wherein the β

-glucan enhances the anti-tumor activity of said antibody, wherein the β

-glucan comprises a β

-1,3 backbone and at least one β

-1,3 side chain of two or more glucose units linked to the backbone by β

-1,6 glycosidic bonds, and wherein the β

-glucan has a molecular weight from about 6 kDa to about 30 kDa.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the β

-glucan is isolated from yeast.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the β

-glucan is isolated from Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the β

-glucan is a particulate or soluble glucan, capable of inducing cytokines.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody or complement-activating antibody.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the antibody is capable of activating an antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the β

-glucan is administered orally or intravenously.