Method for treatment of cancer and infectious disease

Abstract

In a method of treating a viral infection involving activation of NK cells, the improvement comprising administering to a patient receiving such treatment an effective NK-cell-activity facilitating amount of a histamine H 2 or 5-HT 1A receptor agonist.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for the treatment of cancer in a patient through activation of NK cells, the improvement comprising administering to the patient an effective NK-cell-activity facilitating amount of a histamine H 2  or 5-HT 1A  receptor agonist.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receptor agonist is histamine.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receptor agonist is a histamine congener.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receptor agonist is serotonin.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receptor agonist is selected from the group consisting of dimaprit, clonidine, tolazoline, impromadine, 4-methylhistamine, betazole, 8-OH-DPAT (8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin), ALK-3 (cis-8-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin), BMY 7378 (8[2-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-8-azaspiro[4,5]decane-7,9-dione), NAN 190 (1-(2-methoxyphenyl-4-[4-(2-phthalimmido)butyl]pierazine HBr), lisuride, d-LSD, flesoxinan, DHE (dihydroergotamine), MDL 72832 (8-[4-91,4-benzodioxan-2-ylmethyl-amino)butyl]-8-azaspiro[4,5] decane-7,9-dione), 5-CT (5-carboxamidotryptamine), DP-5-CT (N,N-dipropyl-5-carboxamidotryptamine), ipsapirone, WB 4101 (2-[[[2-(2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy)ethyl]amino]methyl]-1,4-benzodioxane), ergotamine, buspirone, metergoline, spiroxatrine, PAPP (1-[2-(4-aminophenyl)ethyl]-4-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl) piperazine), SDZ (−) 21009 ((4(3-terbutylamino-2-hydroxypropoxy)indol-2-carbonic-acidisopropylester), and butotenine.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said receptor agonist is administered in a daily dose of between about 0.1 and 10 mg.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is a myeloma.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is a renal cancer.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is a leukemia.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said cancer is a melanoma.