Cancer therapy

Abstract

The present invention relates, in general, to cancer therapy, and, in particular, to a method of preventing or treating cancer using low molecular weight antioxidants (e.g., mimetics of superoxide dismutase (SOD)) as the active agent or as a chemo- and/or radio-protectant. The invention also relates to compounds and compositions suitable for use in such a method.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating cancer in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an amount of a mimetic of an enzymatic scavenger of reactive oxygen species sufficient to effect said treatment.  
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said mimetic is a mimetic of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase or peroxidase.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein said mimetic is a mimetic of SOD.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said mimetic is a methine substituted porphine or substituted tetrapyrrole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said mimetic is bound to a metal.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, nickel and zinc.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6  wherein said metal is manganese.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein said mimetic is a manganese bound methine substituted porphine.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said mimetic is 10110, 10111, 10112, 10113, 10123, 10143, 10150, 10151, 10153, 10158 and 10201.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein said mimetic is of the formula  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 
 wherein 
 R 1  R j  are the same and are:  
                     
 R 2  and R 4  are the same and are:  
                     
 Y is halogen or —CO 2 X, and  
 X is the same or different and is an alkyl and each R 5 ; is the same or different and is H or alkyl, and is optionally complexed with a metal selected from the group consisting of manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, nickel and zinc.  
 
 
     
     
         11 . A method of protecting normal tissue of a mammal from the toxic effects associated with gene therapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy or chemotherapy comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an amount of a mimetic of an enzymatic scavenger of reactive oxygen species sufficient to effect said treatment.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said mimetic is a mimetic of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase or peroxidase.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein said mimetic is a mimetic of SOD.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said mimetic is a methine substituted porphine or substituted tetrapyrrole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said mimetic is bound to a metal.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, nickel and zinc.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein said metal is manganese.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein said mimetic is a manganese bound methine substituted porphine.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein said mimetic is 10110, 10111, 10112, 10113, 10123, 10143, 10150, 10151, 10153, 10158 and 10201.  
     
     
         20 . A method of preventing cancer or preventing the recurrence of cancer in a mammal comprising administering to a mammal in need thereof an amount of a mimetic of an enzymatic scavenger of reactive oxygen species sufficient to effect said treatment.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein said mimetic is a mimetic of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase or peroxidase.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21  wherein said mimetic is a mimetic of SOD.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein said mimetic is a methine substituted porphine or substituted tetrapyrrole, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein said mimetic is bound to a metal.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24  wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, nickel and zinc.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25  wherein said metal is manganese.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26  wherein said mimetic is a manganese bound methine substituted porphine.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27  wherein said mimetic is 10110, 10111, 10112, 10113, 10123, 10143, 10150, 10151, 10153, 10158 and 10201.