Water soluble paclitaxel derivatives

Abstract

Disclosed are water soluble compositions of paclitaxel and docetaxel formed by conjugating the paclitaxel or docetaxel to a water soluble polymer such as poly-glutamic acid, poly-aspartic acid or poly-lysine. Also disclosed are methods of using the compositions for treatment of tumors, auto-immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. Other embodiments include the coating of implantable stents for prevention of restenosis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating cancer in a subject, comprising administering to a subject having cancer a water soluble conjugate comprising camptothecin in combination with a platinum drug.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said water soluble conjugate comprises, wherein said water soluble conjugate comprises a water soluble polymer conjugated to said camptothecin.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said water soluble polymer is polyglutamate.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said polyglutamate is poly(1-glutamic acid).  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said polyglutamic acid has a molecular weight of about 5000 to about 100,000 daltons.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein polyglutamic acid has a molecular weight of about 20,000 to about 80,000 daltons.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein polyglutamic acid has a molecular weight of about 25,000 to about 50,000 daltons.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said composition comprises from about 2% to about 35% by weight of camptothecin.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said composition comprises about 32% by weight of camptothecin.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said cancer is breast cancer, ovarian cancer, malignant melanoma, lung cancer, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, colon cancer, head and neck cancer, leukemia or Kaposi's sarcoma.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said cancer is ovarian cancer.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said cancer is lung cancer.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said cancer is colon cancer.