Method for enhancing the effectiveness of cancer therapies

Abstract

The efficacy of conventional cancer therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation is enhanced by the use of a therapeutic material which binds to and interacts with galectins. The therapeutic material can enhance apoptosis thereby increasing the effectiveness of oncolytic agents. It can also inhibit angiogenesis thereby moderating tumor growth and/or metastasis.

1 . A method for enhancing the efficacy of a therapeutic treatment for cancer in a patient, said therapeutic treatment being selected from the group consisting of: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and combinations thereof, said method comprising the steps of: 
 administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which binds to a galectin; and    administering said therapeutic treatment to said patient.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said galectin is present on the cell surface of a tissue of said patient.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound binds to galectin-1 or galectin-3.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound comprises a polymeric backbone having side chains dependent therefrom, said side chains being terminated by a galactose or arabinose unit.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound comprises a substantially demethoxylated polygalacturonic acid which is interrupted with rhamnose residues.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound comprises a carbohydrate.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said carbohydrate comprises a branched carbohydrate.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound comprises a modified pectin.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said modified pectin comprises a pH modified pectin.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said modified pectin comprises an enzymatically modified pectin.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said modified pectin comprises a thermally modified pectin.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said modified pectin comprises a modified citrus pectin.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound has a molecular weight of at least 300 dalton.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound has a molecular weight in the range of 300-2,000 dalton.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said modified pectin has a molecular weight in the range of 1-50 kilodalton.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said modified pectin has a molecular weight in the range of 1-15 kilodalton.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said modified pectin has a molecular weight of approximately 10 kilodalton.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of administering said compound to said patient comprises injecting said compound into said patient.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of administering said compound to said patient comprises orally administering said compound to said patient.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of administering said compound to said patient comprises administering said compound prior to administering said therapeutic treatment to said patient.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of administering said compound to said patient comprises administering said compound to said patient after said therapeutic treatment is administered to said patient.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound is administered concomitant with said therapeutic treatment.