Methods of treating tumors

Abstract

The invention provides a method of inhibiting tumor growth in a mammal, by administering to the mammal composition containing taurolidine, taurultam, or a biologically active derivative thereof. The composition is administered to directly contact a tumor cell at a dose sufficient to induce cell death by apoptosis.

1 . A method of inhibiting growth of a tumor in a mammal, comprising contacting a tumor cell in said mammal with a composition comprising taurolidine, taurultam, or a biologically active derivative thereof.  
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises taurolidine.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises taurultam.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tumor cell is of a type selected from the group consisting of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, urinary bladder cancer, melanoma, leukemia, and lymphoma.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tumor is a metastasis from a primary tumor.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tumor cell is derived from a solid tumor, non-solid tumor, or lymphoma.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tumor cell is a carcinoma or a sarcoma.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tumor cell is a malignant skin cell.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said malignant skin cell is selected from the group consisting of a basal cell carcinoma, a squamous cell carcinoma, a melanoma, a sarcoma, and a lymphoma.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said composition is formulated in an ointment, said ointment being for administration directly to said malignant skin cell.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering a chemotherapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of an antimetabolite, a purine or pyrimidine analogue, an alkylating agent, an intercalating agent, a crosslinking agent, and an antibiotic, wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is administered before, after or simultaneously with the composition comprising taurolidine, taurultam, or a biologically active derivative thereof.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tumor expresses a gene encoding multiple drug resistance.  
   
   
       14 . A method of inhibiting growth of a drug resistant tumor in a mammal, comprising administering to said mammal a composition comprising taurolidine or a biologically active derivative thereof, wherein said composition is administered at a dose sufficient to induce tumor cell death by apoptosis.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said composition comprises taurolidine.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said composition comprises taurultam.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said drug resistant tumor is selected from the group consisting of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, urinary bladder cancer, melanoma, leukemia, and lymphoma  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said drug resistant tumor expresses a gene encoding multiple drug resistance.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said tumor cell is derived from a solid tumor, non-solid tumor, or lymphoma.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said tumor cell is a carcinoma or a sarcoma.