Enclosures housing cell-coated supports for treating tumors

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices, systems and methods for treating tumors. In particular, the present invention relates to enclosures housing cell-coated supports for promoting regression of tumors, such as cancerous tumors, papillomas, and warts. In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods of promoting tumor regression employing enclosures secreting therapeutic proteins.

1 . A method for producing a cell-containing enclosure, comprising; 
 a) providing, 
 i) viable cells on solid support material,  
 ii) a nucleic acid sequence encoding a therapeutic protein, wherein said therapeutic protein promotes tumor regression, and  
 iii) an enclosure configured for housing said solid support material, wherein said enclosure comprises mesh material,  
   b) transfecting said viable cells on said solid support material with said nucleic acid sequence, and    c) placing said solid support material into said enclosure to produce a cell-containing enclosure capable of promoting tumor regression.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic protein is a cytokine.  
     
     
         3 . The method  claim 1 , wherein said therapeutic protein is interleukin-1.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleic acid sequence comprises at least a portion of an interleukin-1 gene sequence.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said solid support material comprises macroporous beads.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mesh material comprises pores.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mesh material comprises pores ranging in size from about 1 micron to about 500 microns.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of sealing said enclosure.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of freezing said cell-containing enclosure.  
     
     
         10 . A cell-containing enclosure configured for promoting tumor regression produced by the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         11 . A method for promoting tumor regression, comprising; 
 a) providing; 
 i) viable cells on solid support material, wherein said viable cells secrete at least one therapeutic protein,  
 ii) an enclosure housing said solid support material, wherein said enclosure comprises mesh material, and  
 iii) a subject with a tumor,  
   b) positioning said enclosure on said tumor of said subject such that regression of said tumor is promoted.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said therapeutic protein is a recombinant protein.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said recombinant protein is a cytokine.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said recombinant protein comprises interleukin-1.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said viable cells comprise an expression vector, wherein said expression vector comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding said therapeutic protein.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said nucleic acid sequence comprises at least a portion of an interleukin-1 gene sequence.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said solid support comprises beads.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said mesh material comprises pores.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said mesh material comprises pores ranging in size from about 1 micron to about 500 microns.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said enclosure further comprises a removal component.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising step c) removing said enclosure from said tumor after regression of said tumor is promoted.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said tumor is a cancerous tumor.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said cancerous tumor is a skin cancer tumor.