Reovirus for the treatment of neoplasia

Abstract

Methods for treating neoplasia, by administering reovirus to a Ras-mediated neoplasm, are disclosed. The reovirus is administered so that it ultimately directly contacts cells of the neoplasm. Human reovirus, non-human mammalian reovirus, and/or avian reovirus can be used. If the reovirus is human reovirus, type 1 (e.g., strain Lang), type 2 (e.g., strain Jones), type 3 (e.g., strain Dearing or strain Abney), as well as other serotypes or strains of reovirus can be used. Combinations of more than one type and/or strain of reovirus can be used, as can reovirus from different species of animal. Either solid neoplasms or hematopoietic neoplasms can be treated.

1 .- 35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating a Ras-mediated neoplasm in a mammal, comprising:
 (i) a pharmaceutically effective amount of approximately 10 3  to 10 4  plaque forming units of a mammalian reovirus or 10 10  to 10 12  plaque forming units of a mammalian reovirus; and   (ii) a physiologically acceptable carrier.   
   
   
       37 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 36 , wherein the mammalian reovirus is selected from the group consisting of type 1 reovirus, type 2 reovirus and type 3 reovirus. 
   
   
       38 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 36 , wherein the mammalian reovirus is a Dearing strain reovirus. 
   
   
       39 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 36 , wherein the mammalian reovirus is a human reovirus. 
   
   
       40 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 36 , wherein the pharmaceutically effective amount is approximately 10 10  to 10 12  plaque forming units of the mammalian reovirus. 
   
   
       41 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 40 , wherein the mammalian reovirus is a Dearing strain reovirus. 
   
   
       42 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 40 , wherein the mammalian reovirus is a human reovirus. 
   
   
       43 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating a Ras-mediated neoplasm in a mammal, comprising:
 (i) a pharmaceutically effective amount of a chemically or biochemically pre-treated mammalian reovirus; and   (ii) a physiologically acceptable carrier.   
   
   
       44 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 43 , wherein the pharmaceutically effective amount is approximately 10 3  to 10 12  plaque forming units of the mammalian reovirus. 
   
   
       45 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 43 , wherein the mammalian reovirus is selected from the group consisting of type 1 reovirus, type 2 reovirus and type 3 reovirus. 
   
   
       46 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 43 , wherein the mammalian reovirus is a Dearing strain reovirus. 
   
   
       47 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 43 , wherein the mammalian reovirus is a human reovirus.