Modified Pectins, Compositions and Methods Related Thereto

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions of modified pectin and methods for preparing and using them.

1 - 41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . A method of treating cancer in a patient in need thereof, comprising parenterally administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an aqueous solution of a purified modified pectin or a purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin, wherein the solution is substantially free of modified pectins having molecular weights below 25 kD. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the average molecular weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 50-200 kD. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the average molecular weight of the modified pectin or deesterified and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 70-150 kD. 
     
     
         45 . A method of treating cancer in a patient in need thereof, comprising parenterally administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an aqueous solution of a purified modified pectin or a purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin, wherein the average molecular weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 70-150 kD. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the average molecular weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 80-150 kD. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the average molecular weight of the modified pectin or deesterified and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 80-100 kD. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the aqueous solution is substantially free of modified pectins having molecular weights below 25 kD. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the solution contains at least 0.5% by weight of the modified pectin or deesterified and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the solution contains at least 5% by weight of the modified pectin or deesterified and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the solution contains at least 0.5% by weight of the modified pectin or deesterified and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the solution contains at least 5% by weight of the modified pectin or deesterified and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises a deesterified and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises a deesterified and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises a modified pectin. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises a modified pectin. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the modified pectin consists essentially of a homogalacturonan backbone with small amounts of rhamnogalacturonan therein, wherein the backbone has neutral sugar side chains having a low degree of branching dependent from the backbone. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the galacturonic acid subunits of the backbone have been substantially deesterified. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the modified pectin consists essentially of a homogalacturonan backbone with small amounts of rhamnogalacturonan therein, wherein the backbone has neutral sugar side chains having a low degree of branching dependent from the backbone. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the galacturonic acid subunits of the backbone have been substantially deesterified. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein parenterally administering comprises injection or intravenous infusion. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein parenterally administering comprises injection or intravenous infusion. 
     
     
         63 . A method of treating cancer in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to the patient a liquid composition comprising colloidal particles of a purified modified pectin or a purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin, wherein the colloidal particles of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin consist essentially of colloidal particles which are less than 1 micron in diameter and the composition is substantially free of modified pectins having molecular weights below 25 kD. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the average molecular weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 80-150 kD. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the average molecular weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 80-100 kD. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the average molecular weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 50-200 kD. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the average molecular weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 70-150 kD. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the composition is an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the solution contains at least 0.5% by weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the solution contains at least 5% by weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the composition is a colloidal suspension. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the colloidal particles are less than 0.20 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the composition comprises a purified modified pectin. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the composition comprises a purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin inhibits cancer proliferation with an IC 50  less than 200 μg/mL. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , wherein the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin inhibits cancer proliferation with an IC 50  in the range of 25-75 μg/mL. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the composition is a dosage form selected from dosage forms suitable for oral dosage, topical application, and inhalation. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , wherein the dosage form is suitable for oral dosage. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the composition is a dosage form suitable for parenteral administration. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79 , wherein the parenteral administration is selected from injection or intravenous infusion. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the composition is a colloidal solution. 
     
     
         82 . A method of treating cancer in a patient in need thereof, comprising administering to the patient a liquid composition comprising colloidal particles of a purified modified pectin or a purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin, wherein the colloidal particles of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin consist essentially of colloidal particles which are less than 1 micron in diameter and the average molecular weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 70-150 kD. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the average molecular weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 80-150 kD. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein the average molecular weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin is from 80-100 kD. 
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the composition is an aqueous solution. 
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the solution contains at least 0.5% by weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 86 , wherein the solution contains at least 5% by weight of the purified modified pectin or purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the composition is a colloidal solution. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the composition is a colloidal suspension. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the colloidal particles are less than 0.20 μm in diameter. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the composition comprises a purified modified pectin. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the composition comprises a purified, deesterified, and partially depolymerized modified pectin. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the composition is a dosage form selected from dosage forms suitable for oral dosage, topical application, and inhalation. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 93 , wherein the dosage form is suitable for oral dosage. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein the composition is a dosage form suitable for parenteral administration. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 95 , wherein the parenteral administration is selected from injection or intravenous infusion.