Method of treating endothelial injury

Abstract

The use of human erythropoietin (EPO) to prevent or treat endothelial injury due to chemotherapy, radiation therapy, mechanical trauma, or to a disease state which damages the endothelium (such as inflammation, heart disease or cancer) is described. The use of EPO in conjunction with the administration of chemotherapeutic agents is described.

That which is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of reducing endothelial injury in a subject caused by administration of a chemotherapeutic agent to the subject, comprising administering an endothelial-protecting amount of erythropoietin in conjunction with the administration of the chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said endothelial-protecting amount of erythropoietin is administered simultaneously with said chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said endothelial-protecting amount of erythropoietin is administered prior to said chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said endothelial-protecting amount of erythropoietin is administered after said chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  where said chemotherapeutic agent is cisplatin.  
     
     
         6 . A method of enhancing endothelial cell inhibition in a subject treated with a chemotherapeutic agent, comprising administering to the subject an endothelial-inhibiting amount of erythropoietin in conjunction with the administration of the chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         7 . A meth according to  claim 6  wherein said endothelial-inhibiting amount of erythropoietin is administered simultaneously with said chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein said endothelial inhibiting amount of erythropoietin is administered prior to said chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein said endothelial-inhibiting amount of erythropoietin is administered after said chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is cisplatin.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein said subject has a neoplastic growth selected from the group consisting of cerebellar hemangioblastoma, ductal carcinoma of the breast, and squamous cell cancer of the larynx.  
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a solid vascularized tumor in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising administering an antineoplastic chemotherapeutic agent in conjunction with an endothelial-inhibiting amount of erythropoietin.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein said endothelial-inhibiting amount of erythropoietin is administered simultaneously with said chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein said endothelial-inhibiting amount of erythropoietin is administered prior to said chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein said endothelial-inhibiting amount of erythropoietin is administered after said chemotherapeutic agent.  
     
     
         16 . A method of treating endothelial injury caused by mechanical damage, exposure to radiation, inflammation, heart disease or cancer, in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising administering an endothelial-protecting amount of erythropoietin to said subject.