Cancer treatment composition and method using signal transduction modulators and natural plant essential oils as synergists for conventional treatments

Abstract

Pharmaceutical compositions containing plant essential oil compounds, natural or synthetic, or mixtures or derivatives thereof, with one or more signal transduction modulators, for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one plant essential oil compound and at least one signal transduction modulator.  
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is selected from the group consisting of aldehyde C16 (pure), amyl cinnamic aldehyde, amyl salicylate, anisic aldehyde, benzyl alcohol, benzyl acetate, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic alcohol, α-terpineol, carvacrol, carveol, citral, citronellal, citronellol, p-cymene, diethyl phthalate, dimethyl salicylate, dipropylene glycol, eucalyptol (cineole), eugenol, iso-eugenol, galaxolide, geraniol, guaiacol, ionone, d-limonene, menthol, methyl anthranilate, methyl ionone, methyl salicylate, a-phellandrene, pennyroyal oil perillaldehyde, 1- or 2-phenyl ethyl alcohol, 1- or 2-phenyl ethyl propionate, piperonal, piperonyl acetate, piperonyl alcohol, D-pulegone, terpinen4-ol, terpinyl acetate, 4-tert butylcyclohexyl acetate, thyme oil, thymol, metabolites of trans-anethole, vanillin, and ethyl vanillin.  
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the signal transduction modulator is selected from the group consisting of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (CAMP)/cAMP-dependent protein kinase, tyrosine kinase, calcium phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC), mitogen activated protein kinase family members, calcium-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase, and growth factor receptor inhibitors.  
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising tamoxifen.  
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.  
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the soft tissue cancer is breast cancer.  
     
     
         7 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is eugenol.  
     
     
         8 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is thymol.  
     
     
         9 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is isoeugenol.  
     
     
         10 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is benzyl alcohol.  
     
     
         11 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is carvacrol.  
     
     
         12 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is cinnamic alcohol.  
     
     
         13 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is cinnamic aldehyde.  
     
     
         14 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is citronellal.  
     
     
         15 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the plant essential oil compound is trans-anethole.  
     
     
         16 . A method for treating cancer, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of  claim 1.